The first book in the classic Stevenson saga. An epic story of ambition and daring at the dawn of the Victorian age.
'A natural successor to the late Ronald Delderfield' Yorkshire PostEngland in 1839. A time of change, upheaval and limitless possibility. Every new mile of railroad track and every belching smokestack is a sign of the advancing age of opportunity, where fortune awaits those with the courage and determination to seize it.
"Lord John" Stevenson is the clever, ruthless and hugely popular foreman working on a project to build the world's longest railway tunnel. A near-fatal accident brings the waifish yet savvy Nora Telling into his life. Together with an ill-married couple, Walter and Arabella Thornton, they risk everything in their quest to achieve the wealth and power they so desperately desire. Their relentless ambition sets them on a path that will lead to fame, fortune and the founding of a dynasty.
Scenes of which Hardy would have been proud - Gillian Reynolds
Rich and exciting - Washington Star
Zestful research and Macdonald's mastery of the dialects and speech of all classes bring his novel noisily to life from the first to the last page. - The Times
A powerful new novel...a successful attempt to blend fiction with authenticity. The story is rich with colourful characters, brawling, boozing and bedding...leaves the reader waiting impatiently for the next novel in what must be a memorable series. - Yorkshire Evening Post
Engrossing - a book to revel in. - Charleston Evening Post
An immense spectrum of life as the early Victorians lived it...a marvellously told story alive with believable people. - Charleston Evening Post
He is every bit as bad as Dickens. - Martin Seymour-Smith