Additional information
by Anthony Burton (Author)
This is the story of the men who built Britain's canals and railways--not the engineers and the administrators, but the ones who provided the brawn and muscle. There had never been a workforce like the navvies, a great army of men, moving about the country following the work as it became available. This book will tell of their extraordinary feats of strength and their often colourful lives. They lived rough, usually having to make do with huts and shelters cobbled together from whatever materials were available. They worked hard and drank hard. Often exploited by their employers, they were always liable to erupt into riots that could have fatal results. The book will look at who these men were, where they came from--and destroy the myth that they were all Irish. It is a story full of drama, but above all one of great achievements.
Author Biography
Anthony Burton is the author of 70 books, including The Anatomy of Canals Vols 1-3, Canal 250 and Matthew Boulton for The History Press. He has worked extensively in television as a writer and presenter and recently as an expert, appearing in Big, Bigger, Biggest for Channel 5, Thomas Telford for BBC Scotland, an episode of Coast, and most recently discussing canal navvies on The One Show. He will shortly be appearing with Melvyn Bragg on Reel History of Britain. As well as being a historic adviser for the Discovery series, he is currently writing articles for Countryfile and Canal Boat.
