The true history of a legendary American folk hero In the 1820s, a fellow named Sam Patch grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, working there (when he wasn' t drinking) as a mill hand for one of America' s new textile companies. Sam made a name for himself one day by jumping seventy feet into the tumultuous waters below Pawtucket Falls. When in 1827 he repeated the stunt in Paterson, New Jersey, another mill town, an even larger audience gathered to cheer on the daredevil they would call the " Jersey Jumper." Inevitably, he ...
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The true history of a legendary American folk hero In the 1820s, a fellow named Sam Patch grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, working there (when he wasn' t drinking) as a mill hand for one of America' s new textile companies. Sam made a name for himself one day by jumping seventy feet into the tumultuous waters below Pawtucket Falls. When in 1827 he repeated the stunt in Paterson, New Jersey, another mill town, an even larger audience gathered to cheer on the daredevil they would call the " Jersey Jumper." Inevitably, he went to Niagara Falls, where in 1829 he jumped not once but twice in front of thousands who had paid for a good view. The distinguished social historian Paul E. Johnson gives this deceptively simple story all its deserved richness, revealing in its characters and social settings a virtual microcosm of Jacksonian America. He also relates the real jumper to the mythic Sam Patch who turned up as a daring moral hero in the works of Hawthorne and Melville, in London plays and pantomimes, and in the spotlight with Davy Crockett-- a Sam Patch who became the namesake of Andrew Jackson' s favorite horse. In his shrewd and powerful analysis, Johnson casts new light on aspects of American society that we may have overlooked or underestimated. This is innovative American history at its best.
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Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $3.49, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill & Wang.
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Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $15.00, like new condition, Sold by Abacus Bookshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pittsford, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Hill & Wang.
Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $19.95, like new condition, Sold by Old Book Shop of Bordentown rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bordentown, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill and Wang.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine jacket. Fine (rem. dot) in fine dust jacket. First edition, first printing. Hardcover. 240 pp. with index. Illustrated with vintage reproductions. The story of one of the most unusual "celebrities" in American history. In the 1820s, a fellow named Sam Patch worked (when he wasn't drinking) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as a mill hand for one of the countrys' new texttile companies. One day (sober? not? ) he made a name for himself by jumping nearly 100 feet into the waters below Pawtucket Falls. In 1827, he repeated the stunt in Paterson, New Jersey. Inevitably, he went to Niagara Falls where in 1829 he jumped not once but twice in front of thousands of spectators. The author here provides the deceptively simple story all the richness it deserves, relating the real jumper to the mythical figure who turned up in the work of Hawthorne and Melville as well as in London plays an d pantomimes; the social settings of the tale reveal a virtual microcosm of Jacksonian America.
Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $31.06, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill and Wang.
Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $37.50, like new condition, Sold by Books and Music rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brighton, MA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill & Wang.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 240 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. hardcover, near-new dust jacket light scuffing) with images of Niagara and Genesee Falls, new covers, pages clean and unmarked, binding tight and secure. Image of man jumping on front cover, several other images. white--B
Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $38.50, new condition, Sold by Books Unlimited rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from West Van Lear, KY, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill & Wang.
Add this copy of Sam Patch, the Famous Jumper to cart. $74.71, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Hill and Wang.
