Rail journeys behind the Iron Curtain

A year or so ago I was approached by Christopher Knowles, a potential author who had written a book about his time as a guide on the Trans-Siberian and TransMongolian Railways during the Cold War. He wanted me to read his manuscript and help find a publisher. I get many such requests and I always try to deal with them relatively quickly, as I know how important it is to people who want to publish books.

I am, though, scrupulously honest. There are far too many of the ‘we went on a trip to wherever and it was jolly exciting, and we got drunk in a small station in Slovenia’ type, and I do not hesitate in telling people as gently as possible that just perhaps it should stay in their bottom drawer.

Christopher’s effort was different. His manuscript had two great attributes. Firstly, there was a real story to tell, one which was a key part of history since so much has changed since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Secondly, and this is so important, he could write. His descriptions were engaging, his humour was funny (a difficult achievement that!), and his story telling was compelling. I managed to pass his name on to Pen & Sword, who also spotted that he had a talent for writing.

So I was delighted the other day to receive a copy of The Red Line, a railway journey through the Cold War. There was, however, a sad postscript. The book was sent to me by his widow Ann Frost, as Christopher died of the ghastly Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year. Fortunately, she told me, he had seen the published version of his book before he died.

Incidentally, my own book on the history of Indian Railways, Railways and the Raj, is coming out next month. If you want to attend the inaugural lecture in aid of the Railway Children charity at Waterloo on November 23, simply Google: EventBrite Wolmar railway children. Tickets are £15, all to go to the charity.