Lives of the engineers

Originally published in three volumes between 1861 and 1862, 'Lives of the Engineers' by Samuel Smiles offers lively and detailed accounts of the educations, careers, and pioneering work of seven of Britain's most accomplished engineers, including George and Robert Stephenson, James Brindley, and Sir Hugh Myddelton.

The work not only advances the genre of technical biography but also reflects Smiles's belief in the power of hard work, perseverance, and individual character.

The books cover the engineering of early roads, embankments, bridges, harbors, and ferries, as well as the development of the railway system, highlighting the social and industrial impact of these engineers' innovations.