This engaging volume of historical sketches provides a colorful glimpse into the lives of some of the most fascinating figures of recent generations. The author, Thomas Colley Grattan, was a gifted storyteller and his vivid depictions of the likes of George Stephenson, Robert Fulton, and Sir Richard Burton are as memorable as they are informative. This is a delightful book for readers of all ages, and a wonderful introduction to the joys of history.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.