Iain Spragg

This book was very interesting. It was a really easy read and a fast read as well. I loved learning about all the mishaps, innovations and forward thinkers that helped to develop this rail system. Many of the stories made me thankful for the improvements in travelling via rail that we experience today. I think my most favourite story of all of them was the first one in the book. This story spoke about the man who started the building of the system. He ended up in debtors prison for a bit and whilst there he watched a ship worm make a burrow through the wall in his cell. The way this humble worm did this was to secrete a slimy substance around the inside of the tunnel. This slimy substance hardened quickly at which point the worm would move onto the next section and repeat the whole process. This gave Brunel (the builder) the idea to design a huge cast-iron ring within which the workers would work totally protected. I found it fascinating how such a small animal lead to the building of the Thames Tunnel.

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone to read.… (más)

London's Strangest Tales, Historic Palaces - Extraordinary But True Stories by Iain Spragg is just that, a collection of short but true stories from history. Told in chronological order, the tales come from London's five historic palaces: the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kew Palace and Kensington Palace.

Commencing in 1078, the tales take us through history up until 2013, but in my opinion didn't really live up to the title claiming they were 'extraordinary'. Don't get me wrong, some of the stories were interesting - cardinal spiders at Hampton Court Palace - however many I'd read before (or learned about in documentaries) and others were clearly hyped up for inclusion in this collection.

I'd recommend London's Strangest Tales - Historic Palaces by Iain Spragg for younger readers as an easy introduction to history in London, and to perhaps ignite a desire to learn more.

For devotees of documentaries, and readers of history and historical fiction, you may want to give this one a miss.… (más)