Synopses & Reviews
A world that had changed little from the Middle Ages was altered beyond recognition by the engineering genius of the nineteenth century:rivers tamed, oceans pacified, continents bridged. In
Dreams of Iron and Steel, acclaimed historian Deborah Cadbury tells the heroic tale of the visionaries and ordi-nary workers who brought to life seven wonders of engi-neering that still have the power to awe and inspire us today.
From the London sewers that banished cholera to the Panama Canal that shaved thousands of miles off a dangerous sea passage, from the Hoover Dam that diverted the world's most unpredictable river to give power to over half of the country to the transcontinental railroad that fulfilled the dream of manifest destiny, Dreams of Iron and Steel reveals the epic struggles and personal stories of the most brilliant pioneers of the industrial age, and the financiers and politicians who hung on for the ride as fortunes and reputations were lost and won.
Fueled by Deborah Cadbury's characteristic scholarship and insight, this extraordinary chronicle re-createsthe human odyssey of how our modern world was forged -- with rivets, grease, and steam, but also with blood, sweat, and extreme imagination.
Review
“Cadbury has a knack for providing interesting asides…an engaging and informative read.” San Francisco Chronicle
Review
“A fascinating look at the technological triumphs of the in the nineteenth century.” Booklist
Review
“Engrossing...DREAMS OF IRON AND STEEL celebrates the triumphs not just of engineering but of the questing human spirit.” Stephen Fox, author of Transatlantic
Review
“An engaging and informative read.” San Francisco Chronicle
Synopsis
The eagerly awaited new book from Deborah Cadbury, author of The Lost King of France. This is the story of how our modern world was forged--in rivets, grease and steam; in blood, sweat and human imagination.
Synopsis
Deborah Cadbury is a stylish writer and she describes the splendours and miseries of these wonders in their true colours and with understanding of the ethics and aspirations of their times.
About the Author
Deborah Cadbury is the highly acclaimed author of several books, including Dreams of Iron and Steel, The Lost King of France, and Terrible Lizard. She has also won numerous international awards as a television producer for the BBC. She lives in London.