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The Victorian era was a time of extraordinary prosperity and development in Britain. Britain was a world leader in steam engines, iron and steel production, cotton and woollen mills and international trade; an explosion of power and pride that was celebrated in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Adam Hart-Davis, who presented 'What the Romans Did for Us' in a highly acclaimed television series and contributed the Introduction to the accompanying book, is a renaissance man - brilliant at elucidating and explaining. This is a celebration of Victorian achievements and a reflection of the fact that we still live in a Victorian world.