The life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Civil Engineer

A son recounts his father’s engineering career, beginning with early training and pioneering tunnelling, then describing major civil works such as suspension bridges and extensive railway construction. The narrative surveys the planning and execution of a broad-gauge railway, experiments with an atmospheric traction system and its abandonment, and detailed accounts of viaducts, iron and timber bridges, and a celebrated river crossing. Separate chapters follow ocean steamship design and transoceanic navigation efforts, and a final section outlines dock works. Technical reports, letters, and contributions from professional colleagues are incorporated to explain methods, trials, and outcomes.