Executioner's current : Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and the invention of the electric chair

Moran, Richard

80 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2002

0375410597 / 9780375410598

  • First Edition
  • Hardcover
  • Used
See all details

Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.MW Books

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since July 12, 2005

View this seller's items
Hardcover

Condition: Used

£ 19.62

 Free Shipping 
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dw. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 271 pages; Physical desc. : xxii, 271 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. Notes: "A Borzoi book"Includes bibliographical references and index. Subjects: Edison, Thomas Alva (1847-1931) --Westinghouse, George (1846-1914) --Electrocution --United States --History. Summary: The amazing story of how the electric chair developed not out of the desire for a method of execution more humane than hanging but of an effort by one nineteenth century electric company to discredit the other. In 1882, Thomas Edison launched Â"the age of electricityÂ" by lighting up a portion of Manhattan with his direct current (DC) system. Six years later George Westinghouse lit up Buffalo with his less expensive alternating current (AC). They quickly became locked in a battle for market share. Richard Moran shows that Edison, in order to maintain commercial dominance, set out to blacken the image of Westinghouse's AC by persuading the State of New York to electrocute condemned criminals with AC current. Westinghouse, determined to keep AC from becoming known as the Â"executioner's current, Â" fought to stop the first electrocution, claiming that use of the electric chair constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The legal battle that ensued ended when the Supreme Court refused to rule. The electrocution of William Kemler went forward in New York's Auburn Pen-itentiary in August 1890-and was horribly botched. 1 Kg.

Seller Inventory # 170885

Title
Executioner's current : Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and the invention of the electric chair
Author
Moran, Richard
Publisher
New York : Alfred A. Knopf
Publication year
2002
Dust jacket
Dust Jacket Included
Binding
Hardcover
Language
English
ISBN 10
0375410597
ISBN 13
9780375410598
Edition
First Edition.
Item weight
1 kilogram

MW Books

New York, NY, U.S.A.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since July 12, 2005

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Item7 to 15 business days4 to 13 business days
First item£ 0.00£ 26.21
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Paypal

Store description

With a permanent inventory of 250,000 hand-picked volumes and with publication dates ranging from the 1500s to the present, MW Books has much to offer the conscientious bibliophile as well as the avid reader. Travel and Exploration, European Literature, Modern Firsts, 19th Century Illustrated, Asian & African Political History, British Topography, Regional Art Reference, Signed & Gift editions etc. etc.; we'd love to hear from you - let us know if we can help in any way.

Specialty

Travel and Exploration, Asian and Colonial History, Labour History

Seller's business information

MW Books Ltd.

MW Books Ltd. 70A Renmore Road
Co. Galway, Ireland H91CHH6