The Great Bridge

The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

De: David McCullough, David McCullough - preface

Narrado por: Nelson Runger

A monumental tale of American ambition, told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough. This gripping saga of the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the country’s boldest engineering achievements, reveals not only the politics and personalities behind "America’s Eiffel Tower," but charts New York’s ascent as a thriving metropolis.

Around 1870, during the Age of Optimism—a time when Americans believed anything was possible—the ambitious idea of constructing an unprecedented bridge across the East River to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn took root. This monumental project demanded a vision and determination on par with the efforts that built the great cathedrals of history.

Spearheaded by the Roebling family, the project faced staggering odds throughout its fourteen years of construction. Bodies were crushed, lives were lost, political empires fell, and waves of public emotion constantly threatened its progress. The Roeblings, too, were not immune to personal tragedies. Yet, Emily Roebling rose above these challenges to become the pivotal force behind the bridge’s completion, shattering all societal expectations of her era. This is not just the story of an engineering miracle; it is a sweeping narrative of the social climate of the time and the heroes and rascals who either built or exploited this groundbreaking enterprise.

McCullough makes history come alive

This was historian David McCullough’s second book and was originally published in 1972. I’d previously done two of McCullough’s other books about The Wright Brothers and John Adams. Those were great and this one was up to that standard.

This book chronicles the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is a suspension bridge and at the time of its completion, it was by far the longest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge was an engineering and practical marvel at the time. It took over 13 years to construct. It was designed by John A. Roebling, but John died as a result of tetanus from an accident at the start of construction and his son, Washington Roebling ended up being the engineer for the project.

Construction of the bridge began in 1870. One of the most difficult and dangerous tasks was the building of the two towers on which the cables would be hung to support the bridge. The base of the tower on the Brooklyn side is more than 40 feet under ground on the floor of the river. The base of the tower on the NYC side is almost 80 feet deep. The digging was done in huge wooden caissons which were air tight and filled with compressed air. At the completion of the digging, these caissons were filled with concrete and became the base of the towers. Working in the compressed air under pressure caused health problems for most of the men including Washington Roebling. It was a new phenomenon that the doctors of the time would never fully understand during the construction. The descriptions of the construction of the caissons and work inside them were incredible.

I started the book before a recent trip to NYC and did get a chance to walk on the bridge during the trip. It is absolutely amazing they were able to construct it 150 years ago.

It’s an excellent book. The engineering issues and problems are explained in a way that non-engineers like me can understand and appreciate them. The political issues of the construction make it clear that little in that department has changed in 150 years. I’d highly recommend the book.

Take a step back in time

If you could sum up The Great Bridge in three words, what would they be?

Authentic, Historic, Personalities

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mrs. Roebling comes across as perhaps the most able person in the story.

What about Nelson Runger’s performance did you like?

It was very fitting to the book style.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am amazed by some of the things they decided to try, working with the limited knowledge of the time. The discussion of men working under pressurized air in truly terrible conditions was quite moving.

Any additional comments?

I like the way McCullough weaves in not just the story of the building of the bridge, but also a great deal of historical context and other events happening at the same time.

More a story of an era than of a bridge

I thoroughly enjoyed this reading and the overall story. I did wonder at points why so much detail was given, but it was not so much as to become bored. It just seemed sometimes more than necessary.

As with many of this author's books, the story tells more about the age and the circumstances than the central character. If the central character here was the bridge and its chief engineer, the story simply used them as the constants as it moved through time from a very much agrarian America to the real start of the industrial revolution.

What an age that must have been.

Not Bad

I had to return to this a few times as my attention drifted away. It's supposedly a masterpiece and I cant say I didn't like it, just didn't feel gripped or fully engaged at any time. One thing I did get was a different perspective on that historical period and I think that's very good exchange for the credit.

Good listen!

There was a lot of detailed information throughout the book which helped in understanding the processes it took to build the Brooklyn Bridge. It amazes me to think how thing were done over 100 years ago!! Recommend to anyone..

every great work

every great work of engineering should have a book like this one.
please read it, or listen to it. it is worth it, at least to appreciate great effort of great men.
thank you Mr McCullough for your wonderful story.
angels are in the details

Favorite non-fiction book

I adore this book and have listened to it several times. The story is interesting and the narrator does a great job.

Interesting and Informative

The Great Bridge tells the history of one of the most iconic pieces of US engineering genius.

Simply brilliant

Just an astonishingly awesome account of history...a must listen. every chapter was so very captivating

An Amazing Tour Of A Chunk Of American History.

Rich in context of the time. The politics, corruption, and pragmatic truth of creating a great work at that period in history. Most of all the story of what a person with a vision and the will to pursue it can accomplish. Equally true for Roebling and his wife Emily.