A-Z of Birmingham : Places-People-History Paperback / softback

by Andrew Homer

Part of the A-Z series

Paperback / softback

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Description

Birmingham â€“ Britainâ€™s second largest city â€“ lies in the heart of the country.

Nicknamed the â€˜city of a thousand tradesâ€™, it became the workshop of England in the Industrial Revolution and, as the centre of the Enlightenment in the Midlands, was a hotbed of scientific thinking and technological innovation.

The Lunar Society, including luminaries such as Erasmus Darwin and James Watt, met regularly at industrialist Matthew Boultonâ€™s Soho House.

The Cadbury familyâ€™s Arts and Crafts model village of Bournville, built for their workers, is sought after today, and although many famous industries associated with Birmingham â€“ from Birdâ€™s custard to BSA armaments and motorcycles â€“ have gone, the eclectic Jewellery Quarter remains and a resurgent Birmingham is typified by its 1960s Rotunda, rebuilt Bullring and renovated old canal area around Gas Street Basin. In Aâ€“Z of Birmingham Andrew Homer delves into the history of the city.

He picks out well-known landmarks and famous residents such as Oscar Deutsch, founder of the Odeon cinema chain, Joseph Hansom, inventor of the safety cab, and a youthful J.

R. R. Tolkien and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about Birmingham and its hidden places of interest.

This fascinating Aâ€“Z tour of Birminghamâ€™s history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this West Midlands city.