About this title: French artist Philippe Petit made news in 1974 when he rigged steel cable across the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and made several trips across. Here he tells of his detailed planning and execution of his illegal act, and documents his feat in words and pictures. Illustrated with over 140 photos and drawings.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: North Point / FSG, New York
Date Published: 2002
Description: Very Good Minus in Very Good jacket. 4to. 244 pp., illus. Very gentle crease to front board, small remainder mark on top edge, lengthy gift inscription on front free endpaper, otherwise unmarked. Jacket edgeworn. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780571217700ISBN:0571217702
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: FABER AND FABER Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780571245857ISBN:0571245854
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 240 pages. One night in 1974, a young frenchman secretly-and illegally-rigged a tightrope between the twin towers of the world trade center. at daybreak, he made eight crossings over the course of an hour, 110 floors up above the earth. this memoir he tells the story of how he conspired, connived, improvised, and insisted his way to this 'coup'. illustrations, ports. (Paperback) read more
Binding: hardcover oversized
Publisher: North Point Press
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: Good in good dust jacket. ex-library/associated marks/stickers, otherwise clean text; dj in protective sleeve & taped to boards; general wear; read more
Edition: First Thus
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780571217700ISBN:0571217702
Description: Collectible; VG in Very Good jacket. First UK edition, with full number line. Clean, tight hardback copy, in excellent condition, with excellent dustjacket. Dispatch within 24hrs from the UK. read more
Edition: 1st Edition.
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: New York: North Point Press
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: Description: xi, 244 p. : ill.; 29 cm. Subjects: Petit, Philippe, (1949-). Aerialists--France--Biography. Fine paperback copy. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. 2. pp. 244. read more
Edition: 1st Edition.
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: New York: North Point Press
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: Description: xi, 244 p. : ill.; 29 cm. Subjects: Petit, Philippe, (1949-). Aerialists--France--Biography. Fine paperback copy. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: North Point Pr, Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: Like New. NEW Book w/ tiny flaw on back top edge of dust jacket from shipping/handling, otherwise cover/text completely pristine-free of any wear. Standard ground USA shipping only due to weight of book. FREE TRACKING in US (international tracking not currently available), & email notice when shipped. Your satisfaction guaranteed. Inquiries welcomed. read more
Edition: Illustrated.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: North Point Press
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: New in new dust jacket. BRAND NEW. Never read or opened. Small dot remainder mark. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 256 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date Published: 2003-01-01
ISBN-13:9780571217700ISBN:0571217702
Description: New. Book is Brand New, Gift condition. Free tracking # included! International buyers are welcome. We ship every business day. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780571245857ISBN:0571245854
Description: New. One night in 1974, a young Frenchman secretly-and illegally-rigged a tightrope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. At daybreak, he made eight crossings over the course of an hour, 110 floors up above the earth. This memoir he tells... read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly imported from the UK using DHL or Royal Mail international mail WITH TRACKING NUMBER. Delivery is typically 5-10 working days. Please do not select expedited shipping. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). read more
Description: New. We are no longer able to guarantee delivery by Christmas. Please note that deliveries to addresses in the UK and Europe will be in 4-14 business days. Other countries should refer to Alibris standard times. ISBN10: 0571245854. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Date Published: 2004-02-19
ISBN-13:9780571217717ISBN:0571217710
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: North Point Press
Date Published: 2002-09-04
ISBN-13:9780865476516ISBN:0865476519
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
"Man on the Wire (previously published as To Reach the Clouds), Philippe Petit (Skyhorse Publishing, 2002)
The text is prefaced with a quote provided by Werner Herzog the Mad German director "One more thing: Philippe, you are not a coward-so what I want to hear from you is the ecstatic truth about the towers."
My favorite thing about this book was the way it read like a screen play. It had the pacing, intensity andstructure of an inner dialogue Or more accurately a monologue. I read most of the book in one sitting while at the laundromat.
I suppose partially because it is autobiographical, however one gets also the strong sense that this is symptomatic of the personal character of the book's protagonist. Petit seems a very passionate and willed individual, I mean he did plan and execute an illegal high-wire walk between the two twin towers.
From the beginning the towers and Petit had a special relationship. Starting with the first newspaper article he read discussing their plans to the requiem to them at the end of the book. They were "my towers". However, it is less the towers than the void between them that he is attracted and awed by. It is that void which he had to conquer. In many of even the first images, to those later of him performing the walk, the towers are not the focus. Rather, they serve to frame the void that is his calling.
Towards the end he describes the process of tightening the wire after it has been fastened to both the North and South tower. He describes the beauty of the catenary curves this produces, "an infinite number". In fact each clandestine action and accompanying rigging has it's own most seductive catenary curve. The pencil drawing he uses to illustrate to my mind resembles a cheshire grin, perhaps that of the cat from Alice and Wonderland?
The book is truly inspiring if only because his own personal madness became his greatness victory. If only we could all be driven to such madness. Petit closes with a plea for rebuilding, and offers his own proposed design. He closes with this offer; "When the towers again twin-tickle the clouds, I offer to walk again, to be the expression of the builders' collective voice. Together, we will rejoice in an aerial song of victory. I will carry my life across the wire, as your life, as all our lives, past, present, and future-the lives lost, the lives welcomed since. We can overcome.""
"The determination of this individual is incredible! Left me googling St. John the Divine in New York where he was an artist-in-residence for a while. Captivating...."
"The book was as breathtaking as the film, my heart raced as I read the pages leading up to his first steps out onto the wire. This edition has lots of great photographs, diagrams, scribblings, and other wonderful bits of paraphernalia from Philippe's adventure across the towers."
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