FIRE & STEAM

Christian Wolmar recounts the history of British railroads from their predecessors in the 1700s to the present day. His accent is strong, and he frequently falls into a choppy pattern of word-for-word reading, which breaks up phrases and throws off proper word emphasis. But the expressive, congenial quality of his voice and his clear enthusiasm for his subject overcome these distractions. The early story of the railways is industrial, technological, and even intellectual history of some importance and general interest. But the book's sometimes-long passages of specific local detail will interest only specialists, despite the author's enthusiasm. W.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2009]