The Architect of Modern Life: Sir Joseph Bazalgette

In the mid-19th century, London was the sprawling capital of the world's greatest empire—and a biological time bomb. Choked by the Great Stink and devastated by relentless cholera epidemics, the city was literally dying from its own success, drowning in untreated waste. The colossal task of saving four million souls fell to Sir Joseph Bazalgette, a quiet, methodical civil engineer. His audacious plan—82 miles of monumental, gravity-fed intercepting sewers, the construction of the magnificent Thames Embankments, and a wholesale overhaul of the city's vital bridges—was an engineering feat unmatched in ambition. Built with a foresight that anticipated London's growth for over a century, Bazalgette's system fundamentally transformed global public health. This is the comprehensive story of the man whose genius for durability, scale, and uncompromising quality secured the health and prosperity of millions. Delving into the political battles, the massive construction challenges, and the lasting design principles that endure today, this book reveals the "Saviour of London," whose most important monument remains unseen, working silently beneath our feet. Approx.150 pages, 30400 word count