The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

—
NOTICES FROM THE ENGLISH PRESS.
— —
" Deep and permanent is the interest excited by this wondrous story of
genius. No one can read unmoved the early struggles of this remarkable
character, as they are narrated in this work. To young men faltering, it
gives lessons which should supply fresh vigour. The continuous effort, the
persistent valour, the daring ingenuity, and ever-active intellect of this collierboy,
teaching himself, gradually making his value felt by all around him, and
finally raising himself to one of the noblest positions in life—that of a great
benefactor to mankind—these must be studied in the pages of this biography."
—Leader.
" Few romances possess so strong an interest as this life, so brave, so simple,
60 strenuous in its faith. It is 'conceived in a spirit worthy of its subject, the
true history of a working man, written with a fulness of style and a clearness
of knowledge, which render it invaluable to all working men." Litekart
Gazette.
" Perseverance was Stephenson's device and principle. This biography must
always be widely read and consulted." Athen^um.
" The fame of George Stephenson spread slowly, and, great as it has at last
become, we cannot question that it will continue to increase with time. It is
as the father of railway locomotion, that he founds his highest claim to the
gratitude of the world. There is scarcely a page of this biography which is not
suggestive. The whole ground is novel, and of the highest interest." Quarterly
Eevievit.
" This work cannot fail to be both popular and useful ; the great lesson which
it will inculcate among young men, will be that which Stephenson himself
used to inculcate, whenever in later life he addressed a mechanics' institution
or a public meeting for educational purposes—the power of perseverance."
Westminster Review.
" It is not too much to say that Mr. Smiles has performed his office with
eminent success, and a considerable void has been filled up in the page of
modern history. We see the vast achievements and the epic story of this age
of ours more than half comprised in the feats of its strongest and most success-
ful worker. The worker himself, with his noble simplicity and energy, his zeal
for his kind, his native-born gentleness and indomitable tenacity, would prob-
ably have been eminent in any age 'or condition of society, but in virtue of his
actual achievements and the obstacles he surmounted, of his struggles and
triumphs, we may designate him a hero, and ask in defence of this arbitrary
title what real conditions of heroism there were wanting." Londok Times.
—
—