The Railway King by Robert Beaumont

The Railway King by Robert Beaumont

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Summary

George Hudson - the "Railway King" - formed his own Midland Railway, raising #5 million and bribing MP's along the way. But from his glory in 1845 he fell into disgrace, and died a broken man in 1871. This text depicts his story, providing insight into 19th century politics and industrial progress.

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The Railway King by Robert Beaumont

George Hudson - the eponymous "Railway King" - started his career with a stroke of luck, inheriting #27,000 (a fortune in 1827) from a distant relative. He invested succesfully in the North Midland Railway, then formed his own Midland Railway, raising #5 million and bribing MP's along the way. But from his glory in 1845 he fell into disgrace, admitting corruption and selling land he did not own. He was eventually imprisoned in York Castle and died a broken man in 1871. His story provides an insight into 19th century politics and industrial progress, full of moral dilemmas and a testimony to the growth of the railways in Britain - a timely subject.
,wonderful new biography.. highly readable' - The Sunday Telegraph

,... an amusing, gossipy and forthright account' - Daily Telegraph

,... tells Hudson's story with gusto and great confidence' - The Observer

A wonderful new biography...provides a balanced and highly readable view of Hudson's achievements and shortcomings - Sunday Telegraph

...a biography as pacy as its restless subject matter - Spectator
Robert Beaumont embarked on a career as a journalist while at Oxford University and continued for twenty years at the Yorkshire Evening Press where he was named Feature Writer of the Year four times in the Yorkshire Newspaper Society Awards. He lives near York with his wife and two children.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780747232353
ISBN 10 0747232350
Title The Railway King
Author Robert Beaumont
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Headline Publishing Group
Year published 2002-03-04
Number of pages 288
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.