The Lancaster Crossing |
| Posted by Merlin (Merlin) on 19th December, 2006 |
by Christopher Oxborrow
- Published by;
- New Generation Publishing
- 2nd Edition Published 2012
ISBN 190877567X
When I first received this book for review I set about reading it with a air of obligation. It isn't the kind of novel that I would normally read by choice. Apart from the genre being alien to me the layout and print quality leave something to be desired. These first impressions were soon set aside however, by the end of the first chapter I was hooked.
This isn't a canal tale but a tale set in the time of the building of The Lancaster Canal and weaves its plot through the bustling port of Lancaster and out over the seas with the trading ships which brought good dividends for the merchants of Lancaster. The story follows two boys from diverse backgrounds growing up during the era of Napoleon, slave trading and the great engineers.
The author manages to include a great deal of detail without clouding an excellent plot. This results in the reader becoming absorbed in the atmosphere of the time. For the canal historian it gives a great insight into the impetus for the canals construction and the ways that the wealth for investing in them was created.
The authors' time spent as a deep-sea mariner is evident in his narration of the voyages, yet his depiction of the events and attitudes of Napoleonic times illustrates a detailed research into the history of the pioneers who drove the industrial revolution. Now a resident of Lancaster he has drawn a splendid picture of his adopted city.
Last changed: 10th May, 2012 at 7:51 am
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