The Liberation Line

A masterful account of the unsung heroes of the battle for Normandy. Without the valiant efforts of the British and American railwaymen, the liberation of France might have had a very different outcome. A gripping tale. -- Giles Milton, bestselling author of Checkmate in Berlin One of the great epics of the war in Northern Europe from 1944 to May 1945 and beyond, the story of the Liberation Line has been hidden in plain sight until the arrival of this brilliant book. The destruction of the railways by bombing and sabotage, and their resurrection and restoration, is vividly narrated by Christian Wolmar. * Robert Fox MBE Evening Standard Defence and Security Editor. * Wolmar's history will delight train spotters but is also fascinating for the passengers who often pass through these great transport temples without a second thought. * 'Books of the Year', Financial Times on Cathedrals of Steam * Lively... Wolmar builds a compelling narrative that celebrates these industrial wonders. * The Times on Cathedrals of Steam * London's twelve great rail termini are the epic survivors of the Victorian age. They are the cathedrals of transportation. Wolmar brings them to life with the knowledge of an expert and the panache of a connoisseur. His words render them indestructible. -- Simon Jenkins on Cathedrals of Steam