"By means of simple, fact-packed text and hundreds of sharp pen-drawings, he covers the subject from the earliest stone axes right down to nuclear fission. Handsomely done."--'San Francisco Chronicle' 'Weapons' is the rich and exciting story of arms through the ages--from the first tied stone thrown by prehistoric hunters to the super bombs of today. Illustrated with the unusually detailed and astonishingly realistic drawings of Edwin Tunis, it is a weapon-by-weapon account of human ingenuity in the invention and improvement of arms for defense and offense. The detailed and engaging text is filled with useful information and anecdotes that bring history to life. Tunis begins with the Stone Age, describing its slings and spears, its axes and bows and arrows, and follows developments through to the Copper and Bronze Ages when chariots, swords, and daggers were first produced. He chronicles the advances of the Iron Age, with its stronger swords, helmets, and complicated siege weapons and describes the changing notions of war throughout the ages.
From the highly fortified castles of the Normans to the thermonuclear weapons of today, this remarkable history weapons and the warriors who used them is a treasure trove of lore and information. "Any boy of over ten should relish this lively and authoritative survey of man's weapons...It's a large, handsome, often witty book."--'The New Yorker' "Brings history to life...'Weapons' is a magnificent treasury of lore and information."--'Military Science Book Club Review'