Book Review
~ Books by Leicester Author Max-Wade-Matthews ~
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~ Max Wade-Matthews ~
Max is a writer and researcher who has written many books on his adopted city of Leicester as well as on topics ranging from Railways to Music. If you wish to learn more about Leicester's long and colourful history, you can visit Max's website by clicking on this link ---> [Link]. Be sure to read "A year in the Life of Leicester: 1836," the text of which, can be found at his website. Max is also available for research projects on almost any subject, especially local history and family history. Max Wade-Matthews was born in Norwich and went to school in Lowestoft. He trained as a registered nurse before having five years as a professional musician, working in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong. In the early 1980s he established "House Divided" a magazine aimed at American Civil War re-enactors in Europe. He moved to Leicester in 1982 and after studying local history at the University of Leicester devoted his time to writing and research. He is at present working on a study of the effigies in the churches of Leicestershire and Rutland and a virtual stroll through Leicester. Both will be published as interactive CDROMs. Some of Max's books are available through "Heart of Albion Press" Link --> [Link]. Max is also a rabid Foxes fan; in other words, a keen supporter of Leicester City. The following titles are available through this website in association with amazon.co.uk:
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Great Railway Journeys of the World
5
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Classic Railway Journeys of the World
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Great Railway Journeys of the West
5
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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Steam & Rail
5
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Synopsis
Great Railway Journeys of the World describes ninety-five outstanding
railway journeys in all parts of the globe - journeys that have been
experienced first hand by a team of expert writers. Specially priced,
Great Railway Journeys of the World recounts some of the world's most
famous train journeys.
Synopsis
The picture of the book above The World's Great Railway Journeys is actually from the soft cover version of the hardcover book: Classic Railway Journeys of the World.
Synopsis
The wonders of the locomotive and the scenery of classic railway journeys
are combined in this book, from a 3200km trip between Chicago and Oakland
in North America, to a 27km jaunt back in time between Bedford and
Bletchley in England.
Synopsis
Written by experts in the field and illustrated with over 1500 photographs, this is an exhaustive reference work to the world's most remarkable locomotive engines and railways, and is a book to inspire rail enthusiast and armchair travellers alike.
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Great Railway Journeys of the East
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World Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments
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Synopsis
Synopsis
A encyclopedia of musical instruments covering all sections of the
orchestra: strings, woodwind and brass, percussion, keyboard and the
voice, as well as rare and non-western instruments. The text is set out as
a history of music-making, from its discovery to the evolution of the
orchestra.
Synopsis
Musical activities in Leicester in 18th and 19th centuries.
There was an amazing diversity of music-making in Leicester during these
times, involving many nationally renowned performers. Musical Leicester
describes the evolution of such diverse forms of music making as classical
music concerts, minstrel troupes, oratorios, local orchestras, brass
bands, bell ringing organists and church choirs.
Customer Comment
As a resident of the village I am amazed that Mr.
Wade-Matthews has been able to find so much information on what I thought
was just a run-of-the-mill English village. I am especially impressed with
the coverage of the 19th century feud between the vicar and lord of the
manor. Written in a friendly way, in language that every lay man can
understand, this is the book for everybody who is interested in how local
history should be written.
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The Monuments of St Martin's Church, Leicester
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The Monuments of the Church of St Mary de Castro, Leicester
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Synopsis
Inscribed monuments in churches are usually passed by with
little attention. However, these two booklets (St Martin's and St Mary de
Castro) shows that with the benefit of historical research, they can shed
fascinating light on times now gone. Not only are the monuments
transcribed but, wherever possible, brief biographies have also been
included to bring the monuments to life.
Continued --->
Synopsis
All the inscribed monuments inside the churches are listed,
including windows, together with those recorded by the 18th century
antiquary John Nichols and which are now sadly lost. Apart from interest
to church historians and genealogists, the brief biographies also provide
a wider insight in the lives of some of Leicester's more notable
inhabitants. For ease of use each book is provided with an index of names.
Reviews
Musical Leicester - continued: "Many notable citizens of Leicester contributed their energy and enthusiasm to the growth and success of music making in Leicester, although almost all of them are now unjustly forgotten. Max Wade-Matthews' research reveals many aspects of Leicester's history that would otherwise have remained overlooked. The detailed information on the concerts, musicians, promoters and venues, combined with a lively style of writing, ensures that Musical Leicester will inform and entertain all those interested in music making, social history and local history." From the back cover of Musical Leicester.
"Only now, at the end of the 20th century, and at the beginning of a new millennium, do we have a comprehensive study of music in Leicester in the preceding two hundred years. A work like this is long overdue and should prove to be of interest to scholars and layman alike. Twentieth century Leicester has had a rich and varied musical life. Amateur music making of all kinds, from theatre to church and orchestra, has flourished. So too has professional music: helped of course by the building of the De Montfort Hall in 1912. However, many of the seeds for these activities were sown in the last century.
It is fascinating to read of the names and personalities of those days: the splendid William Gardiner, responsible for the first English performance of a work by Beethoven; the Nicholson dynasty whose tireless efforts to bring the best music to Leicester make most impresarios seem tame by comparison; the organists and rival organ builders Taylor and Porritt (whose names and instruments are familiar to all local organists to this day); the singers, conductors, choir masters and bellringers are all chronicled along with the halls, churches and salons, many of which are long gone, in what adds up to a splendid document of musical and social history. Present and future generations of music lovers will find much to enjoy as will musicians and historians. Max wade-Matthews has shed light on a darkened room with this enjoyable, informative and well illustrated volume and for that I, for one, am grateful." Neil Crutchley - Music Critic and Features Writer for the Leicester Mercury.
Great Railway Journeys of the World: Without a doubt rail is the best way to travel. Compared with travelling by road, not only is rail economical but also in these days of environment awareness, both clean and environmentally friendly. If asked what makes a great railway journey, the answer will depend on the person questioned. Some will delight in the distance; some the countryside; some the scenery; others will enthrall on the locomotive which pulls the train, while for others it is the people met on the journey? The various journeys described in this book cover all and more of these factors. You will read of journeys covering as little as the ten miles from Leicester to Loughborough [Link] which set Thomas Cook on his career to the journey of the Red Arrow which travels half way round the world from Brussels to Hong Kong.
Rail journeys for pleasure began in the late nineteenth century when the growing prosperity of the middle classes made possible the prospect of going away for a holiday. In many parts of the world are to be found towns which came into prominence in the latter half of the nineteenth century for the simple reason that they had the good fortune to find themselves connected to the growing railway network. Many of these places had been sleepy villages until the railway came and made them the communities they are today. Neighbouring habitations often remained just as they were while the town with the railway took off and achieved the status all of its own. Some of the journeys in this book are historical and no longer in operation. Modern thinking, which puts road transportation first, has caused many railway lines to be closed. In New South Wales, for instance, where once the timetable was half an inch thick, you now get handed three or four sheets of paper - and even then most of the information given is details about the buses that have replaced the trains!
Other journeys, however, are still operating and may be the reader's appetite will be whetted to take to the rails and partake of the experience of a life time - a journey by rail. The more than ninety journeys described in the book include: Toronto to Vancouver, Chicago to Seattle, Los Mochis to Chihuahua, Santa Rosa de los Andes to Las Cuevas, Guayaquil to Quito, Dublin to Cork, Fort William to Mallaig, Paris to Istanbul on the Orient Express, the Swiss Glacier Express, a trip in Communist Albania and North Korea, a wartime adventure from Calais to Milan, the spectacular Norwegian Fl�m, the Egyptian 'Star of Egypt', the South African �Blue Train�, the Taurus Express, Basra to Baghdad, Damascus to Medina, the Trans Siberian Express, Delhi to Rajastan on the �Palace on Wheels�, Colombo to Kandy, Shenyang to Harbin, Tokyo to Osaka, Singapore to Bangkok, the Australian Ghan and the ever-changing scenery from Christchurch to Wellington.
Imagine
rocking through India's once perilous Khyber Pass, retracing the journey
of gold prospectors from Skagway to Whitehorse in the Yukon or rolling
along in luxurious comfort on the Oriental Express. Specially priced,
Great Railway Journeys of the World recounts nearly 100 of the world's
most famous train journeys. Packed with more than 700 photographs, it
boasts departure points and destinations like Boston, Venice, Pretoria,
Darjeeling, Fuji, Sydney and Edinburgh. This collection of travelogues
will inspire you to take a trip aboard a train for your next vacation.
The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Steam and Rail (taken from the back cover): Over 1,500 photographs of locomotives from around the world. A definitive history of locomotive technology from the great steam engines of the 1830s to the electronic speed trains of the present day. Detailed specification boxes given for over 100 key locomotive designs. Contains accounts of 95 of the world's most legendary railway journeys, including such departure points and destinations as Boston, Venice, pretoria, the Khyber Pass, Darjeeling, Fuji, Sydney, Edinburgh and many, many more. A book to inspire every rail enthusiast and armchair traveller alike.
Relive
the golden age of steam locomotives and the world�s greatest railways
with Colin Garratt and Max Wade-Matthews� value-priced The Ultimate
Encyclopedia of Steam & Rail. More than 1,500 photographs document the
grand era when steam meant power-- from the early steamers of yesteryear,
to today�s awe-inspiring high-speed passenger trains. This reference
guide includes accounts of 95 of the world�s most legendary railway
journeys, guaranteed to inspire both the rail enthusiast and armchair
explorer traveler alike.
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