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A review by princesszinza
The Inventor and the Tycoon: A Gilded Age Murder and the Birth of Moving Pictures by Edward Ball
3.0
In its format, this book reminded me very much of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Both books feature a narrative about a murderer juxtaposed against a major event. In this book it is Leland Stanford's building of a railroad and gentrifying the West Coast happening alongside an Englishman's murder of his wife. It so happens that the Englishman also was an accomplished photographer and inventor.
I found both Leland Stanford and Edward Muybridge to be interesting characters. I also enjoyed mention of California towns that I know well: Calistoga, Napa, San Francisco and Hanford. It was fun to learn about these areas at their beginning.
I think that Erik Larson is a talented author and wove his narrative more skillfully. This book used too much speculation, particularly when writing about Edward Muybridge's early life in England.
I enjoyed learning about Edward Muybridge. Evidently he invented the first motion picture machine. Edison learned of his device and later created and commercialized motion picture technology. Muybridge is a fascinating but now largely forgotten figure in early California history.
I found both Leland Stanford and Edward Muybridge to be interesting characters. I also enjoyed mention of California towns that I know well: Calistoga, Napa, San Francisco and Hanford. It was fun to learn about these areas at their beginning.
I think that Erik Larson is a talented author and wove his narrative more skillfully. This book used too much speculation, particularly when writing about Edward Muybridge's early life in England.
I enjoyed learning about Edward Muybridge. Evidently he invented the first motion picture machine. Edison learned of his device and later created and commercialized motion picture technology. Muybridge is a fascinating but now largely forgotten figure in early California history.