English Canals Explained (England's Living History) Paperback – December 1, 2003

Stan and Trevor Yorke are the great explainers of English infrastructure. They have produced a number of great books about English architecture and infrastructure as part of the "England's Lving History" series. These are wonderful books for all those who love the details of how infrastructure works. If you are looking for a general history of the English canal system, look somewhere else. But if you want to know about the little details of how locks and canals work, this is your book. Both Yorkes are solid illustrators and good writers. Highly recommended.

Trying to learn about narrowboats and living on the 'cut' without breaking the bank buying reading materials, this book seemed an easy choice. Stan Yorke is a good, knowledgeable writer who brought interesting, new facts to familiar topics. Unfortunately, the information would end too quickly, leaving a want for just a few more pages.This is definitely worth a buy for those completely new to narrowboats or English canals.

For those who have never lived in a land with a canal system - this is a book that does a nice job of explaining how and why English canals came into being.

Write your review hereI read this well written book before walking the tow paths. I gives ample background and good concise explanations. I was interested in the history behind the canals and their impact on the industrial revolution prior to the railways with steam engines changing the paradigm. Very well written.

Great condition

Très intéressant , un super incitant au tourisme et très bien adapté pour apprendre l'anglais

This is a brief introduction, by no means thorough, reference work on the canals. Many drawings and photos, but no maps, which would have been useful. It touches somewhat on the very long history and working of the canals. I found it interesting, well written, but at the end surprised that's all there was. It's kind of like a Cole's Notes on the canals. It is well titled, basically just explaining what they do, why they are there, who started them and many interesting tidbits. A good primer of you think you might want to read about the canals. I would have given it five stars had there been a map or two.

This book gave me a good insight into the working of canals but not enough of the social history of the people who worked the canals and the goods they hauled.

Good book at good price