The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa - the name has since become a by-word for a cataclysmic disaster - was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. Beyond the purely physical horrors of an event which has only very recently become properly understood, the eruption changed the world in more ways than could possibly be imagined. Dust swirled round the world for years, causing temperatures to plummet and sunsets to turn vivid with lurid and unsettling displays of lght. The effects of the immense waves were felt as far away as France. Barometers in Bogota and Washington went haywire. Bodies were washed up in Zanzibar. The sound of island's destruction was heard in Australia and India and on islands thousands of miles away. Most significantly of all - in view of today's new political climate - the eruption helped to trigger a wave of murderous anti-western militancy by fundamentalist Muslims in Java: one of the first eruptions of Islamic killings anywhere.
Simon Winchester's long experience in world wandering, as well as his knowledge of history and geology, gives us an entirely new perspective on this fascinating and iconic event as he brings it tellingly back to life.
If you're looking for drama, you'll certainly find it here. With a volcanic explosion heard 3,000 miles away and a related tsunami that killed close to 40,000 people, there's plenty of excitement for the thrill-seeker. Win-chester, author of the bestselling THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, adroitly juggles a plethora of subjects, from the Dutch spice trade in colonial Java to the science of tectonic plates, creating a fascinating look at one of history's most cataclysmic disasters. Despite his BBC tone, Winchester manages a dry and ironic delivery, very much in keeping with his writing style. But the main point of interest when the dust has settled is the far-flung ramifications of this eruption upon world events. This is a winner. D.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award; 2004 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
Digital Rights Information
OverDrive WMA Audiobook
Burn to CD:
Not permitted
Transfer to device:
Permitted (5 times)
Transfer to Apple® device:
Permitted
Public performance:
Not permitted
File-sharing:
Not permitted
Peer-to-peer usage:
Not permitted
All copies of this title, including those transferred to portable devices and other media, must be deleted/destroyed at the end of the lending period.
e-Media Home Page
