Earlier I read parts of Truth Like The Sun, a new novel by Jim Lynch which I liked very much and became interested in reading the Murray Morgan Book about the Seattle World’s Fair. According to the internet at Village Books Chuckanut Editions, Chuckanut will publish a new edition of Morgan and Wilson’s Century 21: The Story of the Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. It was first published in 1963, by Murray Morgan with a photo essay by Steven C. Wilson.
Both the Lynch and Morgan books present two clear points of view, the Lynch book alternates chapters between 1962 and 2001 and the Morgan book alternates with the photo essay. Interestingly, Morgan is the name of a Lynch protagonist. Both books begin as the fair starts, the Lynch books continues from there, and the Morgan book returns to the first thoughts of the fair to explain how it came to be.
Morgan develops the idea of the fair as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition and the character of E. E. Carlson, who played a strong role in the fair and in the idea of the Space Needle. Among the photos are portraits of the many people, mostly males, who originated the fair along the way, which “materialized at a martini luncheon at the Washington Athletic Club in January of 1955. Since there was such a luncheon, that is as good a place as any to begin this improbably success story.”
Morgan explains that he was doubtful about the fair. The organizers faced trouble getting the money and official recognition in many ways, their long effort over seven years is Murray Morgan’s main topic. The photo essay is sensitively arranged by idea of place to reward the close study a reader would give. The photos are very good and interesting. I look forward to being able to look at a new edition.
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