"Dishwashers, electric light bulbs, gramophones, motion picture cameras, radios, roller skates, typewriters. While these inventions seem to speak of the 20th century, they all in fact date from the 19th century.".

"The Victorian Age (1837-1901) was a period of enormous technological progress in communications, transport, and many other areas of life. Illustrated by the original patent drawings from The British Library's extensive collection, this book chronicles the history of the one hundred most important, innovative, and memorable inventions of the 19th century.

The vivid picture of the Victorian Age unfolds as inventions from the ground-breaking - such as aspirin, dynamite, and the telephone - to the everyday - like blue jeans and tiddlywinks - are revealed decade by decade. Together they provide a vivid picture of Victorian life."--BOOK JACKET.