Publisher Description

The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. This work celebrates the vision and determination of the Victorian pioneers who developed this transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a countrywide network to emerge.

Notes

Now in paperback, this tells the dramatic story of the people and events that shaped the world's first railway network, in Britain. From the opening of the pioneering Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 onwards, it celebrates the vision and determination of the ambitious Victorians who developed this revolutionary transport system, and the navvies who cut through the land to enable and country wide network to emerge. It sold over 30,000 copies in hardback. 'Christian Wolmar brings the era of the railway man alive: both the imagination and the daring that made it possible.' David Dimbleby

Author Biography

Christian Wolmar is a writer and broadcaster. He writes regularly for the Independent and Evening Standard, and appears frequently on TV and radio. His previous books include the widely acclaimed The Subterranean Railway, a history of the London underground and On the Wrong Line, an account of rail privatization.

Review

A marvellously informative, entertaining and rightly partisan book... that has given me more pleasure than any I can remember in quite a while. -- Rod Liddle * Sunday Times *
Expertly explored and explicated, Wolmar never forgets the human dimension... A beautifully written, detailed (but never anoraky) history of two centuries of life on the iron road. -- Judith Flanders * Daily Telegraph *
From the prolific pen of the nation's most passionate and well-known advocate of rail transport and travel... rich in anecdotes without being anecdotal, firmly rooted and referenced in a broad knowledge of our railways yet still an entertaining read. -- Peter Lyth * BBC History Magazine *
A wonderful account of how our railways came to be. -- Jon Snow

Promotional

Now in paperback, Fire and Steam tells the dramatic story of the people and events that shaped the world's first railway network, one of the most impressive engineering achievements in history: 'Christian Wolmar brings the era of railway mania alive: both the imagination and the daring that made it possible.' David Dimbleby

Long Description

The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830 marked the beginning of the railways' vital role in changing the face of Britain. This work celebrates the vision and determination of the Victorian pioneers who developed this transport system and the navvies who cut through the land to enable a countrywide network to emerge.

Details