Synopsis
A profusely illustrated social history explores the origins of America's gun culture through the life of Samuel Colt and his wife, Elizabeth, who started America's gun industry and transformed pre-Civil War Hartford. Simultaneous. UP.
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Reviews
This companion to the Wadsworth Atheneum's exhibit of Colt miscellany in Hartford, Conn., is a rich social and political history of 19th-century America. It is also a joint biography of Samuel Colt, an enigmatic inventor and industrialist, and Elizabeth, the strong, resolute wife who carried on his dreams and life's work. Hosley, the Koopman Curator at the Atheneum, follows Colt's life from his strange beginnings, successes and failures, to the ultimate perfection of the firearm that would be adopted by the U.S. Army. In exploring the personal lives and excesses of this wealthy 19th-century couple, Hosley presents a particularly colorful history of the times. After Samuel's death in 1862, Elizabeth Colt's ongoing efforts to immortalize her husband's accomplishments and their name led her to build memorials and statues and to create a philanthropic legacy for the city of Hartford. Elizabeth's taste often went to the extreme, as seen in their mansion, Armsmear. "Armsmear's reception room epitomizes the kind of blunt ostentation that was the trademark of America's Eurocentric nouveau riche during the 1880's." On a larger scale, Hosley also shows how Colt fit into the culture of war and violence that would be so beneficial to his fiscal concerns. "The good people of this wirld [sic] are very far from being satisfied with each other," wrote Colt, "& my arms are the best peacemakers." Rich in illustrations and photographs (204 images, 72 in color) of the Colts' firearms and art collections, Hosley creates a fascinating story that far exceeds the simple history of that famous gun. BOMC dividend; History Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Colt : The Making of an American Legend
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University of Massachusetts Press, 1996
ISBN 10: 1558490434
ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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ISBN 10: 1558490434
ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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ISBN 10: 1558490434
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Soft cover. Condition: Good. (Additional Postage Will Be Needed) Very large, very heavy softcover, pink-tinted illustrations and photographs of factor ruins at top front right, a color-illustration of factory at bottom front, photos at center front of couple, dark blue spine and back wrapper, a color photo of three revolvers at top back right, 254 heavy glossy pages, a double-column format to text, profusely illustrated, many in color. Very slight wear and 1/4"tear at bottom front edge next to tip, light wear at top back tip. Near Very Good. Seller Inventory # 56170
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Colt The Making of an American Legend
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ISBN 10: 1558490434
ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Seller: True Oak Books, Highland, NY, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: Good+. *Contains markings/notes from previous owner. Otherwise in great condition. Light wear.; - We're committed to your satisfaction. We offer free returns and respond promptly to all inquiries. Your item will be carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and securely boxed. All orders ship on the same or next business day. Buy with confidence. Seller Inventory # GHC5-21169-OS-0
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
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ISBN 10: 1558490434
ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Paperback. Signed and inscribed by author. Glossy color-illustrated wraps with blue and black lettering. 254 pp. 204 illus bw and color. "This book recounts the story of gun manufacturer Samuel Colt and his wife, Elizabeth, who together turned a company into an empire and a name into a legend." - dj flap. Inscribed by the author on ffep. VG- light wear to edges and corners. Seller Inventory # 166537
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Colt: The Making of an American Legend
Published by
University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst MA, 1996
ISBN 10: 1558490434
ISBN 13: 9781558490437
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Seller: Callaghan Books South, New Port Richey, FL, U.S.A.
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Soft cover. Condition: Fine. Very large, very heavy sturdy softcover, glossy wrappers with blue-tinted photographs of man and woman on center front wrapper, a color-illustration of factory at bottom front, in ruins at top front, blue spine and back wrapper, small color photo of three Colt pistols at top back, 254 heavy stiff glossy pages, double-column text, profusely illustrated. Bottom tip is creased on pae 13 and light wear at bottom front tip. Near Very Fine. Seller Inventory # 58376