Trevor May was educated at the universities of London and Exeter and is a professional historian, writer and educator. He has written over a dozen books on social and economic history topics, including books in the Shire Library series. He lives in Devon.

In 1851 an event was organised in London that changed the world: The Great Exhibition. It was a spectacular showcase of technology, manufacture and design from all over the world. In just a few months over six million people attended the exhibition in Joseph Paxton's famous Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. This was a landmark moment that characterised Victoria's reign, and became the model for other famous exhibitions in Chicago and Paris. Chronicling the first exciting spectacles, through to the much-maligned Millennium Dome, the details and stories behind the great exhibitions are brought together in this fascinating read.