Down from Arcturus: A Survivor

By Harry Cornwall

One Man's Remarkable Story of Survival Now Completely Revised and Updated Millions lost everything during the Great Depression, but for young Harry Cornwall the hard times set the stage for a remarkable tale of grit, determination -- and a whole lot of pluck. A true story of triumph over tragedy, Down from Arcturus chronicles one boy's unlikely journey from humble beginnings as he eventually becomes one of the country's premier engineers. Raised in a 240-square-foot house in California's Central Valley -- Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath country -- Harry Cornwall details the extreme hardships of the time. But the nerve he shows -- starting a poetry-writing business, hustling for newspaper subscriptions, salvaging sweets from the nearby bakery incinerator -- hints at the supreme fortitude of one driven to achieve. So it's no surprise when Cornwall makes it into college, putting himself through engineering school by working in mining operations. And when an accident paralyzes his left arm, Cornwall doesn't let that stop him, even swimming the radius of a Sierra Nevada lake on a bet that nets some much-needed cash. Cornwall continues to realize outsize accomplishments, submitting patent after patent -- including the one for the pull-top tab on aluminum cans. As he settles down with a family, what emerges is a uniquely American life story, borne of a uniquely American time. At once a historical account and intimate memoir, Down from Arcturus will stay with you long after the book is closed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1432733826
• ISBN13: 9781432733827
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Outskirts Pr
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"