The ‘Eros’ series of titillating literature has a uniformity of style that suggests that a single author is involved, and whoever it is always manages to demonstrate a considerable enthusiasm in the execution of his craft. The books are not only well written, and include lots of detail about the era of their setting; they have a nicely judged pace, in which the erotic interludes are spaced at just the right separation within the storyline to maintain the reader’s interest in what is of course the main raison d’être for this style of book. One useful and endearing characteristic of the series is that the storyline involves two amorously engaged friends: Andy and Sophie, whose exploits are given alternate chapters. This allows the development of a distinctive rhythm and considerably broadens the scope available for ringing the changes on their sexual proclivities. This particular book has an interesting, apparently well-researched plot concerning the origins of England’s railway network. As may be imagined, the political and inter-personal intrigues necessary to achieve such a major undertaking, allow a great scope for amorous escapades. The episodic encounters here are mostly hetero-, with a little more experimental activity (including ‘close relatives’), and a surprising conclusion involving fetishistic bondage. ( )