In a BBC poll in 2002, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was voted the second-greatest Briton of all time, only eclipsed by Winston Churchill.

In the soaring ambitions of the Victorian age, nobody thought bigger than Brunel; indeed, it’s often claimed that that, through his ships, bridges, tunnels and railways, he played a critical role in creating the modern world. Never tied to a dusty office, he crammed enough work, adventure and danger into a single year to last a lesser person a lifetime. He was also a brilliant showman, a flamboyant personality and a charmer.

Brunel’s influence is seen all over the landscape of England and in the practices of modern civil engineering. He may have made plenty of mistakes, but he also designed and built several structures which are still with us to this day. In this concise yet informative biography, learn about the man famously described to be ‘in love with the impossible’.