As a professional engineer I became interested in the life and times of Isambard Kingdom Brunel with a view to writing a historical novel. Plenty of books marking Isambard’s achievements had been written previously but none reached the heart and soul of the man. Through my research I discovered that his father Marc had a strong influence on his professional life starting with the Thames Tunnel project which was Isambard’s first exposure to high pressure contracts management at the young age of 21. The Thames Tunnel was essentially Marc’s baby. Isambard unfortunately came close to losing his life following a huge inundation in the tunnel shaft during the second phase of construction, but recuperated and then went on to plough his own furrow in professional life away from his father. It became clear from my further background readings that Marc had a fascinating story too, so my attentions were diverted to the father who’s achievements and story do not feature under such strong limelight compared with the successes of his son.

Unwrapping Marc’s story soon became the major part of my fact-finding mission; the more I read the more I found it an engrossing story of romance, stoicism and intrigue; a journey of disappointments and setbacks matched with unbridled joy and genuine love.

My research unfolded through Marc’s early life in revolution torn France and his escape to America; reuniting with the love of his life in England at a time when Britain was at war with Napoleonic France. The racial prejudice that Marc had to contend with and rise above as a Frenchman, despite working for the British government, was nothing short of despicable. However, his unique relationship with his wife - his rock - gave him comfort and security through difficult times including remaining at his side throughout his time in debtors’ prison.

I also gained an insight into the workaholic and stoic nature of an engineer who, amongst many of his peers and contemporaries, often had multiple schemes in progress as any one time, requiring long working days in excess of 16 hours.

I was fortunate enough to have access to Marc’s private diary collection at the archive in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). I will always remember that on one page Marc mentioned how pleased he was to be celebrating his birthday with 'my darling Sophia’. It was dated 25th April. I looked at my watch. It was 25th April 2019. Exactly 250 years since his birth. Coincidence or destiny? 

With this act of serendipity I decided then and there that I would do my best to get inside the skin of Marc and write my novel in first person dialogue, with intermittent chapters in third person where people who interfaced with his personal and professional life stepped forward.

My book is therefore a largely factual historical narrative which combines romance with intrigue, joy and sadness in equal measure.

- Alexander Wren (Author of ‘The Other Brunel’)