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| Fred: The Definitive Biography of Fred Dibnah | 
 enlarge | Author: David Hall
Publisher: Corgi Books
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy Used: £0.14
You Save: £6.85 (98%)
New (22) from £3.14
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 65163
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0552154881
EAN: 9780552154888
ASIN: 0552154881
Publication Date: March 1, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: **UK SHIPPED**SWIFT RELIABLE SERVICE** With friendly customer care! "Buy with confidence, Buy Book EcoLOGICal" Used - Good
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Chuffing lovely June 16, 2008
It really is a nice read, the author, I feel, really brings Fred's character into the book, yes there are a few repetative bits, but it's all by the by really. What really comes accross is Fred's drive, passion and ambition not forgetting his sense of humour. I for one thoroughly enjoyed reading it and whole heartedly recommend it. Time for a pint.....
 Flawed impression of a fascinating man May 4, 2008
With the greatest respect to Mr Hall; he has not really done justice to Fred.
Personally, I found this rather repetative and awkward. To be frank, it's not very well written.
Mr Hall obviously admires "Our Fred" and they had a good working relationship backed up by a genuine friendship.
On the plus side one does get a good all round picture of a remarkably talented and deceptively gifted man; a man out of his time in respect of his character - he was a true "Victorian". It also balances the image of Fred by his "difficult side"; he had three wives and they had to put up with his relentless obsession and (often) uncompromising attitude. He could be "an awkward so-and-so". Conversely, he was open, engaging, warm and genuine.
Fred was a walking encylopedia of Victorian engineering/construction and virtually one of a kind.
For me, this edition was a little hard going; I got bored with and Fred was anything but boring. I wanted more, much more.
I understand that Fred's third wife, Shelia, is putting something together? Maybe that will prove a little more rewarding?
 Talking to Fred would have been better!! April 20, 2008
Fellow Lancastrian here! I live a few miles from where Fred used to reside. The tales of old Bolton were fasinating and the young Fred made for an interesting read but, the book for me, was too long. Although Steam Engines were such a large part of his life, I feel only a fellow enthusiast could have not fallen asleep with the amount of text devoted to the telling (and re-telling, and re-telling) of the Steam engine renovations.
Fred was married three times in his shortened lifetime, I can certainly see why!
The Biography does deal with some of the reasons for his failed personal relationships including his serious drinking, his smoking habit and of course his selfishness. Chuck in there the Author's hinting slant towards misogyny and you nearly have the man. Fred loved to be centre of attention and was a natural speaker, craving an audience where he could find one - even on his death bed there were a line-up of people waiting for a few words with the man..... But most of the real reason for the book was his passion for STEAM ENGINES. Not my best read of the year, I do feel that talking to the man would have been more interesting from my own point of view as some of his TV programmes were quite good.
 A true Briton! March 22, 2008
Fred Dibnahs story is of one growing up in an era when men were men and this book certainly pulls us back to that time thanks to Freds wonderful memories of a bygone age.
You can't help but feel that Fred was born too late and missed his real era in the age of steam and Queen Victorias reign.
It is painful at the end as Fred succumbs to Cancer but he gets on with it and fights to the bitter end.
Very well recommended (you don't even have to like steam trains, I don't !)
Not bad April 18, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this biography very much but felt it was a little long and slightly repetitive. It also helps if you have some appreciation of steam engines and other mechanicals as it gets just a little technical from time to time. However, the author does bring out Fred's essential warmth and enthusiasm. All told it is certainly worth reading even if, unlike me, you don't come from Bolton.
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