Nothing Like it in the World: The Men That Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869 - Hardcover

Ambrose, Stephen E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684846098 ISBN 13: 9780684846095

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

The Union had won the Civil War; slavery was abolished. Lincoln, an early champion of railroads, would not live to see the next great achievment. It took brains, muscle, and sweat in quantities and scope never before ventured and required engineers and surveyors willing to lose their lives in the wilderness; men who had commanded and obeyed in war; workers from China, Ireland, and the defeated South; and capitalists betting their money for possible profit. The government pitted the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. Locomotives, rails, and spikes were shipped from the east through Panama, around South America, or lugged across the country. The railroad was the last great building project to be done by hand: excavating dirt, cutting through ridges, filling gorges, blasting tunnels. Nothing like this great railroad had been seen in the world when the last spike, a golden one, was driven in at Promontory Peak, Utah, in 1869, as the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific joined tracks. Ambrose writes with power and eloquence about the brave men who accomplished the spectacular feat that made the nation one.

About this title

Review:

Conn Nugent

"New York Post"

Climb aboard...this lively tale, a colorful, edifying story of U.S. history....Ambrose is the bard of American accomplishment.

Bob Minzesheimer

"USA Today"

Historian Stephen Ambrose has done it again....Ambrose should be read as much for his muscular prose and talent to get at the heart of the matter as for his research.

Henry Kisor

"The New York Times Book Review"

Richly readable...[Stephen Ambrose] bears the reader on shoulders of wonder and excitement.

Henry Kisor"The New York Times Book Review"Richly readable...[Stephen Ambrose] bears the reader on shoulders of wonder and excitement.

Conn Nugent"New York Post"Climb aboard...this lively tale, a colorful, edifying story of U.S. history....Ambrose is the bard of American accomplishment.

Bob Minzesheimer"USA Today"Historian Stephen Ambrose has done it again....Ambrose should be read as much for his muscular prose and talent to get at the heart of the matter as for his research.

"Time," naming "Nothing Like It in the World" as the #1 Nonfiction Book of the YearThis magnificent tale of high finance, low finagling, and workers hacking through 2,000 miles is magnificently told.

Bob Minzesheimer "USA Today" Historian Stephen Ambrose has done it again....Ambrose should be read as much for his muscular prose and talent to get at the heart of the matter as for his research.

"Time, " naming "Nothing Like It in the World" as the #1 Nonfiction Book of the Year This magnificent tale of high finance, low finagling, and workers hacking through 2,000 miles is magnificently told.

Henry Kisor "The New York Times Book Review" Richly readable...[Stephen Ambrose] bears the reader on shoulders of wonder and excitement.

Conn Nugent "New York Post" Climb aboard...this lively tale, a colorful, edifying story of U.S. history....Ambrose is the bard of American accomplishment.

Richly readable...[Stephen Ambrose] bears the reader on shoulders of wonder and excitement.--Henry Kisor "The New York Times Book Review "

This magnificent tale of high finance, low finagling, and workers hacking through 2,000 miles is magnificently told.--Time, naming Nothing Like It in the World as the #1 Nonfiction Book of the Year

Climb aboard...this lively tale, a colorful, edifying story of U.S. history....Ambrose is the bard of American accomplishment.--Conn Nugent "New York Post "

Stephen Ambrose has done it again....Ambrose should be read as much for his muscular prose and talent to get at the heart of the matter as for his research.--Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today Historian

About the Author:

Stephen E. Ambrose, leading World War II historian, was the author of numerous books on history including the Number 1 bestselling BAND OF BROTHERS, D-DAY (on which SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was based) PEGASUS BRIDGE and WILD BLUE. He is founder of the Eisenhower Center and the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. He died in 2002.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0684846098
• ISBN 13: 9780684846095
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 432