This is well researched and well written. The author preaches a bit in the preface and epilogue, to the effect that at the time of writing (1977!) most everything has been invented and progress was mostly over.
My copy was dumped by the UWE Redland library in Bristol England. It hadn't been checked out much.
Thanks. I always thought “dark ages” more truthfully relates more to our present day lack of knowledge of that epoch rather than their lack of knowledge back then!
Here is a "dark ages" book, my (unfortunately, but perhaps understandably, slightly water-damaged) hardcopy of the 23rd edition of "Steam" by good ol' Babcock & Wilcox, complete with original promotional-copy receipt from March 16, 1891.
Part sales brochure and part textbook it has a number of handy design equations and tables for sizing boilers, fuel combustion temperatures, required chimney heights, etc.
The Dark Ages is a true historical period between about AD400 and AD1000 (certainly that's the meaning in the English language). But it's secondary usage is less literal and often confused with Stone Age (a much earlier period).
Having collected a great many books over the course of my lifetime, I've discovered there's a distinct, implied relationship between the intellect of the reader and his/her personal hygene. Ex-libris textbooks of a highly technical nature do usually turn out to be close to pristine condition wise.
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