Book excerpt: Newly opened by Queen Elizabeth II herself, discover the history and secret stories of the people who've lived above London's newest trainline. Crossrail, or the 'Elizabeth' line, is just the latest way of traversing the very old east-west route through the former countryside, into the capital, and out again. Throughout The Tunnel Through Time, renowned historian Gillian Tindall uncovers the lives of those who walked this ancient path. These people spoke the names of ancient farms, manors and slums that now belong to our squares and tube stations. Visiting Stepney, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street, Tindall traces the course of many of these historical journeys across time as well as space. 'Enchanting' Sunday Telegraph 'Deftly weaves together archaeology, social history, politics, myth, religion and philosophy' The Times 'Fully of lively vignettes' Spectator