Born in the United States, Alexander Rose was raised in Australia and Britain. A military historian and former journalist, he is the author of Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring, and his writing has appeared in the New York Observer, the Washington Post, Studies in Intelligence, and many other publications.
“Marvelous…. Like David McCullough in The Great Bridge, Rose has
the rare ability to make technology come alive even for the
non-technology-minded. He is not only a good historian but also a
gifted storyteller.”—Michael Korda, Washington Post
“Fascinating…. The history of the U.S. is mirrored in the history
of one of it technological achievements…. Loaded with detail, full
of lively characters and an abundant spirit of invention. The
history of the rifle is also the history of mass production, of
American politics, of the legal system, and of war
itself.”—Booklist
“Entertaining…. Loaded with facts…. Drawing on numerous primary
sources, from letters and journals of ordinary soldiers to the
writings of inventors such as Samuel Colt, Rose traces the rise of
the rifle from its original use as a hunting tool and a means of
defense and protection to its eventual use as an offensive weapon
in wars of conquest.”—Publishers Weekly
“One of the most interesting nonfiction books of the year…. packed
with fascinating anecdotes … and keen insights into the nexus of
civilian politics, business, and the military.”—National Review
“Good reading for those on either side of the gun-control debate….A
fascinating story replete with missed opportunities, skulduggery,
entrenched dogma and internecine battles.”—Sunday Oregonian
“Ingenious and satisfying…. Provides surprising insight into the
country’s history.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Definitive … full of lost historical fact and intriguing
anecdotes.”–Sacramento Bee
"Irresistible history…American Rifle, a biography of a
revolutionary idea, is ingeniously conceived, deftly written and
thoroughly engrossing."—Dallas Morning News
In this solid history, Rose (Washington's Spies) explores the development of the rifle, such as how it evolved in American history to become an iconic symbol of freedom and how it developed as an effective military instrument as well as a private citizen's firearm. Drawing on numerous primary sources, from letters and journals of ordinary soldiers to the writings of inventors such as Samuel Colt, Rose traces the rise of the rifle from its original use as a hunting tool and a means of defense and protection to its eventual use as an offensive weapon in wars of conquest. Loaded with facts, the book reveals that firearms didn't come into their own in the colonies until 1609, when Samuel de Champlain led his men on a raid of the Mohawks. In their increasing contact with European adventurers and traders, Native Americans recognized the power of firearms and cannily traded for such weapons. By the early 18th century, gunsmiths of German extraction invented a rifle that had greater accuracy and distance than muskets. The Kentucky rifle, so named because it's rumored that Daniel Boone carried one of these early rifles in his travels around the frontier, was easier to load and could drop a bear, or a British soldier, in fewer shots and at a more distant range than a musket. In his entertaining history, Rose engagingly chronicles Americans' peculiar quest to build a more refined and effective firearm. (Oct.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
"Marvelous.... Like David McCullough in The Great Bridge,
Rose has the rare ability to make technology come alive even for
the non-technology-minded. He is not only a good historian but also
a gifted storyteller."-Michael Korda, Washington Post
"Fascinating.... The history of the U.S. is mirrored in the history
of one of it technological achievements.... Loaded with detail,
full of lively characters and an abundant spirit of invention. The
history of the rifle is also the history of mass production, of
American politics, of the legal system, and of war
itself."-Booklist
"Entertaining.... Loaded with facts.... Drawing on numerous primary
sources, from letters and journals of ordinary soldiers to the
writings of inventors such as Samuel Colt, Rose traces the rise of
the rifle from its original use as a hunting tool and a means of
defense and protection to its eventual use as an offensive weapon
in wars of conquest."-Publishers Weekly
"One of the most interesting nonfiction books of the year....
packed with fascinating anecdotes ... and keen insights into the
nexus of civilian politics, business, and the
military."-National Review
"Good reading for those on either side of the gun-control
debate....A fascinating story replete with missed opportunities,
skulduggery, entrenched dogma and internecine battles."-Sunday
Oregonian
"Ingenious and satisfying.... Provides surprising insight into the
country's history."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Definitive ... full of lost historical fact and intriguing
anecdotes."-Sacramento Bee
"Irresistible history...American Rifle, a biography of a
revolutionary idea, is ingeniously conceived, deftly written and
thoroughly engrossing."-Dallas Morning News
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