A Thread Across the Ocean

Today, in a world of instant news, it is difficult to imagine the time lag that existed between the United States and Europe in the mid-nineteenth century. At that time, the fastest ship crossing the Atlantic could take weeks; as a result, the United States was isolated and vulnerable. But in 1866, this time lag was bridged by Cyrus Field's successful laying of a transatlantic cable. John Steele Gordon's book chronicles this extraordinary achievement—the brainchild of American businessman Cyrus Field and one of the greatest engineering feats of the nineteenth century. An epic struggle, it required a decade of effort, numerous failed attempts, millions of dollars in capital, a near disaster at sea, the overcoming of seemingly insurmountable technological problems, and uncommon physical, financial, and intellectual courage.