Synopses & Reviews
Christian Wolmar passionately and expertly chronicles the story of what is often called Siberias lifeline. From its improbable conception and construction under Tsar Alexander III to the northern extension ordered by Brezhnev, Wolmar examines its continued success as a vital artery for the expansion of the Russian, and subsequently, of the Soviet state. The Trans-Siberian railroad fueled the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Revolution, Civil War, and the Russian resistance to the Nazi invasion during the Second World War, among other bloody upheavals.
The rousing story of the Trans-Siberian is one of continuous change, extraordinary personalities, and formative political and economic events. This is first general history of the Trans-Siberian railwaythe longest rail network in the world, stretching 6,000 miles of bleak winter. The iron tracks sprawl over the bulk of the Asian landmass thats scarcely populated by disparate and numerous tribesinitially connecting the few who even spoke the official language of the Russian state with the exiled convicts and political prisoners serving out their terms in cruel labor camps where men were regularly beheaded, hanged, starved, or mutilated for minor offenses. And yet, despite this dismal backdrop, the increased stream of people fed into Siberia by the rail led to a drastic transformation through rapid urbanization and migrant settlements. Thanks to the iron road, Siberia has quickly become an inextricable part of Russias lore.
But To the Edge of the World is also an adventure in travel, and a journey that will forever evoke the romantic roam through the Russian steppes famously popularized by David Leans rich adaptation of Doctor Zhivago in 1965. It is the portrait of a railway that began as a meandering, single-track line with more curves than an average mountain pass. It would end up as a widely mythologized network of rails that continues to wield a profound influence on the worlds geopolitical system even today.
Review
and#147;Overall, however, the message of this absorbing book is convincing. Its ecological costand#151;including permanent damage to the fragile permafrostand#151;may lead some readers to question whether the Trans-Siberian was truly the "best thing that ever happened to Siberia," as Mr. Wolmar suggests. But he is surely right to say that its creation helped to shape the destiny of Russia and with it, that of Europe and the modern world.and#8221; and#151;
Wall Street Journaland#147;If the worldand#8217;s railways have a laureate, it is surely Christian Wolmar. Donand#8217;t let his keen interest in track, specs, and rolling stock put you off and#151; railroads are not dull. For this seasoned transportation maven and author and#151; he has covered transport for major British newspapers and has written several excellent works of rail history including and#147;Blood, Iron and Goldand#8221; and#151; railroads are not only engineering marvels, they are also social and political acts. Nowhere was this more the case than the building of the Trans-Siberian railway, the subject of Wolmarand#8217;s excellent new account, and#145;To the Edge of the World.and#8217;and#133; Wolmar misses no detail as he outlines station design, employment practices, and other aspects of the rail businessand#133; You can take the Trans-Siberian today, but be sure to pack Wolmarand#8217;s book if you do.and#8221; and#151;Boston Globe
and#147;A highly informative chronicle of the development of the Trans-Siberian railroad. A British author who specializes in the history of railroads, he knows his subject well: He provides a wealth of details about the myriad aborted and successful projects that eventually spawned the Trans-Siberian of today, along with the long list of players involved in themand#133;This is a fascinating story.and#8221;and#151;Washington Post
and#147;A fascinating window onto aspects of Russian history only touched on obliquely in conventional histories.and#8221; and#151;Foreign Affairs
and#147;Icy, bleak, but unusually dramatic is this portrait of earthand#8217;s longest railroad and its prominent role in Russiaand#8217;s development. and#133; Wolmar tells this story with aplomb, sprinkling his lucid prose with piquant sketches of personalities, vivid travelogue, and interesting socioeconomic background on the railroadand#8217;s success in bringing settlers and industry to the Siberian expanse. There are gripping narratives to be told about transport infrastructure, and surely this is one.and#8221;and#151;Publishers Weekly
and#147;[Wolmar] has combined the genres of historical saga and travelogue to provide a sweeping and enjoyable account of the construction, historical importance, and current status of the railroad...This is a well-done tribute to what remains an important travel artery.and#8221; and#151;Booklist
and#147;The volume is a breezy read, and while Wolmar does not dive too deeply into the subject, he performs an excellent job of explaining the difficulties of building a railroad through the unforgiving terrain of Siberia and the far-ranging impact the railroad has had on Russian society. Recommended for anyone interested in railroad and transportation history and the history of Russia.and#8221;and#151;Library Journal
and#147;British transportation specialist Wolmarand#133;certainly knows his stuffand#133; A comprehensive, proficient history of and#145;a tale of remarkable engineering stimulated by imperial ambitionand#8217;.and#8221;and#151; Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
To the Edge of the World is an adventure in traveland#151;full of extraordinary personalities, more than a century of explosive political, economic, and cultural events, and almost inconceivable feats of engineering. Christian Wolmar passionately recounts the improbable origins of the Trans-Siberian railroad, the vital artery for Russian expansion that spans almost 6,000 miles and seven time zones from Moscow to Vladivostok. The worldand#8217;s longest train route took a decade to buildand#151;in the face of punishing climates, rampant disease, scarcity of funds and materials, and widespread corruption.
The line sprawls over a treacherous landmass that was previously populated only by disparate tribes and convicts serving out their terms in labor campsand#151;where men were regularly starved, tortured, or mutilated for minor offenses. Once built, it led to the establishment of new cities and transformed the regionand#8217;s history. Exceeding all expectations, it became, according to Wolmar, and#147;the best thing that ever happened to Siberia.and#8221;
It was not all good news, however. The railroad was the cause of the 1904and#150;1905 Russo-Japanese War, and played a vitaland#151;and at times bloodyand#151;role in the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Civil War. More positively, the Russians were able to resist the Nazi invasion during the Second World War as new routes enabled whole industries to be sent east. Siberia, previously a lost and distant region, became an inextricable part of Russiaand#8217;s cultural identity. And what began as one meandering, single-track line is now, arguably, the worldand#8217;s most important railroad.
About the Author
Christian Wolmar is a writer and broadcaster, specializing in transportation matters. He has written for major British newspapers for many years and has contributed to many other publications, including the
New York Times and
Newsday. His most recent books are
Blood, Iron, and Gold,
Engines of War, and
The Great Railroad Revolution. He lives in London.