Lightning Man
by Silverman, Kenneth
In this brilliantly conceived and written biography, Pulitzer Prize--winning Kenneth Silverman gives us the long and amazing life of the man eulogized by the New York Herald in 1872 as "perhaps the most illustrious American of his age." Silverman presents Samuel Morse in all his complexity. There is the gifted and prolific painter (more than three hundred portraits and larger historical canvases) and pioneer photographer, who gave the first lectures on art in America, became the first Professor of Fine Arts at an American college (New York University), and founded the National Academy of Design. There is the republican idealist, prominent in antebellum politics, who ran for Congress and for mayor of New York. But most important, there is the inventor of the American electromagnetic telegraph, which earned Morse the name Lightning Man and brought him the fame he sought.In these pages, we witness the evolution of the great invention from its inception as an idea to its introduction to the world--an event that astonished Morse's contemporaries and was considered the supreme expression of the country's inventive genius. We see how it transformed commerce, journalism, transportation, military affairs, diplomacy, and the very shape of daily life, ushering in the modern era of communication.But we discover as well that Morse viewed his existence as accursed rather than illustrious, his every achievement seeming to end in loss and defeat: his most ambitious canvases went unsold; his beloved republic imploded into civil war, making it unlivable for him; and the commercial success of the telegraph engulfed him in lawsuits challenging the originality and ownership of his invention.Lightning Man is the first biography of Samuel F. B. Morse in sixty years. It is a revelation of the life of a fascinating and profoundly troubled American genius.From the Hardcover edition.
Reviews
Review this book!
Available Copies
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life Of Samuel F. B. Morse: Inscribed
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CARSON CITY, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
€40.94
Show Details
Description:
U.S.A.: Knopf, 2003. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Inscribed by Author(s). Excellent Copy - Signed - To Walter Saudertis, Hope You Enjoy Reading About Morse - By The Author On The Front Free End Page. A First Edition, First Printing. Book Is In Near Fine Condition. Boards Are Clean, No Real Shelf Wear. Interior Is Clean And Legible. Not… Read more about this item Item Price
€40.94
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Kenneth Silverman
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.07
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2003. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
€7.07
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
€5.16
Show Details
Description:
Knopf. Used - Good. Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
€5.16
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by [MORSE, S] Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Advanced Reading Copy
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Soft cover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Toms River, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
€15.37
Show Details
Description:
U.S.A.: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. Advanced Reading Copy. Soft cover. Very Good. Softcover Advance Reading Copy in very good condtiion. Blue wraps show ghost of shelf & edge wear. Interior text block clean & tight with no markings noted. Item Price
€15.37
More Photos
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse.
by Silverman, Kenneth.
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine.
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Sheffield, GBR
- Item Price
-
€23.81
Show Details
Description:
New York.: Alfred A. Knopf., 2003. vi, 503pp, illustrations. Signed & inscribed by the author. DW is in a clear protective removable sleeve.. Signed by Author. Hardcover. Near Fine./Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Item Price
€23.81
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€27.48
Show Details
Description:
New York: Alfred A. Knopf; A Borzoi Book, 2003. vi, 503 pages, illustrations; 25 cm. Tight, clean copy. Stated First Edition. Dust jacket protected in a mylar cover. A fine copy of the first printing. "In this brilliantly conceived and written biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning Kenneth Silverman gives us the long and amazing life of the man eulogized by the New… Read more about this item Item Price
€27.48
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Kenneth Silverman
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.07
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2003. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
€7.07
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2003-10-21
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
€11.03
Show Details
Description:
Knopf, 2003-10-21. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. Item Price
€11.03
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Kenneth Silverman
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
-
€14.68
Show Details
Description:
New. Item Price
€14.68
Lightning Man; The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Very good
- Jacket Condition
- Very good
- Edition
- First Edition [stated], presumed first printing
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
€55.88
Show Details
Description:
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Nancy Crampon (Author photograph). vi, 503, [1] pages. Illustrations. Documentation. Index. Kenneth Eugene Silverman (February 5, 1936 - July 7, 2017) was an American biographer and educator. He won a Pulitzer Prize and a Bancroft Prize for his 1984 biography of Cotton… Read more about this item Item Price
€55.88
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.52
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Item Price
€7.52
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2004
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780306813948
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.52
Show Details
Description:
Da Capo Press, 2004. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
€7.52
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.52
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
€7.52
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Trade Paperback Edition
- Published
- 2004
- Binding
- Soft cover
- ISBN
- 9780306813948
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hopkins, Minnesota, USA
- Item Price
-
€4.20
Show Details
Description:
New York, New York, U.S.A.: Da Capo Pr, 2004. First Trade Paperback Edition . Soft cover. Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Minor shelf wear.
Item Price
€4.20
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 2003-10-21
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
-
€74.45
Show Details
Description:
Knopf, 2003-10-21. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! Item Price
€74.45
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780306813948
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Victoria, British Columbia, CAN
- Item Price
-
€24.21
Show Details
Description:
DA CAPO PR INC. New. Special order direct from the distributor Item Price
€24.21
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life Of Samuel F.B. Morse
by Kenneth Silverman
- Condition
- USED Good
- Published
- September 2004
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780306813948
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
€9.31
Show Details
Description:
Da Capo Press, September 2004. Paperback. USED Good. Item Price
€9.31
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.52
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
€7.52
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life Of Samuel F.B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Like New
- Published
- 2004-09-22
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780306813948
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
-
€16.22
Show Details
Description:
Da Capo Press, 2004-09-22. Paperback. Like New. Item Price
€16.22
Lightning Man : The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse
by Silverman, Kenneth
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780375401282
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
€7.52
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
€7.52