TherichandfascinatinghistoryofthescientificrevolutionoftheVictorianEra,leadingtotransformativeadvancesinthetwentiethandtwenty-firstcenturies.TheVictoriansinventedtheideaofthefuture.Theysawitasanundiscoveredcountry,oneripeforexplorationandcolonization.Andtogetusthere,theycreatedanewwayoforderingandtransformingnature,builtongranddesignsandthemass-mobilizationoftheresourcesoftheBritishEmpire.Withtheirexpertcultureofaccuracyandprecision,theycreatedtelegraphsandtelephones,electrictramsandrailways,builtmachinesthatcouldthink,anddevisedenginesthatcouldreachfortheskies.WhenCyrusField’saudaciousplantolayatelegraphcableacrosstheAtlanticfinallysucceededin1866,itshowedhowscience,properlydisciplined,couldmakenewworlds.AscrowdsflockedtotheGreatExhibitionof1851andtheexhibitionsitssuccessinaugurated,theycametoseethefuturemadefact--toseethefuturebeingbuiltbeforetheireyes.Inthisrichandabsorbingbook,adistinguishedhistorianofsciencetellsthestoryofhowthisfuturewasmade.FromCharlesBabbage’sdreamofmechanizingmathematicstoIsambardKingdomBrunel’stunnelbeneaththeThamestoGeorge’sCayley’sfantasiesofpoweredflightandNikolaTesla’svisionsofanelectricalworld,itisastoryoftoweringpersonalities,clashingambitions,furiousrivalriesandconflictingcultures--arichtapestryofremarkablelivesthattransformedtheworldbeyondrecognitionandultimatelytookmankindtotheMoon.
