| The railway was the archetypal creation of the Victorian age. It affected the whole social and intellectual fabric of Britain, figured in the literature of the age, inspired artists, transformed communications and expanded the horizons of ordinary folk. This absorbing book looks at every aspect of the railway in Victorian times from the origins and initial construction to the spreading impact on the nation; from engineers and financiers to the effect on leisure and the environment. This is a story that is not only enthralling in its own right but also fundamental to an understanding of British history and the nature of Britain today. Jack Simmons taught at the University of Leicester for over fifty years, first as Professor of History from 1947 to 1975, and then as Professor Emeritus. Contents:
- List of Tables
- A Note on Usage
- Money Conversion Table
- Preface
- 1 Images
- 2 Structures
- 3 Machinery
- 4 Practitioners
- 5 The Artists Eye
- 6 The Railways Vandalism
- 7 Language and Literacy
- 8 Literature
- 9 Mails and Telecommunications
- 10 The Press and the Book Trade
- 11 Publicity and Public Relations
- 12 Leisure (I): The Excursion Train and the Railway Sunday
- 13 Leisure (II): Tourism and Family Holidays
- 14 Mobility
- 15 Uniformity and Difference
- 16 Loss and Gain
- Notes
- Photographic Acknowledgments
- Index
Continent: Europe
Country: UK |
