Eiffel's Tower: And the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled, and Thomas Edison Became a Count.

The story of the world-famous monument and the extraordinary world's fair that introduced it Since it opened in May 1889, the Eiffel Tower has been an iconic image of modern times-as much a beacon of technological progress as an enduring symbol of Paris and French culture. But as engineer Gustave Eiffel built the now-famous landmark to be the spectacular centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair, he stirred up a storm of vitriol from Parisian tastemakers, lawsuits, and predictions of certain structural calamity. In Eiffel's Tower , Jill Jonnes, critically acclaimed author of Conquering Gotham , presents a compelling account of the tower's creation and a superb portrait of Belle Epoque France. As Eiffel held court that summer atop his one-thousand-foot tower, a remarkable host of artists and personalities-Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Gauguin, Whistler, and Edison-traveled to Paris and the Exposition Universelle to mingle and make their mark. Like The Devil in the White City, Brunelleschi's Dome , and David McCullough's accounts of the building of the Panama Canal and the Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel's Tower combines technological and social history and biography to create a richly textured portrayal of an age of aspiration, dreams, and progress. Presents A Compelling Account Of The Eiffel Tower's Creation And A Superb Portrait Of Belle Epoque France. As Gustave Eiffel Held Court That Summer Atop His One-thousand-foot Tower, A Remarkable Host Of Artists And Personalities--buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Gauguin, Whistler, And Edison--traveled To Paris And The Exposition Universelle (1889 World's Fair) To Mingle And Make Their Mark. We Meet Our Characters, Who Intend To Dazzle The World At The Paris Exposition -- Gustave Eiffel And The Odious Column Of Bolted Metal -- Troubles On The Tower -- The First Elevator Of Its Kind -- In Which The Artists Quarrel And The Tower Opens -- Buffalo Bill And Annie Oakley Triumphant -- Gustave Eiffel Holds Court Amid The Art Wars -- The Monarchs Of The World Ascend The Republican Tower -- In Which Thomas Edison Hails The Eiffel Tower And Becomes An Italian Count -- Rosa Bonheur Meets Buffalo Bill. Jill Jonnes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-337) And Index. The story of the world-famous monument and the extraordinary world's fair that introduced it, by the author of Conquering Gotham and Urban Forests In this first general history of the Eiffel Tower in English, Jill Jonnes-acclaimed author of Conquering Gotham-offers an eye- opening look not only at the construction of one of the modern world's most iconic structures, but also the epochal event that surrounded its arrival as a wonder of the world. In this marvelously entertaining portrait of Belle Époque France, fear and loathing over Eiffel's brash design share the spotlight with the celebrities that made the 1889 Exposition Universelle an event to remember-including Buffalo Bill and his sharpshooter Annie Oakley, Thomas Edison, and artists Whistler, Gauguin, and van Gogh. Eiffel's Tower is a richly textured portrait of an era at the dawn of modernity, reveling in the limitless promise of the future. Here, Jill Jonnes presents an account of the Eiffel tower's creation and a portrait of Belle Epoque France. As Eiffel held court that summer atop his 1000 ft tower, a host of artists and personalities travelled to Paris and the Exposition Universelle to mingle and make their mark