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Young Man in a Hurry: The Story of Cyrus W. Field
A biography of the man who rose from debt to amass a small fortune, and became the driving force behind the successful laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.
- GenresHistory
238 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 1958
About the author
Jean Lee Latham
63 books73 followersBorn on April 19th, Jean Lee Latham grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia. She attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she wrote plays and operated the county newspaper’s linotype machine. She earned a master’s degree at Cornell University. While completing her degree, Ms. Latham taught English, history, and drama at Ithaca.
Once she graduated, she became editor-in-chief of the Dramatic Publishing Company in Chicago. She worked hard to become a radio writer, but WWII changed her plans. She signed up for the US Signal Corps Inspection Agency, where she trained women inspectors. The U.S. War Department gave her a Silver Wreath for her work.
After D-Day, Ms. Latham made the decision to write biographies for children. Her first book was The Story of Eli Whitney, published in 1953. Her third book, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, earned the Newbery Medal in 1956.
Playwright, author, and teacher, Ms. Latham died on June 13, 1995, at the age of 93. Her manuscripts are housed in the Children’s Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota.
Once she graduated, she became editor-in-chief of the Dramatic Publishing Company in Chicago. She worked hard to become a radio writer, but WWII changed her plans. She signed up for the US Signal Corps Inspection Agency, where she trained women inspectors. The U.S. War Department gave her a Silver Wreath for her work.
After D-Day, Ms. Latham made the decision to write biographies for children. Her first book was The Story of Eli Whitney, published in 1953. Her third book, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, earned the Newbery Medal in 1956.
Playwright, author, and teacher, Ms. Latham died on June 13, 1995, at the age of 93. Her manuscripts are housed in the Children’s Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 11, 2021
If there was a man who could convince people of the seemingly impossible Cyrus W. Field was that man. This book kept me turning pages, almost holding my breath, and then trying to read faster because once again problems arose and I wasn’t sure Mr. Field would be able to get the backing and support needed to try again to lay the transatlantic cable. Well written, engaging, and full of courage.
There are 7 uses of “Good L**d” in the book, otherwise it is clean and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history or is interested in stories about people who didn’t give up.
There are 7 uses of “Good L**d” in the book, otherwise it is clean and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history or is interested in stories about people who didn’t give up.
March 3, 2011
I just finished reading this aloud to the kids and was quite inspired by it. How nonchalantly I read a simple sentence or paragraph in my high school history text: Cyrus Field laid the first Transatlantic Cable. End of story.
Hardly! The obstacles this man faced were astonishing, and I had now idea the character required to soldier on. It made me realize that success only sounds easy when it is happening to others. In fact, it always comes after great perseverance.
In fact, such was shared in the book itself, in a speech about Field and his endeavor:
"It behooves us to remember that the pathway to great achievement has frequently to be hewn out amidst risks and difficulties, and that preliminary failure is even the law and condition of ultimate success..."
It was also marvelous to see how the doers of this area knew each other and even collaborated. Field was aided by Samuel Morse, Matthew Maury, William Seward, Peter Cooper, Lord Kelvin (Professor Thomson, at the time), Abraham Lincoln, and many more!
Hardly! The obstacles this man faced were astonishing, and I had now idea the character required to soldier on. It made me realize that success only sounds easy when it is happening to others. In fact, it always comes after great perseverance.
In fact, such was shared in the book itself, in a speech about Field and his endeavor:
"It behooves us to remember that the pathway to great achievement has frequently to be hewn out amidst risks and difficulties, and that preliminary failure is even the law and condition of ultimate success..."
It was also marvelous to see how the doers of this area knew each other and even collaborated. Field was aided by Samuel Morse, Matthew Maury, William Seward, Peter Cooper, Lord Kelvin (Professor Thomson, at the time), Abraham Lincoln, and many more!
February 13, 2016
B. children's, nonfiction, biography, mom's stash, discard
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews