Birmingham

Birmingham expanded massively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, becoming the second-largest city in Britain. It led the way in new technology and manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, as well as being the cultural centre of the Midlands. Although the centre was severely damaged in aerial bombardment in the Second World War, and subsequently rebuilt in modern style in the post-war era, much of historical Birmingham remains alongside the city's new buildings and streets, criss-crossed by its distinctive canal network.

In Birmingham: The Postcard Collection author Alan Spree has drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial record of life in the city's past. Although some of the historical Birmingham seen in these views has been lost, many landmarks have remained and will be familiar today. This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have lived in Birmingham or know it well.