<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt" class=MsoNormal>A beautifully illustrated volume, this biography of artist John Martin not only analyzes his paintings in the context of Victorian England but also weighs their modern significance. Exhibiting Martin's developing style throughout his career, this remarkable exploration covers numerous aspects of the painter's life, including Martin's childhood with his notorious brothers in Northumberland, his career in London, his rise to international fame, and his contributions to the apocalyptic mood in England from the 1790s to the 1840s. The distinctive quality of Martin's work is examined through key paintings in terms of techniques used, devices applied, and subject matter chosen. Martin's reputation and influence on 19th-century railway and public architecture and 20th-century cinema are also considered.</p>