Charles Todds Magnificent Obsession by Dufty David (10 results)

Paperback. Condition: New. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and letters took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers followed the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition, crossing deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and hunger. Drawing on original letters and journals, David Dufty has uncovered never before published details about this groundbreaking project.This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.

Paperback. Condition: New. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and letters took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers followed the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition, crossing deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and hunger. Drawing on original letters and journals, David Dufty has uncovered never before published details about this groundbreaking project.This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.

Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth-century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers crossed deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood, following the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and starvation. Drawing on original letters and journals, historian David Dufty has uncovered never-before-published details about this groundbreaking project. This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.'An engrossing and dramatic saga' - Pat Sheil'A gripping story' - David Hill 'A tale of endeavor and perseverance' - Roland Perry 'Meticulous research and Dufty's monster writing skills shape a cracking retelling of Charles Todd's race to stretch a single strand of telegraph wire across 3000km of remote Australia from Port Augusta to Darwin' - Glenn Morrison 'A good read, and speaks of the man and his team, illustrating the talents of a rare achiever' - Mac Benoy The construction of the Overland Telegraph in 1870 is an extraordinary feat of engineering and a wild gamble that nearly went terribly wrong. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Condition: New. 2025. paperback. . . . . .

Condition: New. 2025. paperback. . . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. 526.

Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth-century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers crossed deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood, following the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and starvation. Drawing on original letters and journals, historian David Dufty has uncovered never-before-published details about this groundbreaking project. This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.'An engrossing and dramatic saga' - Pat Sheil'A gripping story' - David Hill 'A tale of endeavor and perseverance' - Roland Perry 'Meticulous research and Dufty's monster writing skills shape a cracking retelling of Charles Todd's race to stretch a single strand of telegraph wire across 3000km of remote Australia from Port Augusta to Darwin' - Glenn Morrison 'A good read, and speaks of the man and his team, illustrating the talents of a rare achiever' - Mac Benoy The construction of the Overland Telegraph in 1870 is an extraordinary feat of engineering and a wild gamble that nearly went terribly wrong. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Paperback. Condition: New. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and letters took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers followed the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition, crossing deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and hunger. Drawing on original letters and journals, David Dufty has uncovered never before published details about this groundbreaking project.This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.

Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth-century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers crossed deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood, following the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and starvation. Drawing on original letters and journals, historian David Dufty has uncovered never-before-published details about this groundbreaking project. This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.'An engrossing and dramatic saga' - Pat Sheil'A gripping story' - David Hill 'A tale of endeavor and perseverance' - Roland Perry 'Meticulous research and Dufty's monster writing skills shape a cracking retelling of Charles Todd's race to stretch a single strand of telegraph wire across 3000km of remote Australia from Port Augusta to Darwin' - Glenn Morrison 'A good read, and speaks of the man and his team, illustrating the talents of a rare achiever' - Mac Benoy The construction of the Overland Telegraph in 1870 is an extraordinary feat of engineering and a wild gamble that nearly went terribly wrong. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Paperback. Condition: New. It was the greatest feat of engineering in nineteenth century Australia, but it very nearly collapsed in the face of monumental obstacles.The year was 1870, and letters took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 kilometres to an undersea cable in Darwin harbour in just eighteen months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time. This is the extraordinary story of the building of the Overland Telegraph. Three teams of workers followed the rough maps that John McDouall Stuart had brought back from his final expedition, crossing deserts, mountains, and rivers in flood. They encountered Aboriginal people who had never seen a European, and battled crocodiles, mosquitoes, mysterious illnesses and hunger. Drawing on original letters and journals, David Dufty has uncovered never before published details about this groundbreaking project.This is a tale of obsession and heroism, violence and tragedy, and above all, it's a totally compelling yarn.