Simon Bradley traces the history of the station, introducing us to the men behind the architecture and looks at its new international status. This fine new edition includes a fascinating chapter on the new hotel and some timely revisions bringing it fully up to date. 'A marvellous piece of social, aesthetic and technological history... it is impossible to praise Bradley's book too highly' A. N. Wilson, Daily Telegraph'Brilliantly and with deft hand, Simon Bradley makes sense of it all ... fabulous' Sunday Telegraph'A masterpiece of historical context ... immensely readable' Sunday Times'This fine book examines the history of both the church that gave the station its name and the railway terminus ... unexpectedly compelling' Daily Mail
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'An authoritative and elegantly written biography of one of London's finest buildings.' --PD Smith, Guardian
Book Description
St Pancras station has long been an iconic landmark on the London landscape and one of its most distinctive monuments. This new edition is published to coincide with the reopening of Scott's wondrous Gothic hotel and includes a new final chapter and illustrations.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Dr. R. Brandon
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The first third of the book is given over to a scholarly treatment of the derivation of the particular Italian gothic style employed by George Gilbert Scott to build the Midland Grand Hotel, the magnificent frontage to St. Pancras Station. The philosophical roles of Pugin and Ruskin are examined and details provided of the life and the architectural activities of Scott; some might think this the long route towards talking about the station per se. The design and construction of the train shed by William Henry Barlow is described very well. The almost unique (at the time) single unsupported arch construction is explained and compared with that used on other major railway termini. Interesting facts such as the spacing of the cast iron pillars in the undercroft being related to beer barrel size are fascinating and just the sort of detail enthusiasts will be looking for. The interior and Victorian usage of the hotel are described well. There then follows brief notes on the Midland Railway and changes which the railways wrought in society, the latter being of dubious relevance. A perfunctory description of the station resurrection is provided. This is an interesting book but leaves the reader feeling short-changed with regard to a direct treatment of the station and its renovation. It does not quite live up to the eulogies printed on the cover; it is not a masterpiece nor fabulous. The black and white printed illustrations are of poor quality.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By William
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a beautifully written and affectionate book on one of the defining pieces of Victorian architecture and engineering. It's hugely entertaining and informative and goes off on some lovely tangents, rather like a pre-Beeching branch line. You certainly don't have to be a railways enthusiast to enjoy this short work.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very disappointing and irritating book. Disappointing as the first 60 odd pages were a discussion of why the early Victorians liked Gothic architecture but nothing about the station or the hotel at all. The rest of the book was well padded out with general average railway history, nothing much about St Pancras at all. Not much hard facts about the station; the rows behind the scenes during the building, the cost cutting exercises, change of plan and so on. No social history of what it was like to work in the hotel, no little anecdotes, no references of who stayed there and no reason why it had a fairly rapid decline. Irritating as the author kept referring to the station/platforms as the "Train Shed", which may be the correct name for a railway buff, but not being one it conjured up pictures of steam engines on a turntable waiting to go out and haul the next train, not a station platform! I have given it one star as it was well bound and printed on "nice" paper.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very wordy book.
This is a very wordy book about the history of St. Pancras - the station and the hotel.
Not many pictures.
Not many pictures.
Published 4 months ago by John Simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
St Pancras Station is a great book with lots of interesting pictures and will make a great present for a railway enthusiast
Published 6 months ago by Carol
4.0 out of 5 stars
St. Pancras Station
This arrived faster than the trains and is amazingly good value. Looking forward to just one night at the old Midland Grand hotel - like the book an eightieth birthday present to... Read more
Published 23 months ago by G. Day-Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Railman
I really enjoyed this book-all the way through. I think that the preamble saves the reader looking to other sources to answer questions. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2011 by cairns
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent short introduction
A book about a station may not sound too promising. This is a pleasant surprise, though, as it is about one of the most striking buildings of its type in the country and the... Read more
Published on 25 Dec 2010 by Andrew Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative and entertaining
When I visited St Pancras station for the first time recently, I bought this book at Foyles bookshop on the concourse. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by J. Lockwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
St Pancras Station
A superb, comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining account of the true architectural wonder that is St Pancras Station. Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by A. P. Heard
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful writing, impressive scope
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Most novel writers cannot use language this fluidly. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2008 by R. W. M. Lally
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, erudite and witty
Contrary to the other peevish remarks of the online Amazon reviewers, this sparkling book is a wonderful read. Highly recommended.
Published on 20 Jan 2008 by J. Ewbank
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Whilst this book has a nice glossy cover with good reviews, it is spoilt by the very poor quality illustrations which do not do justice to this wonderful building. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by A. Hurst
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