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Brunel: The Life and Times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
 
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Brunel: The Life and Times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Paperback)

by Angus Buchanan (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Hambledon Continuum; illustrated edition edition (1 Jan 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 185285331X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1852853310
  • Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 17.2 x 2.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 386,297 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'The ultimate icon of Victorian Britain turned out to be not a portrait of the great white queen but a grainy photograph of Isambard Kingdom Brunel' J MORDAUNT CROOK


Product Description

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is admired as one of the greatest of all engineers. His leading role in the transport revolution of the 19th century, and especially in the building of the Great Western Railway, left an indelible mark on the British landscape. His achievements captured the imagination of his contemporaries and subsequent generations. His colossal energy and determination to carry out projects on the largest scale to an extremely high standard set him apart from his rivals. "Brunel" tells the story both of the engineer, who followed his father Marc into what was then a new profession, and of the man. It explores his successes and failures, at home and abroad, including both the broad gauge GWR and the SS Great Eastern, bringing out Brunel's imagination, drive and inventiveness. Above all, it sets him in the context of his times, showing both what made him who he was and how he made the most of the great opportunities offered to him.
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Brunel: The Life and Times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A positive and balanced portrait of IKB., 2 Dec 2002
By Andrew Murray "strobe97" (Cumbria, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book takes a different approach to Adrian Vaughan’s “Brunel – A Knight Errant” in style and though the content is similar the interpretation is not. The text is themed as opposed to chronological with both the GWR and the Great Eastern being devoted a chapter each. Brunels life is put into the context of his times and Buchanan effectively shows how I.K. managed to make the most of all the opportunities given, both from his background, and by the era in which he lived. Buchanan clearly has a very deep admiration for Brunel but he often tries to temper his enthusiasm by opting for as balanced an approach as possible. Despite this his high regard for Isambard shines through. Again, in contrast to Vaughan the author does not actively seek to find a dark side but acknowledges that the great engineer was not without flaws. The impression given is that in view of I.K’s achievements his faults were trivial and to that view I am sympathetic. The book steers a middle way between Vaughan and Rolt mostly achieving the balance the author seems to be seeking. I found Vaughan slightly easier to read but enjoyed the more positive approach of Buchanan and in retrospect I feel Buchanan is probably fairer to I.K.B. A comparison is also made between the character of the younger and older Brunel and how in light of the very engaging and dynamic person he appears in youth the weight of responsibility and fragile health inevitably dulled this sparkle towards the end. However, Buchanan does not recognise anything tyrannical or mean spirited in this and my own feeling is that his analysis is probably right. This is a most worthy tribute to the inspirational and legendary Victorian engineer and I thoroughly recommend it.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, balanced biography, 6 Jan 2008
By Catherine Brown (Birmingham UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Brunel: The Life and Times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Paperback)
This is a very full and well-written portrait of IKB. His achievements are discussed in context, including the lesser known works, which is particularly useful. This is not a wholly uncritical biography (like Rolt's) but nor does it take Vaughan's approach of giving undue prominance to IKB's faults. This should be the definitive biography!
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A tribute to an inspirational and legendary Engineer., 23 Nov 2002
By Andrew Murray "strobe97" (Cumbria, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book takes a different approach to Vaughan in style and though the content is similar the interpretation is not. The text is themed as opposed to chronological with both the GWR and the Great Eastern being devoted a chapter each. Brunel's life is put into the context of his times and Buchanan effectively shows how IK managed to make the most of all the opportunities given, both from his background, and by the era in which he lived. Buchanan evidently has a very deep admiration for Brunel but he often tries to temper his enthusiasm by opting for as balanced an approach as possible. Despite this his high regard for Isambard shines through. Again, in contrast to Vaughan the author does not actively seek to find a dark side but acknowledges that the great engineer was not without flaws. The impression given is that in view of IK’s achievements his faults were trivial and to that position I am most sympathetic. The book steers a middle way between Vaughan and Rolt and mostly achieves the balance the author seems to be seeking. I found Vaughan slightly easier to read but enjoyed the more positive approach of Buchanan and in retrospect I feel Buchanan is probably fairer to IKB. A comparison is also made between the character of the younger and older Brunel and how in light of the very engaging and dynamic person he appears in youth the weight of responsibility and fragile health inevitably dulled this sparkle towards the end. However, Buchanan does not recognise anything tyrannical or mean spirited in this and my own feeling is that his analysis is probably right. This is a most worthy tribute to the inspirational and legendary engineer and I thoroughly recommend it.
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