This book investigates the lives and working conditions of the men and women who operated Britain's canal boats during a pivotal period of industrial expansion.

This work is recognized as a significant contribution to the social and industrial history of Britain, focusing on a largely overlooked segment of the working population. It draws upon extensive research to reconstruct the lived experiences of canal boatmen, offering a detailed account of their communities and the evolution of their trade. The book is valued for its thoroughness in documenting the era from the height of canal usage through its decline.