He's an engaging writer. I enjoyed several of his books: The Victorian Internet[0], The Turk[1], and The Neptune File [2].

[0] http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Internet-Remarkable-Nineteen...

[1] http://www.amazon.com/The-Turk-Eighteenth-Century-Chess-Play...

[2] http://www.amazon.com/The-Neptune-File-Astronomical-Pioneers...