On the High Wire

Random House, New York, 1985 The true first edition of this book. An exceptional copy, NEW and SIGNED by the author on the title page, dated 92. Glossy white wraps, front cover photo of Petit supine on a high wire, 9 1/4 x 7 3/8 inches, 120 pp., numerous b/w photo illustrations. "Philippe Petit (born 13 August 1949) is a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, on the morning of August 7, 1974. For his unauthorized feat 1,350 feet (400 metres) above the ground which he referred to as "le coup" he rigged a 450-pound (200-kilogram) cable and used a custom-made 26-foot (8-metre) long, 55-pound (25-kilogram) balancing pole. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire. The following week, he celebrated his 25th birthday. All charges were dismissed in exchange for him doing a performance in Central Park for children. Petit conceived his "coup" when he was 18, when he first read about the proposed construction of the Twin Towers and saw drawings of the project in a magazine, which he read while sitting at a dentist's office in 1968." (1722RO118). Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Soft cover. New.