Description |
viii, 339 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
Summary |
"The Victorians invented the idea of the future. They saw it as an undiscovered country, one ripe for exploration and colonization. And to get us there, they created a new way of ordering and transforming nature, built on grand designs and the mass-mobilization of the resources of the British Empire. In this rich and absorbing book, a distinguished historian of science tells the story of how this future was made. From Charles Babbage's dream of mechanizing mathematics to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's tunnel beneath the Thames to George Cayley's fantasies of powered flight and Nikola Tesla's visions of an electrical world, it is a story of towering personalities, clashing ambitions, furious rivalries and conflicting cultures--a rich tapestry of remarkable lives that transformed the world beyond recognition and ultimately took mankind to the Moon"-- Provided by publisher. |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 297-322) and index. |
Subject |
Science -- History -- 19th century.
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Inventors -- History -- 19th century.
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Technological innovations -- History -- 19th century.
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ISBN |
9781639362608 hc. |
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