How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon: The Story of the Nineteenth-Century Innovators Who Forged the Future

The Victorians were a golden age of engineering, with unprecedented technological development between 1800 and 1900. This book tells the story of how this future was made, from Charles Babbage's dream of mechanising mathematics to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's tunnel beneath the Thames, from George Cayley's fantasies of powered flight to Nikola Tesla's visions of an electrical world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Icon Books

An Insightful Analysis of 19th-Century Futurism

In his captivating book, "How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon", historian Iwan Rhys Morus delves into the fascinating world of 19th-century futurism, offering an insightful analysis that blends cautionary tale and celebratory spirit. Through a meticulous exploration of various developments such as the transatlantic telegraph cable, steam locomotive, electric power, and the imaginative fiction of the time, Morus paints a vivid picture of the era's technological advancements and the audacious predictions it held.

Katy Guest of "The Guardian" praises the book as "excellent," highlighting its terrific insight into why the Victorian era was a golden age of engineering. Nick Smith of "Engineering and Technology Magazine" also commends it, describing it as a "terrific insight into why the Victorian era was a golden age of engineering."

By the end of the Victorian era, the world had undergone a profound transformation. The unprecedented pace of technological development between 1800 and 1900 marked a historic turning point in human history. As the Victorians cast their gaze toward the heavens and beyond, envisioning new frontiers to be conquered, they embarked on a remarkable journey of invention, shaping, and molding the very concept of the future.

To achieve this future, the Victorians embarked on a grand endeavor to order and transform nature, fueled by ambitious designs and the immense resources of their Empire. In the process, they revolutionized science, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries.

In his rich and absorbing book, Morus takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of towering personalities, fierce rivalries, and conflicting cultures. From Charles Babbage's visionary dream of mechanizing mathematics to Isambard Kingdom Brunel's engineering marvels, from George Cayley's imaginative flights to Nikola Tesla's visionary electrical world, this is a story of remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark on the world and ultimately propelled us to the moon.

Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Morus weaves together a vibrant tapestry of remarkable lives, showcasing the profound impact of 19th-century futurism on the world and the enduring legacy it has left behind. "How the Victorians Took Us to the Moon" is a must-read for anyone interested in history, technology, and the human spirit's relentless pursuit of innovation.

Weight: 566g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785789281