TRAIN Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World--From the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief

Part history and part travelogue, this book about the world’s greatest railroads unspools like a leisurely train trip. And with narrator Grover Gardner as the conductor, it’s a most pleasant journey. His pace and tone exactly match the material—from authoritative and deliberate in the historical sections to relaxed and conversational in the more personal portions. His facility with accents (especially Irish) gives character to many of the direct quotations. The author uses trips on famous rail lines as the structure for a deeper exploration of the history and social impact of railroads, and Gardner delivers an engaging reading. The literary odyssey takes the listener from England to Siberia to India and even to the cutting edge of transportation. It’s a fun trip made more enjoyable by a capable narrator. R.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2014]