Dynamite: The Merchant of Death is Dead | 3

American Innovations

Wondery

Steven Johnson, History, Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Science

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2020

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How did Alfred Nobel, the “Merchant of Death,” go from inventing dynamite to establishing the Nobel Peace Prize? The answer lies in a personal ad, a poorly vetted obituary, and a surprising new use for nitroglycerine.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American innovations, add free on Amazon music.
0:05.8	Download the app today.
0:15.9	It's March 13, 1881.
0:18.6	Outside the palatial home of Grand Duchess Catherine Mikkelovna in St. Petersburg.
0:24.4	The Grand Duchess stands blocking the path of her brother, the Russian Tsar Alexander
0:29.4	II.
0:30.7	Even as snow dusts her robe and wets her hair, she doesn't step aside.
0:35.6	It's simply not safe for you to be out on the open streets.
0:38.6	Sister, I can't hide here forever.
0:41.4	Behind him, men harness horses to a black armored carriage.
0:45.6	A dozen soldiers on foot and horseback flank the carriage.
0:49.2	Their backs held stiff by their eyes dark in all directions for potential assailants.
0:54.3	The Duchess gestures towards them, dismissively.
0:57.4	The radicals don't care how many soldiers they have to blow up to get to you.
1:01.1	This is not protection.
1:02.1	I appreciate your concern, but we're taking the long way along the canal.
1:06.3	If they're lying and waiting for me on the usual route, Per if Skye's gang will be
1:10.2	sorely disappointed.
1:12.0	Per if Skye's gang is a group of radicals, known as the People's Will.
1:16.8	There are just one of several populist groups that have made attempts on the Tsar's life
1:20.7	over the past two decades.
1:22.6	He's dodged gunshots twice, once by running in a zigzag pattern away from his assailant.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.