Narrated by Robert Lindsay

A surprising ratings winner for the ABC when it was televised earlier this year; it is an evocative and magnificent coverage of seven 19th and 20th Century engineering projects that were to improve our modern way of life and promote a greater understanding of the built environment.

That the developed world now moves faster technologically it has ever done so before (and continues to accelerate) means that some of the ?wonders? featured have been clearly dwarfed ? none being more obvious than the first episode in which the S.S. Great Eastern is the centre of attention ? a ?monster? of a ship weighing 4,000 tons! Yet, at the time, the ?wonders? featured in this series were a lot more than just ?bigger than anything else? at the time ? so many of these projects also involved quantum leaps in technology, innovation and foresight that set these projects aside from the norm.

The seven episodes, in order, feature the following ?wonders?:

? The S.S. Great Eastern

? Brooklyn Bridge

? Bell Rock Lighthouse

? London?s underground sewerage system

? Panama Canal

? USA?s Transcontinental Railway

? Hoover Dam

The whole series is presented in a documentary-type format that combines contemporary texts and official reports, contemporary film footage where available, and re-enactments to add the ?meat? to the stories. However, one doesn?t need an appreciation of engineering feats to enjoy this series ? each episode has a personal story to tell of triumph, tragedy and heroism concerning both the engineering ?heroes?, and the workers involved in the projects. Other features of some of these ?wonders? vary between medical innovations, to political and corporate indifference and treachery, to wholesale slaughter. But don?t get me wrong ? there are enough ?gee whiz? facts and figures to tantalise viewers!

Robert Lindsay ? a well-known performer in British dramas and TV comedies (my favourite of his remains the role of the father in Jakes Progress) ? provides a generally even-handed and solid narration to the series.

Trivia time: it is interesting to note that of the many directors used this series, one is an Edward Bazalgette ? the producer and director of the episode lauding the London ?Sewer King? ? a Mr Joseph Bazalgette!

THE EXTRAS

There are no extras in this package; but in this instance, the idea of such features is quite unnecessary.

CONCLUSION

This is a series that was justifiably (and surprisingly) a major hit for the ABC in its Sunday timeslot. The series is definitely not for ?tech heads? only ? it combines a rich social history along with ?Boys? Own? adventure and detailed biographies of a wide range of personalities.

It is a highly entertaining, educational and enjoyable series that is fully recommended.