The Big Bang: A History of Explosives

From the first gunpowder up through the H-bomb, this is an entertaining and informative look at the development and use of explosives throughout history. Laying the emphasis on the lives of the people involved, on the diverse uses of explosives, and on their social and historical impact, it relates a story of remarkable international human endeavor. Many of those involved—including Roger Bacon, Guy Fawkes, Alfred Nobel, and Robert Oppenheimer—are famed worldwide, while others—such as C.F. Schonbein, William Bickford, Sir Frederick Abel, and Charles E. Munroe—played crucial roles behind the scenes. Alongside their achievements, the uses and impact of explosives in both war and terrorism as well as in civil engineering, quarrying, mining, demolition, fireworks manufacture, shooting for sport are all detailed.