Brunel by Steven Brindle

I bought Brunel by Steven Brindle – The Man Who Built the World – with an introduction by Dan Cruickshank from Brunel museum in London. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was one of the greatest minds of the 19th century. This short book tells his story, starting with his French-born father’s career and finishes with details about his children and descendants.

It is a fascinating book, so interesting to read. There are technical bits of information, but not too detailed, so it doesn’t make the book difficult to read for non-engineers. In the picture above you can see the book and also three projects he was involved in. In the left bottom part of the collage you can see the tunnel underneath the Thames which he and his father built. His father was an engineer which made a lasting impact on the way engineering is made even today, precisely with this tunnel. I took that picture from Brunel museum in London. All links in this post are towards my review of these locations, hosted on my lifestyle blog.

In the middle is Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Bristol. The bridge was completed after Brunel’s death, but it was according to his designs, mainly. The bridge is still there, allowing cars and pedestrians to cross over, after more than 150 years.

Lastly, on the right, is a picture of SS Great Britain, now a museum in Bristol. It was a revolutionary way to build ships. It is talked about in the book, alongside his other vessels. Also, his other achievements are presented too, like the railways and bridges he built as chief engineer of the Great Western Railway.

There are many quotes from letters in the book, Brindle also presents Brunel’s family life and that is very interesting too. I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it, even if you haven’t heard of Brunel before.

Brunel by Steven Brindle

Details about the picture: I made a collage with three projects in which Brunel was involved.
My rating: 5/5 Stars
Would I recommend it: yes
Published by: Phoenix
Year it was published: 2006
Format: Paperback
Genre(s): Biography
Pages: 197

About the author: Brindle read History at Keble College, Oxford University. He worked for English Heritage for 27 years. He was also involved in the post-fire restoration of Windsor Castle, 1993 – 1997. He published a book on one of Brunel’s less known projects called Paddington Station: Its History and Architecture.
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