Tom Standage. The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and the Nineteenth Century's On-line Pioneers. New York: Berkley Books, 1998.
Standage published this brief popular history of the rise and fall of the telegraph with an obvious focus on the parallels between the "Victorian internet" and the modern internet which was still a novelty for most of the public in the late 90s. As a science and technology journalist, he was most interested in how then-contemporary events mirrored an earlier communications revolution that first created a 'wired' world. His interest, then, was somewhat cautionary; although he doesn't belabor the point, he clearly wishes to warn technophiles not to go overboard with expectations about what changes the internet could--and likely would--bring forth.
That is not to say that this is bad history; Standage is a fine writer with a journalist's eye for telling detail and interest-grabbing anecdotes, but he also knows enough to ground both the beginning and the end of telegraphy's 'golden age' in prior and subsequent developments. This is still a story of change over time, grounded in facts derived from primary sources.
Therefore, while there might be little deep historical analysis, the essential narrative here is clear and concise; for readers who just need a brief outline of the basics of the history of what was once the communications wonder of the world, this somewhat dated but still enjoyable book will serve admirably.
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