There have been many biographies written and published about the life of this great inventor, yet Prime's detailed study is still the most comprehensive and important of all. His book is equally valuable because it offers a contemporary viewpoint of Morse and because it extensively utilizes extracts and diagrams from Morse's and other's patents. There is no greater tribute to the importance of this work as a classic reference than the fact that later works continue to cite it extensively. Prime traces Morse's life from his early years and original art career through his trials and tribulations with the innovation of the prototype telegraph system. Accurate and filled with important observations and information, The Life of Samuel F. B. Morse is a classic.