Preface to the American edition
Boom : the age of gold. 1851 : Annus mirabilis : London : The hairystocracy : Melbourne ; Bonanza : Newfoundland ; On the road : Nebraska ; Star of empire : Minnesota ; The hashish of the West : Kansas
Faultlines : the age of silver. The ramparts of freedom : the caucasus ; El Presidente : Nicaragua ; Tsunami : Yokohama ; The civilising mission : Hong Kong ; Retribution : Lucknow
News of the world : the age of bronze. Empire of news : Fleet Street ; Master of time : New York-London ; Best of times, worst of times : Beijing, Turin, Montgomery ; Blood, iron, cotton, democracy : Bombay
