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Review
"'A masterful account.' Michael Binyon, The Times 'Wolmar is a Pullman among story-tellers.' Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
"'Christian Wolmar brings the era of railway mania alive: both the imagination and the daring that made it possible.' David Dimbleby * 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 * [Fire and Steam is] 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 * Fire and Steam tells a rollicking tale. - Michael Binyon, The Times * A sure-footed guide to the oft-told tale of British railway history. The author has an unerring eye for relevant detail. His scholarship is everywhere evident... There are innumerable anecdotes and lashings of informative asides... Excellent. - Frank McLynn, Independent * A wonderful account of how our railways came to be. - Jon Snow"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
91 of 95 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This excellent book describes the complete history of the railways in Britain from the Stockton & Darlington, and the Liverpool & Manchester beginnings to the High Speed Rail Link into St Pancras for the Channel Tunnel. Wolmar writes with a clear and enthusiastic style which takes the reader on at a great pace and captures the excitement of the early pioneers. This is a 'mature' history book, and whilst it deals with virtually all the significant events in the history of the railways in Britain; the development of the lines, the companies and changing structure, the service during the two World Wars, and inevitably nationalization and privatization, it never becomes an 'anorak' book given to excessive technical detail or sentimentality. It is not an illustrated 'coffee-table' book. Wolmar's judgements on controversial aspects of railway history always appear clear and probably correct. An excellent and exciting read.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A really well written and interesting book full of little known, but compelling, facts. Ideal for anyone interested in the growth of the country's infrastructure. One does not have to be a railway buff to appreciate this book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As I have worked in the railway industry for 6 years I like to think I understand a lot about the railway but this book made me realise I know only a little. In this book Christian takes you though the social and political history of the railways in Great Britain beginning with how the first railway line began (Manchester & Liverpool) and continues right up until the railway that exists today. Every chapter provides you with history, facts and knowledge that will help the reader to understand the railway and how it became what we travel on in the 21st century. The book made me laugh , got be frustated, made me angry and very proud all at various points in the book and also kept me intrested all the way to the very last page. The book is not just for railway enthusiasts despite having bits of railway nostalgia here and there, in my opinion its should be read by every passenger who has ever travelled on the railway and i think it will help the reader to understand a industry that has done as much to shape 21st century Great Britain as any. On a personal level this book made me proud to say I work for the railway.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Christian not only writes well, he reads well too ...
For audiobook listeners, Christan performs very well when reading his own work! (oh and the book is first rate also ...)
Published 12 months ago by EllaGuru
Railman
Christian Wolmar would make an excellent thriller writer, but luckily he concentrates mainly on Railway matters. Read more
Published 14 months ago by cairns
A Very Good Book
This is a very good, very readable history of Railways in Britain from the Stockton and Darlington to 2007. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Paul Clappison
Excellent read but small print!
I am interested in railways, but not an obsessive! I found the book really interesting as it covered many aspects of railway construction, social implications, big business,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Peter the elder
Thrilling
I think it's Christian Wolmar who said that it was easier to identify the things the railways didn't change than the things they did.
This book is really exciting. Read more
This book is really exciting. Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by K. Tune
A passionate history of Britain's railways
Few inventions did more to change life in Britain than the railways. Since the establishment of the first steam-powered lines in the early 19th century, they demolished locality,... Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by Mark Klobas
Wolmar's Fire & Steam
Christian Wolmar provides a comprehensive history of UK Railways and successfully links the facts to the dramatic social changes driven by the age of the railway. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2010 by Mad Bookie
Superb railway history
This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in quite a while. I'm not a train buff but enjoy social and economic history and will admit to a real nostalgic feel when seeing... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2010 by David Canning
A beautifully crafted account with broad appeal
This is a beautifully crafted book that tracks the history of the railways in Britain from Stephenson through to the early 2000's. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2010 by Adrenalin Streams
excellent history of UK railway
well written, entertaining history of the railway with a focus on social impact rather then a technological history. Recommended reading
Published on 19 Jan 2010 by Mr. D. Young
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