Voices from the Ether: The History of Radio

This book looks at the history of radio. It traces its development from theories advanced by James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz to the first practical demonstrations by Guglielmo Marconi. It looks back to the pioneering broadcasts of the BBC, examines the development of broadcast networks in North America and spotlights radio's role in the Second World War. The book also features the radio programmes and radio personalities that made a considerable impact on the listeners during the 'Golden Era'. It also examines how radio, faced by competition from its electronic progenitor - television, adapted and survived. Indeed radio has continued to thrive despite increased competition from smartphones, computers and mp3 players. The book looks to the future and speculates how radio will fare in a multi-platform future.