Online Catalogue last updated 17th of September 2023
There are few more iconic figures in the history of British engineering than Isambard Kingdom BruneI. He towered over his contemporaries like a Colossus and in terms of the breadth of his activities - from the construction of the Great Western Railway to his three great ships and his bridges - he was the predominant figure for two decades in the mid-19th century prior to his premature death in 1859. However, BruneI was controversial in his time and the debate about his real abilities continues to the present.
In Brunel: An Engineering Biography, author Adrian Vaughan, one of Britain's foremost railway historians and a leading authority on BruneI, has delved deep into the records to re-examine Brunel's legacy. Drawing upon many sources, including Brunel's own correspondence, he portrays the struggle that BruneI had in trying to achieve his aims and how far he was forced to rely upon others, most notably his father and those who were in day-to-day management of the various projects. Profusely illustrated with drawings and photographs, Brunel: An Engineering Biography is a fascinating exploration into the man, his methods and his work.
Historians and all those interested in BruneI will find that this book provides a fresh analysis of the great achievements as well as the failures of Brunel's career. Published to coincide with the bicentenary year of BruneI's birth, this new biography of the constantly innovating engineer reveals a fascinating story of a powerful personality who swept people along on the great adventures of his projects - whether destined for enduring success or cataclysmic failure - and who still dazzles us today.
Code No. 012840, ISBN 9780711030787