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Machine Gun: The Story of the Men and the Weapon that Changed the Face of War
R40.00
Quick Overview
A fascinating history of the men who invented the machine gun - and the devastating impact it had on the course of war Why did the British start the First World War with only 264 machine guns, far fewer than the other great powers? Why were the generals so disdainful of them, despite the way the Maxim gun had decimated native armies in numerous colonial wars? In the First War, the British had to learn the hard way, with 20,000 men mown down by machine guns on the first day of the battle of the Somme. Around 80% of all the casualties in that war were caused by machine guns. Anthony Smith explores this extraordinary paradox in his important new book. He also tells the story of the remarkable men who invented and developed the machine gun - men like Samuel Colt, Richard Gatling and Hiram Maxim. Gatlings gun was first used in the American Civil War; but it was Maxim, with his barnstorming salesmanship to all the leading military powers, who did most to create a deadly new form of warfare. Filled with fresh insights and vivid eye-witness accounts, Machine Gun is history at its most readable and provocative. Pages yellowed.
A fascinating history of the men who invented the machine gun - and the devastating impact it had on the course of war Why did the British start the First World War with only 264 machine guns, far fewer than the other great powers? Why were the generals so disdainful of them, despite the way the Maxim gun had decimated native armies in numerous colonial wars? In the First War, the British had to learn the hard way, with 20,000 men mown down by machine guns on the first day of the battle of the Somme. Around 80% of all the casualties in that war were caused by machine guns. Anthony Smith explores this extraordinary paradox in his important new book. He also tells the story of the remarkable men who invented and developed the machine gun - men like Samuel Colt, Richard Gatling and Hiram Maxim. Gatlings gun was first used in the American Civil War; but it was Maxim, with his barnstorming salesmanship to all the leading military powers, who did most to create a deadly new form of warfare. Filled with fresh insights and vivid eye-witness accounts, Machine Gun is history at its most readable and provocative. Pages yellowed.
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| Author | Anthony Smith |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Piatkus |
| Place | London |
| Year | 2002-10-24 |
| ISBN | 9780749923525 |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Condition | Good |
| Dustjacket Condition | Very Good |
| Comments | Pages yellowed. |
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New: Exactly as it says.
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Very Good: Might have some creases on the spine; no hard cracks; maybe slight forward lean and short inscription inside; perhaps very minor bumping on the corners of the book; inside clean but the page edges might be slightly yellowed.
Good: A few creases on the spine, perhaps a forward lean, bumping on corners or shelfwear; maybe an inscription inside or some shelfwear or a small tear or two on the dustjacket; inside clean but page edges might be somewhat yellowed.
Fair: In overall good condition, might have a severe forward lean to the spine, an inscription, bumping to corners; one or two folds on the covers and yellowed pages; in exceptional cases these books might contain some library stamps and stickers or have neat sticky tape which was used to fix a short, closed tear.
Poor: We rarely sell poor condition books, unless the books are in demand and difficult to find in a better condition. Poor condition books are still perfect for a good read, all pages will be intact and none threatening to fall out; most probably a reading copy only.