WHEN MEN TOILED TO BUILD THE THREE THOUSAND MILES OF CANALS IN GREAT BRITAIN, IT WAS FORTUNES MADE ON DISTANT OCEANS THAT PAID FOR THEIR LABOUR AND MATERIALS. WE FOLLOW TWO YOUNG MEN GROWING UP IN THE CENTRE OF THESE GREAT UNDERTAKINGS, LIVING THE HORROR OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE TERROR OF THE BALTIC TRADERS WHO IMPORTED THE MASSIVE SUPPLIES OF TIMBER. FOR WHILE THE GREAT ENGINEERS AND "NAVIGATORS" WERE TRANSFORMING OUR LANDSCAPE, NAPOLEON WAS MARCHING ACROSS EUROPE AND MAKING ALLIANCES WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS. FROM BUILDING THE GREAT AQUEDUCT IN LANCASTER, TO BRITAIN"S MERCILESS ATTACK ON A FRIENDLY STATE, A WARM HUMAN STORY UNFOLDS.