John Withington is an award-winning television journalist, based in London. His books include Assassins' Deeds and Secrets of the Centenarians, both also published by Reaktion Books.
"""Withington's A History of Fireworks from Their Origins to the Present Day wraps meticulous research in a compulsively readable narrative. He captures in fascinating detail the rich, complex history of fireworks. He also offers readers a taste of the awe that's at the heart of this most fleeting form of human art and artifice. A diverting and informative book. Read it.""--Jack Kelly, author of ""Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics"""