Review
“‘A masterful account.’ Michael Binyon, The Times; ‘Wolmar… is a Pullman among story-tellers… I can think of few better ways to while away those elastic periods awaiting the arrival of the next east-bound Circle Line train than by reading it.’ Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph; ‘The Subterranean Railway captures the enthusiasm of the early years… using a deft selection of facts and anecdotes.’ John O’Connell, Time Out”
Metro
‘Christian Wolmar goes beyond the bare facts to give us the human story of the Underground… Fascinating.’
–This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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This book deserves to be enjoyed well outside trainspotting or railway enthusiast circles. Charting the foundation and growth of one history’s boldest engineering projects, it is full of fascinating revelations about London, its people, its politics, its demands and its ever-increasing needs. That sense of a secret world beneath our feet was never conveyed better. I read much of this book while travelling on the Underground itself, and emerged a good deal more appreciative of the visionary men who built it. Perhaps more commuters should do the same!
This excellent and intelligent book charts the history of the London Underground from the early 1870s until the present day. Naturally the period of early development and expansion up to the establishment of Herbert Morrison’s London Transport in 1933 is given most space with the Victoria Line and Jubilee Extension being briefly covered. The building of the cut and cover Metropolitan and the District Railway and the intense rivalry of their respective chairmen Edward Watkin and James Forbes is most interesting. The simultaneous relating of the story of the deep line electric railways, the technological developments and the always interesting roles of the great characters and engineers involved is the strength and pleasure of this book. The complex story is related with a speed and clarity that gives the feeling of excitement and wonder that must have existed at the time. The contribution of American technology brought over by Charles Yerkes, the station designs of Leslie Green and the later Art Deco of Charles Holden, the administrative genius of Ashfield and Frank Pick who between them formed the look of the Underground system that we now take for granted as ‘naturally’ correct, are all covered with immense flair in this excellent book. Read this and then rush to buy Wolmar’s ‘Fire and Steam’.
Although there are many Underground histories, Christian Wolmar’s Subterranean Railway brings it across in a very digestible and gripping read. Wolmar takes an interesting perspective, focusing on the social aspect of the Underground and the benefits it brought London, as well as recognising those great characters that gave the capital the pioneering Subterranean Railway.
A well recommended read by anyone with an interest in the railways, or indeed by ordinary commuters alike!