Customer Reviews

Brunel: The Life and Times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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!

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.

Very well written but too much of 'His Times' to the expense of the story his life which is truly facinating..