Originally published in 1976, this book describes the achievements of I. K. Brunel, the giant among nineteenth-century engineers, whose works include the construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and three famous ships, Great Western, Great Britain and Great Eastern. He was the engineer in charge of what became the Great Western Railway. Tunnels played a vital role in his life and work, beginning at the age of eighteen with the Thames tunnel and progressing to those needed by the railway companies. At the time of publication, there was a general revival of interest of Brunel. A group of engineers, each distinguished for work in their field, joined together to pay tribute to him by describing his major works and critically examining them. For this purpose they have sought out relevant contemporary documents and drawings, and benefited from a study of the Brunel papers held by the University of Bristol.