Brock Alan St.H. A History of Fireworks

London: George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd, 1949. — 230 p.This mote than a quarter of a century since my first book, Pyrotechnics: the History and Art of Firework Making, made its appearance; it has now been out of print for several years. No one can be more aware than I of its many demerits and deficiencies, but so far as I know it presented the first, and, as I believe, until today the only, attempt to trace in full the history of pyrotechny. The manner in which it was received on publication and the number of inquiries that reach me, even today, from those who wish to obtain a copy encourage me to believe that the time has come for a second attempt to do justice to the subject. Much has happened in the field of pyrotechny, as, indeed, elsewhere, during the last twenty-five years. During that time I have accumulated a mass of additional information on the subject, some of which has brought about a modification of certain of the views I held, and expressed, when the first book was written. Other material greatly amplifies the facts and references I was previously able to deal with. All, I hope,' will be found interesting and acceptable to the many enthusiasts of the art throughout the world. For much of this information I am indebted to correspon dents from places as far apart as the United States, Australia, and Malta. One would be pyrotechnist, writing from India, expressed the hope that he might “have the priveledge to creep under your honours robe to become your faithful pupil and disciple in the glorious art.” Later I learned that this gentleman’s interest, in matters pyrotechnic and explosive, was so pronounced as to arouse the attention of the Indian C.I.D. I hope that the information I was able to give them was not prejudicial to my potential student.