The Last Journey of William Huskisson: How a Day of Triumph Became a Day of Despair at the Turn of a Wheel (Paperback)

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Review
Anybody with bad memories of tedious history lessons knows that the Industrial Revolution can potentially be one of the driest subjects known to man. A bewildering collection of important dates, political upheavals and weirdly named inventions, it's also the era that gave us the railways, and author Simon Garfield's follow-up to his acclaimed science history Mauve is a sprightly, assured tour around the stories and irrepressible characters behind the birth of the Age of Steam. Dealing with the construction of the pioneering Liverpool to Manchester railway, the first of its kind in the world, at the book's heart is the tragic tale of accident-prone statesman William Huskisson, one of the prime political architects of the railway who, in a horribly ironic turn of fate, also became its first victim. It was Huskisson who saw the potential for the railways to compete effectively with the canal trade, and it was Huskisson who fell beneath the wheels of George Stephenson's famed engine the Rocket on the Liverpool to Manchester line's opening day in 1830. Bringing an affecting level of detail to a story that's often viewed as simply an uncomfortable metaphor for progress, Garfield's account is accompanied by plenty of evocative black-and-white illustrations, and his efficient and often witty prose captures the energy and enthusiasm of a country on the verge of transformation. A self-confessed train obsessive, Garfield has obviously done his homework, adding a wealth of historical detail on the politics, inventions and engineering of the day while never losing sight of the human story. Once the detailed recreation of Huskisson's tragic accident arrives, the book packs an unexpected emotional wallop, and there are also some relevant points to be made about modern-day train safety. Intelligent and engaging, this is a surprisingly gripping slice of history. (Kirkus UK)

Product Description
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the greatest engineering feat of its age. George and Robert Stevenson's "Rocket" was to become the most famous locomotive in history. William Huskisson was one of the greatest statesmen of his generation and certainly the most accident prone. On 15th September 1830, the three met for the first time. Huskisson's fateful accident, in which the "Rocket" crushed his leg and thigh, is an unforgettable image of the Industrial Revolution. But what really happened on that day? How did the opening of the world's first passenger railyway turn from a glorious morning into a tragic afternoon? This book is an entertaining tale of ambition, genius, rivalry and legend, plotting the eight-year struggle to build a railway with a cast of engineers, politicians, actresses, surgeons, socialites and breathtaking machines. It is a loud and evocative snapshot of the times, but above all it is a human story of one man's shocking and very gory demise.

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6 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 3.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars The Politician and the Train, 13 Feb 2003 By  R. Simpson (South Kirkby, Yorks, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)       This review is from: The Last Journey of William Huskisson: How a Day of Triumph Became a Day of Despair at the Turn of a Wheel (Hardcover) As Simon Garfield wisely points out, William Huskisson is 'remembered as that man who got knocked over by that train at the opening of that railway', his notable achievements as MP and Minister largely forgotten. For that reason, if for no other, Garfield's readable and well researched book is very welcome. Somehow, though, it makes rather less impact than might be expected. Though the gathering of information from many contemporary sources is admirable, the opening section (telling many different stories at different times) is more confusing than compelling. Perhaps we learn too much about Huskisson's political career for the good of the main narrative, but too little to be really involved in it. The central story, however, is well told and emerges as just as sad - yet faintly ludicrous -as one would expect. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Steamy Adventure, 7 Nov 2003 By  Paul Ratson - See all my reviews This is a truly old-fashioned adventure, very much something from the Victorian age. The building of the Liverpool/Manchester railway was an engineering success story that only a few imagined at the time. One of them -ironically enough - was William Huskisson, influential local MP and 'the most accident-prone MP on the planet'. His slow death on the day is the centrepiece of this book, but the real story is how they built the railway and the consequences for travel throughout the world. Simon Garfield provides a rather chilling final chapter in which he mentions the crashes that came after it - from the local ones in the years immediately afterwards to the ones at Hatfield and Potters Bar, which makes us ask how much we have learnt from our own history. Some of the political passages are a little prolonged in what is essentially a human story, but overall this is a grpping book. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A Rewarding History, 7 May 2003 By  "johncreed101" - See all my reviews As the title suggests, this is ostensibly a book about the famous railway accident in which the MP for Liverpool was killed by Stephenson's Rocket. But it is really about the building of the railway itself - the Liverpool/Manchester route that was the first major railway in the world (well, okay, the first inter-city railway in the world...). It was a titanic effort to construct the 30-mile route, with Huskisson instrumental in bringing it about. Simon Garfield is very good in setting the scene for the need for the railway, and then tracks the whole building of the line. The accident itself, which happened on the opening day, is very shocking when it comes, and described in vivid detail. Recommended to those who are interested in the pre-Victorian era, and those who just like a good ripping yarn. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 6 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews 2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing I was very disappointed. The author chops and changes in his timescale and thread and makes little effort to build the narrative to a climax. Read more Published on 1 Jul 2003 by Rod 5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Put Together This is a beautifully put together book, combining a history of the first (real) railway with the tragic death of one of its main promoters. Read more Published on 19 April 2003 by Peter Snell 4.0 out of 5 stars The Death of a Reformer and the Birth of the Railways Living in St Helens, not far from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and remembering a childhood memory of a visit to the 150th Anniverary celebrations of the Rainhill Trials,... Read more Published on 3 Jan 2003 by Mr K S Heywood Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 6 customer reviews...

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