The handgun has been an inevitable part of history; used for chivalrous duels between gentlemen; showdown confrontations between the lawless; battlefield combat; personal protection; and crime in many forms. Profusely illustrated; this study provides a chronological history; showing the development; performance; design and ammunition of the weapon; with information about some noted users.
#1083885 in Books 2014-10-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 6.25 x 1.25l; .0 #File Name: 1851689508352 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Definitely worth a look-inBy MargI was particularly interested in this biography of Captain John Smith as he is one of my ancestors. However I recommend this account to anyone interested in lfe in the late 1500s; early 1600s. Smith led a swashbuckling life; following the tenets of Nicolo Machiavelli and many times came close to a horrible death; but his ability to bounce back was almost in the nature of a comic book character who is flattened but springs back to life again. This book is an insight into the very early attempts to establish a British civilisation in a new world without the class system that Smith despised and resented. As the writer notes; Smith was the first true believer in the American Dream. I thoroughly recommend this book to those who love a great adventure; are fascinated by history and take the side of those who have had to strive twice as hard for recognition as those who were born in to privilege.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Amazing; entertaining; and valuable historyBy S.A. CranfillThis is a great and valuable read for anyone; but as an author; researcher; and historian myself; I absolutely loved it. And greatly appreciate all the hard; thoughtful; thorough; and fascinating work done by Firstbrook. Even though I had to wince through a few gruesome (but very real) events. Wow; should we value the sacrifices of those early settlers of America! As a documentary type of fellow; Firstbrook did his own out-of-the-way traveling to see just how much of the legendary and almost mythical John Smith's story he could verify. You may well be surprised. I now have a much; much clearer view of the deservedly famous Captain Smith; as well as a broader understanding of Europe; England; and America in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries. This is no dry history. This is an amazing and entertaining story; told well; and well documented. Though my own research leads me to believe the author fell down a notch on the Squanto kidnapping scenario (which is due to Sir Ferdinando Gorges' slightly faulty memory many years after the fact); I would require this book as reading in every high school.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. GoodBy BevThis was a gift. Reader said he liked it.
