In the 1830s, The United States underwent a second revolution. The opening of the Baltimore & Ohio line, the first American railroad, set in motion a process which, by the end of the century, would enmesh the vast country in a latticework of railroad lines, small-town stations & magisterial termini, built & controlled the biggest corporations in America. By the middle of the twentieth century, however, as the automobile & the aeroplane came to dominate American journey-making, the historic importance of the railroads began to be erased from America's hearts & minds. In The Great Railway Revolution, Christian Wolmar tells us the extraordinary one-hundred-&-eighty-year story of the rise, fall & ultimate shattering of the greatest of all American endeavours, of technological triumph & human tragedy, of visionary pioneers & venal & rapacious railway barons. He also argues that while America has largely disowned this heritage, now is the time to celebrate, reclaim & reinstate it. The growth of the US railroads was much more than just a revolution in mode, speed & convenience. They united the far-flung components of a vast & disparate country & supercharged the economic development that fuelled its rise to world-power status. America was created by its railroads & the massive expansion of trade, industry & freedom of communication that they engendered came to be an integral part of the American dream itself. ...

We are living through a period of dramatic political change Brexit, the election of Trump, the rise of extreme right movements in Europe & elsewhere, the resurgence of nationalism & xenophobia & a concerted assault on the liberal values & ideals associated with cosmopolitanism & globalization. ...

It seems that all is not well at the North Pole: the reindeer have gone on strike & Santa's auditioning a menagerie of other animals to take their place. But when the cats abandon station to chase some mice & the elephants fall through the roof, what' ...

A new non-fiction book recounting the 19th century history of Irel&. The book traces the three causes of the halving of the Irish population in that century: the famine, the Irish emigrations to American & Canada, & the transportation of political activitists to Australia. It is a quest for the author's Irish ancestors. ...

Let each know that for each the body, the mind & the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.' These powerful words, spoken by Nelson Mandela in his inaugural address as the new president of South Africa, are taken from just one of the forty important & thought-provoking speeches in this collection. Ranging from 1945 to the present day, they provide an important insight into the modern world. Inspirational speeches by Winston Churchill, Mikhail Gorbachev, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama & many others are supplemented with biographies of each speaker, as well an exploration of their words' significance & an historical account of the consequences of their oratory. This is a history of the recent & contemporary world told through the speeches that shaped it. ...

Here you will find ghost stories, love stories, murder stories, & stories of war & rebellion. You will read about kings & queens, priests & peasants, outlaws, inventors, soldiers & smugglers, & the heroism of ordinary men & women. Written by a consummate storyteller & vividly illustrated on every page, this is a wonderful way to encounter the legendary characters & notable events of Great Britain's colourful history. ...

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From the mysteries of Cheddar Man to revolting peasants, from the ribald rhythms of Chaucer to the Glorious Revolution, from the Battle of the Boyne to The Origin of Species to the discovery of DNA, Robert Lacey takes us on a captivating tour of the nation's landmark moments from prehistory to modern times. Drawing on the most up-to-date research & packed with insight, humour & fascinating detail, Lacey brings the stories of England's making brilliantly to life. ...

From ancient times to the present day, the story of England has been laced with drama
- a rich & vibrant narrative of heroes &
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Rich, handsome & ingenious, Edward Pierce preys on the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of his century. Who would suspect that a gentleman of breeding could mastermind the daring theft of a fortune in gold
- aboard a mighty steam locomotive?
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