The Electric Telegraph: A Social and Economic History

As the subtitle of the book says, this a social and economic history of the telegraph. What is not mentioned is that this book is a history of the use of the telegraph primarily in Great Britain. The book has a rather academic tone and isn't really intended for the casual reader. Most of the issues discussed, such as tendency for telegrams to replace written letters, or the consolidation of news gathering from individual papers to grouped associations or services such as Reuters, is often not related in personal stories or anecdotes but in summaries, tables and overviews. Also discussed in detail are the political acts and actions that affected telegraph deployment, usages and restrictions. It is not recommended for the casual reader, show more but would be of interest to someone in an academic field. show less