Topsy
Michael Daly
Reading Time
at 250 WPM6h 9m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 6h 9m to read Topsy.
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13
days at 30 min/day
369
total minutes
Topsy
by Michael Daly
Published
2013
Publisher
Atlantic Monthly Press
Pages
369
ISBN-13
9780802119049
ISBN-10
0802119042
Description
Describes how a circus elephant named Topsy was electrocuted in 1903 with 6,600 volts of alternating current as proof that it was much more dangerous than direct current in an ongoing dispute between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. At the turn of the century, the circus in America was at its apex with the circuses of P.T. Barnum and Adam Forepaugh competing in a War of the Elephants, with declarations of whose pachyderms were younger, bigger, or more "sacred". This brought Topsy to America. In 1903, on Coney Island, Topsy was electrocuted, a victim of the War of the Currents, in which Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla battled over alternating versus direct current. Daly weaves together period Americana, circus tidbits and larger than life characters for an entertaining read.
Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Topsy?
This edition of Topsy has approximately 369 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Topsy?
For most readers, Topsy typically takes between 7h 41m and 5h 8m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 92,250 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 6h 9m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 13 days • Estimated word count: 92,250 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Topsy?
The estimated word count for Topsy is approximately 92,250 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Topsy?
Topsy was written by Michael Daly.
When was Topsy published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 2013. The original work may have been published on a different date.