Blood, Iron, and Gold reveals the huge impact of the railways as they spread rapidly across the world, linking cities that had hitherto been isolated, stimulating both economic growth and social change on an unprecedented scale. From Panama to the Punjab, Christian Wolmar describes the vision and determination of the pioneers who developed railways that would one day span continents, as well as the labour of the navvies who built this global network.
Wolmar shows how cultures were enriched - and destroyed - by the unrelenting construction and how they had a vital role in civil conflict, as well as in two world wars. Indeed, the global expansion of the railways was key to the spread of modernity and the making of the modern world.
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"Kind of light on freight railroading, but a very interesting, quick read through of the history of world railways. Felt it was too light and breezy in some spots though. " — Greg (4 out of 5 stars)
"Kind of light on freight railroading, but a very interesting, quick read through of the history of world railways. Felt it was too light and breezy in some spots though. "
" It's a great source for information and further reading. "
" Kind of light on freight railroading, but a very interesting, quick read through of the history of world railways. Felt it was too light and breezy in some spots though. "
" Surprisingly readable, long overall - interesting nuggets of train facts "
" Interesting, but not really absorbing, history of the railway's impact and decline over the last 200 years. "
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