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British Library Publishing A History of Railways in 100 Maps.
Continuing the thematic strand of the successful and proven British Library ‘100 Maps’ series, this new volume traces the fully international history of railways from their beginnings in the north-west of England through to the inter-continental lines of today.
Arranged chronologically, and with some 140 newly photographed maps and ephemera from the British Library’s cartographic holdings, A History of Railways in 100 Maps explores both the progress of the railways and railway infrastructure across the globe, and through mountains, deserts, cities and even under oceans. The volume also charts the development of how railways were surveyed and presented in two- and three-dimensional forms for the purposes of engineering and construction, politics, economics and indeed war.
A dedicated chapter looks at fantasy and literary railway maps, while the book concludes with a presentation of recent breakthroughs in railway infrastructure, design and mapping and also looks ahead to future developments in this most lasting of transport inventions.
Arranged chronologically, and with some 140 newly photographed maps and ephemera from the British Library’s cartographic holdings, A History of Railways in 100 Maps explores both the progress of the railways and railway infrastructure across the globe, and through mountains, deserts, cities and even under oceans. The volume also charts the development of how railways were surveyed and presented in two- and three-dimensional forms for the purposes of engineering and construction, politics, economics and indeed war.
A dedicated chapter looks at fantasy and literary railway maps, while the book concludes with a presentation of recent breakthroughs in railway infrastructure, design and mapping and also looks ahead to future developments in this most lasting of transport inventions.
Hardcover
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About the author
Jeremy Black
431 books198 followersJeremy Black is an English historian, who was formerly a professor of history at the University of Exeter. He is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of America and the West at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
Black is the author of over 180 books, principally but not exclusively on 18th-century British politics and international relations, and has been described by one commentator as "the most prolific historical scholar of our age". He has published on military and political history, including Warfare in the Western World, 1882–1975 (2001) and The World in the Twentieth Century (2002).
Black is the author of over 180 books, principally but not exclusively on 18th-century British politics and international relations, and has been described by one commentator as "the most prolific historical scholar of our age". He has published on military and political history, including Warfare in the Western World, 1882–1975 (2001) and The World in the Twentieth Century (2002).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 6, 2025
2.5 Stars!
Train travelling, like travelling is one of those things I’d love to do a lot more of but I happen to live in a geographically isolated country with a joke-shop rail system, well to be honest it has a joke-shop public transport which can feel like time travelling back to the 1800s, but I digress...I should probably get back to this review...
From Thomas The Tank Engine to the Trans-Siberian Railway, there are so many contrasting styles and approaches from many parts of the world and from very different periods with different aims too, which allows us to get a look at a broader ranger for a deeper understanding and appreciation for them.
Some are real artistic efforts and others closer to crude and rudimentary in their rendering.
I found the author's writing far too staid and dull to really capture my imagination or attention for any prolonged period of time and so I actually read this over a period of months rather than hours or days. I can see how it could be a good source for reference etc, but as a casual or enjoyable read, I’m not sure it would fulfil those requirements.
Train travelling, like travelling is one of those things I’d love to do a lot more of but I happen to live in a geographically isolated country with a joke-shop rail system, well to be honest it has a joke-shop public transport which can feel like time travelling back to the 1800s, but I digress...I should probably get back to this review...
From Thomas The Tank Engine to the Trans-Siberian Railway, there are so many contrasting styles and approaches from many parts of the world and from very different periods with different aims too, which allows us to get a look at a broader ranger for a deeper understanding and appreciation for them.
Some are real artistic efforts and others closer to crude and rudimentary in their rendering.
I found the author's writing far too staid and dull to really capture my imagination or attention for any prolonged period of time and so I actually read this over a period of months rather than hours or days. I can see how it could be a good source for reference etc, but as a casual or enjoyable read, I’m not sure it would fulfil those requirements.
Displaying 1 of 1 review