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Suez: De Lesseps' Canal
with one map and thirty-nine contemporary engravings of the construction of the canal
242 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
2 people want to read
About the author
John Pudney
171 books3 followersJohn Sleigh Pudney was born in Langley, Buckinghamshire. He attended Gresham's School, where he was a contemporary of W.H. Auden. He worked as a radio producer and scriptwriter for the BBC and as a war correspondent, before joining the RAF in 1940. Before the war he had written two published books of verse, Spring Encounter and Open the Sky, two collections of stories and Jacobson's Ladder, a novel. During the war he was recruited by the British Government to write about the work of air crews in a way that could be understood by the general public. A Squadron Leader, he served in Africa, the Mediterranean and France.
He became a reviewer for the Daily Express after the end of the war and Literary Editor of News Review from 1948-1950. He then joined the publishers Putnam as a director. He was an extraordinarily prolific writer, producing twenty collections of poetry, dozens of novels, children's books, short stories and two plays. His non-fiction included a history of lavatories, The Smallest Room, and an official history of the Battle of Malta.
Probably his most famous poem, 'For Johnny', was written on the back of an envelope during an air raid on London in 1941. This simple, twelve-lined poem seemed to encapsulate the mood of the war taking place in the air at this time. It first appeared in the News Chronicle and was read on radio by Lawrence Olivier and quoted by Michael Redgrave in a war time film, The Way to The Stars, and has appeared in numerous anthologies:
He became a reviewer for the Daily Express after the end of the war and Literary Editor of News Review from 1948-1950. He then joined the publishers Putnam as a director. He was an extraordinarily prolific writer, producing twenty collections of poetry, dozens of novels, children's books, short stories and two plays. His non-fiction included a history of lavatories, The Smallest Room, and an official history of the Battle of Malta.
Probably his most famous poem, 'For Johnny', was written on the back of an envelope during an air raid on London in 1941. This simple, twelve-lined poem seemed to encapsulate the mood of the war taking place in the air at this time. It first appeared in the News Chronicle and was read on radio by Lawrence Olivier and quoted by Michael Redgrave in a war time film, The Way to The Stars, and has appeared in numerous anthologies:
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 9, 2013
This book is mostly a transcription of letters, essays and stories from the people who witnessed the construction of the Suez Canal. However, the author did an excellent job of stitching these writings together into an intelligible essay. An interesting tale of power, money, and intrigue regarding a project established to bring mankind closer together. A testament to F. de Lesseps.
Only 237 pages long, filled with interesting illustrations, I enjoyed this book very much. Very easy read.
Only 237 pages long, filled with interesting illustrations, I enjoyed this book very much. Very easy read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review