Mallard: How The 'Blue Streak' Broke The World Speed Record

Author: Don Hale
Paperback: 166 pages
ISBN: 9781845133450
Recommendation: would read again


On the afternoon of the 3rd of July 1938 the streamlined A4 Pacific locomotive LNER 4468, better known as Mallard, was recorded travelling at 126mph; the fastest a steam engine had ever travelled before. Amazingly that world record still stands. In this fascinating book author Don Hale takes us through the full story of the development of Mallard and the record attempt itself.

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The Gutenberg Revolution

Author: John Man
Paperback: 289 pages
ISBN: 9780553819663
Recommendation: would read again


No one can argue against the fact that the printing press revolutionized the world. In 1450 the small number of books to be found in Europe were all written out by hand. Just 50 years later they were printed and there were millions of them. This explosion in the written word had huge consequences as ideas, previously confined to a small area or a small number of people were set free. This book documents Johann Gutenberg's invention of printing and the revolution it caused.

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Dave Gorman vs. The Rest Of The World

Author: Dave Gorman
Paperback: 343 pages
ISBN: 9780091928483
Recommendation: would read again


Dave Gorman fancied playing a board game; unfortunately he didn't have anyone to play against. Of course being Dave Gorman he turned this into an adventure, criss-crossing the country, visiting total strangers, playing games he had never even heard of. If you like Dave's humour or are interested in the weird variety of British games then you will enjoy reading this.

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Java Performance

Author: Charlie Hunt and Binu John
Paperback: 693 pages
ISBN: 9780137142521
Recommendation: would read again


While modern Java virtual machines are much faster than they used to be, when writing software where performance matters it is important to understand how to optimize your code and how to configure the JVM to get the most out of your hardware. Whilst highly technical this book is easy to work through and provides a whole host of invaluable performance tips. A must for any serious Java developer

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The Duchesses

Author: Andrew Roden
Paperback: 237 pages
ISBN: 9781845135997
Recommendation: would read again


The Duchesses (officially the Coronation Class) were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives ever to work the British railway network. In this absorbing book Andrew Roden takes us through the history of these magnificent machines, from their inception through the record breaking trains the hauled across the country and right up to date with details of the three examples that survived into preservation. If you find steam engines fascinating then you will find this book just as fascinating.

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The Disappearing Spoon

Author: Sam Kean
Paperback: 346 pages
ISBN: 9780552777506
Recommendation: would read again


The history, discovery and use of many of the elements that make up our planer are vividly brought to life in this fascinating book by Sam Kean. From Gandhi to gold rush via the disappearing spoon of the title, this is no dusty science book but a collection of highly engrossing stories. Well worth a read even if you aren't usually interested in science.

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Mr Briggs' Hat

Author: Kate Colquhoun
Hardback: 282 pages
ISBN: 9781847443694
Recommendation: would read again


Just before 10am on the 9th of July 1864 two bank clerks entered a first class train carriage only to find it spattered with blood. The carriage was empty apart from an ivory topped walking stick, and empty leather bag and a hat. Later that evening an unconscious and badly injured body was found on the railway line and although a doctor was called Thomas Briggs died and became the first person to be murdered in a railway carriage. The only clue to the identity of his killer was the hat, as it didn't belong to the victim.

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Shroom

Author: Andy Letcher
Paperback: 348 pages
ISBN: 0571227708
Recommendation: enjoyed


Until the law was changed, in July 2005, it was perfectly legal to buy and sell magic mushrooms in England. Overnight this naturally occuring hallucinogen had gone from a recreational drug like alcohol to a mushroom the possession of which could get you arrested. This fascinating book takes us on a magical mystery tour from the use of magic mushrooms in indigenous ceremonies to more modern abuses. From the science behind the main active ingredient psilocybe to well documented historical intoxication. If you want to know about the history of magic mushrooms then this is the book to read.

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Jack The Ripper: Letters From Hell

Authors: Stewart P. Evans and Keith Skinner
Paperback: 300 pages
ISBN: 075093770X


Between August and November of 1888 six prostitutes were murdered and mutilated in London's East End. Whilst Jack The Ripper was never caught a large number of letters purporting to be from the killer were sent to newspapers and the police. For the first time this book collects together all of the Ripper letters along with expert commentary. A fascinating look at one of the worlds most famous unsolved cases.

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Puppets In Yorkshire

Author: Walter Wilkinson
Hardback: 245 pages


During the 1920's and 1930's Walter Wilkinson toured his Punch and Judy show throughout England and the wider world. In this delightful little book he recounts his travels one summer through Yorkshire. After having journeyed from London via train he alights at Gainsborough before pulling his show north to Hull, then East to York and North to Richmond. Whenever a village green presents itself out comes the show to entertain the locals. A fascinating window onto a long forgotten past.

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The Maul And The Pear Tree

Author: P. D. James and T. A. Critchley
Paperback: 372 pages
ISBN: 9780571258086


P.D. James is best known as a writer of crime fiction. In this interesting book, along with T.A. Critchley, she turns her eye to solving a real murder case. During December of 1811 two households were rocked by violent murders. With the public baying for blood the police arrested seaman John Williams. Williams was convicted of the murders and executed. While no other murders occurred the evidence against Williams was circumstantial at best. Was he the killer, or just another victim?

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Germs: The Ultimate Weapon

Author: Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, William J. Broad
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 074323071X


A fascinating yet terrifying look into the history of germ warfare. From small scale trials by terrorist cults to large scale manufacture by rogue states and Cold War adversaries this book details what has, until recently, been classified work into one germ based Weapons of mass destruction. Some of the examples would seem more at home in a thriller novel, but all have been proved to have happened at some point or another in the worlds recent past.

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At Home

Author: Bill Bryson
Hardback: 536 pages
ISBN: 9780385608275


In this fascinating book Bill Bryson visits each room in his house to discover the history behind the rooms function and furnishings. We take so much of our history for granted that we never consider how much developments in architecture, food preservation, electricity, paints etc. contribute to the layout and function of our everyday homes. Bryson attempts to rectify this in his own unique and engaging style.

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Map Of A Nation

Author: Rachel Hewitt
Hardback: 436 pages
ISBN: 9781847080981


Today we all take accurate maps for granted, but you don't have to look back too far into the history of the British Isles to find a time when maps were either inaccurate or simply didn't exist. The long road to the production of the first set of Ordnance Survey maps of Britain took over two hundred years and was supervised by some extraordinary figures. This book documents this journey from the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden to the completion of the first series in 1870.

Note that the number of pages is misleading. Of the 436 pages almost a quarter (109 pages) are taken up with notes and references. This isn't actually surprising given the scholarly nature of the work, but can come as something of a surprise!

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Dan Cruickshank's Bridges

Author: Dan Cruickshank
Hardback: 384 pages
ISBN: 9780007318186


Ever since man first toppled a tree in order to cross a stream bridges have served an important role in human travel and communication. In this fascinating book Dan Cruickshank charts the changes in bridge design and construction from Roman times to today's mega-bridges, whilst explaining the role of the bridge in human society. Lavishly illustrated and engagingly written this book is a joy to read.

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The Wall: Rome's Greatest Frontier

Author: Alistair Moffat
Paperback: 270 pages
ISBN: 9781841587899


Even today Hadrian's wall, in places, is a formidable barrier. Making use of the natural terrain and with a large stone wall, defensive ditch, and numerous forts, nearly 2000 years ago this would have been an impenetrable barrier for those without permission to cross. In this book Alistair Moffat provides well researched descriptions of the state of Roman Britain, from the early conquests through the building of the wall to the end of the Roman Empire, answering such questions as why was the wall needed, why was it built where it was, how was it built, and many more.

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Britannia: 100 Documents That Shaped A Nation

Author: Graham Stewart
Hardback: 434 pages
ISBN: 9780857400222


A nation as old as Britain is defined by it's history. Whilst many things have contribute to the history of Britain today their traces are seen in the documents that have survived to record the past. In this book Graham Stewart tells the story of a nation through 100 documents that have shaped, and continue to influence society. Not everyone who reads this book will agree with the 100 documents, but all are interesting and enlightening in one way or another.

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Slaughter On A Snowy Morn

Author: Colin Evans
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 9781848311657


We live in a society were we are used to expert witnesses having to actually be experts in their field, and to laws that restrict the evidence that can be introduced. This wasn't always the case and numerous innocent people were imprisoned solely on account of junk science. This fascinating book highlights one such case where in 1916 an innocent man came to within minutes of the death penalty before the science used to convict him was shown to be wrong and the "expert" witnesses was shown to be anything but an expert.

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Just My type

Author: Simon Garfield
Hardback: 352 pages
ISBN: 9781846683015


This is a book about fonts. Not a guide to fonts but rather a collection of stories about the development and use of the fonts that we bump into everyday. From the signs on the Paris Metro to newspaper type and the common hatred of Comic Sans this wonderful book is full of interesting stories and nuggets of font information. If you've ever looked at the list of fonts available on your computer and wondered about their names or design then this book is for you.

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The Grand Prix Saboteurs

Author: Joe Saward
Paperback: 363 pages
ISBN: 9780955486807


Racing drivers as secret agents seems so far fetched and proposterous that even a novel wouldn't be believeavle. However odd it sounds, it is in fact the truth; during World War II a number of racing drivers worked for the British government as spies and saboteurs within occupied France. In this enthralling book, Joe Saward, documents the lives of these racing drivers and the part they played in the downfall of the Third Reich.

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