Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and the Invention of the Electric Chair
RICHARD MORAN is professor of sociology at Mount Holyoke College and the author of Knowing Right from Wrong- The Insanity Defense of Daniel McNaughtan and numerous articles and reviews. He has also served as a commentator for National Public Radio's Morning Edition and written op-eds for the Boston Globe, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal. He lives in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
“Fascinating and provocative. . . . Moran skillfully used the story
of the creation of the electric chair to illustrate the brutal
clash between Edison and Westinghouse.” —The Washington Post Book
World
“Fascinating. . . . Moran conclusively shows that Edison hoped to
discredit alternating current--by associating it in the public mind
with death--and advance his own direct current." —Los Angeles
Times
"Chilling. . . . A 'Coke-versus-Pepsi' story as if told by Stephen
King. . . . A macabre jolt of history." —Chicago Sun-Times
“A remarkable account. . . . A fantastic tale, well told.”
—Forbes
“[An] engaging analysis of the relationship between electrocution
and the personal and corporate battles waged between Edison and
Westinghouse.” —Louis P. Masur, Chicago Tribune
“Richard Moran shows us not only how the death penalty in America
affects condemned prisoners, but also how it is used by powerful
interests in our society to further their own political and
economic ends. . . . Five stars, and three cheers, for Professor
Moran!” —Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking
“Riveting. . . . Moran [has a] lively reportorial style. . . . In
this narrative of callous ambition and hypocrisy, a condemned
criminal plays an unexpectedly dignified role.” —Seattle Weekly
"Compelling. . . . Reads like pages torn from today's headlines
about nefarious CEOs and corporate greed." —Albany Times Union
“Haunting…. Incisive… A chilling look at something that has become
a too-common theme of modern times: the use of technology to
develop new ways of killing.” —Roanoke Times
“An eye-opening and riveting account of the battle for the future
of electricity and the part that played in changing the technology
of execution.” —Wilmington Sunday News Journal
"Fascinating and provocative. . . . Moran skillfully used the story
of the creation of the electric chair to illustrate the brutal
clash between Edison and Westinghouse." -The Washington Post
Book World
"Fascinating. . . . Moran conclusively shows that Edison
hoped to discredit alternating current--by associating it in the
public mind with death--and advance his own direct current."
-Los Angeles Times
"Chilling. . . . A 'Coke-versus-Pepsi' story as if told by
Stephen King. . . . A macabre jolt of history." -Chicago
Sun-Times
"A remarkable account. . . . A fantastic tale, well told."
-Forbes
"[An] engaging analysis of the relationship between electrocution
and the personal and corporate battles waged between Edison and
Westinghouse." -Louis P. Masur, Chicago Tribune
"Richard Moran shows us not only how the death penalty in
America affects condemned prisoners, but also how it is used by
powerful interests in our society to further their own political
and economic ends. . . . Five stars, and three cheers, for
Professor Moran!" -Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man
Walking
"Riveting. . . . Moran [has a] lively reportorial style. .
. . In this narrative of callous ambition and hypocrisy, a
condemned criminal plays an unexpectedly dignified role."
-Seattle Weekly
"Compelling. . . . Reads like pages torn from today's
headlines about nefarious CEOs and corporate greed." -Albany
Times Union
"Haunting.... Incisive... A chilling look at something that has
become a too-common theme of modern times: the use of technology to
develop new ways of killing." -Roanoke Times
"An eye-opening and riveting account of the battle for the
future of electricity and the part that played in changing the
technology of execution." -Wilmington Sunday News Journal
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