I seem to be discovering history books that are doing their damned best to be the definitive takes on any number of subjects, and this new book is certainly one with a valid claim. Halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917. Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism kindle edition by bacon, john u download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism results in one of the best disaster monographs in.
Nov 30, 2017 smithsonian libraries has an adoptabook program that provides essential funding to support the conservation, acquisition, and digitization of books and manuscripts. Within the first few minutes, the fire alone would have already been a significant event. And, in an excerpt from his new book, the halifax explosion. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of confederation in 2017, the government of canada invites canadians to experience nature and learn more about our. Halifax explosion 100 introduction the morning of tuesday, december 6, 1917 dawned clear and unseasonably warm in halifax. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear age took place in halifax, nova scotia. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Five of the worst workplace disasters in history donesafe. While my maternal grandfather and two of his brothers were fighting in the trenches of europe, their father, my great grandfather, and a brotherinlaw, were working as stevedores on the halifax waterfront. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles.
December 20, 2017 december 20, 2017 szfreiberger canadian history remnants of the north end of halifax after the explosion john u. The historical detail is woven into the story masterfully, and is brought to. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. Nov 07, 2017 a history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Jul 14, 2017 a newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. Memorial service commemorates 100th anniversary of halifax e. Dec 05, 2017 lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion. The halifax explosion tells the gripping, asyet untold story of canadas worst disastera haunting tale of. The great halifax explosion smithsonian libraries unbound.
The centennial year has added more books to the list, including halifax journalist katie ingrams. There is a halifax explosion book of remembrance on display at the maritime museum of the atlantic. The catastrophe, known as the halifax explosion, remains the worst humanmade disaster in canadian history. Against all odds, he taught himself to become an auto mechanic and had a successful decadeslong career as one of the boys. The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to hiroshima. In the annals of disasters of the 20 th century, including the great war, the explosion. The harbour was busier than usual, teeming with ships whose schedules were dictated by the commerce of world war. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. There is also an old historic anglican church called st pauls, located in downtown halifax on the grand parade, that is worthy of a visit. Admission to the museum is free and parks canada has waived admission to halifax citadel in 2017 to recognize the 75th anniversary of wwii. How boston got its christmas tree holiday history the people of halifax, nova scotia, have never forgotten who came to their aid when tragedy rocked the city a century ago.
Dec 06, 2017 the resulting blast was the biggest manmade explosion of the preatomic age, according to analysts. Alison watt has a personal connection to that history, and it inspired her debut novel. Canadas worst disaster, ken cuthbertson explains the devastation that occurred in the minutes immediately following the explosion. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. Cuthbertson on halifax explosion posted by christopher moore. The village in the vikings heritage minute was actually shot on a small maquette a diorama, a model and then was made to look life size by changing the frame rate. The explosion of a munitions ship in the harbour of halifax, nova scotia in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion until the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1945.
As some of you may know, i have been working on a little project the last couple of years. It is not unreasonable to assume that pre explosion and explosion images, known and unknown, were taken onboard any number of these vessels. History of halifax, a mikmaw perspective nova scotia. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. Gough, arthur mcquade 704 robie street, halifax, nova scotia.
Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The author paints such a strong picture of the unimaginable death and destruction in halifax as if i. Harold mcgee, asked her to write a paper, but none of the topics interested. Daniel soucoup is the author of a short history of halifax and explosion in halifax harbour, 1917 like never before the halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima. Robert oppenheimer, who studied the halifax explosion closely when developing the atomic bomb, with history s only realworld case study demonstrating the lethal power of a weapon of mass destruction. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. A history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. It was released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its retelling of the event is first class work. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. His story brings its hospitals, waterfront and old downtown herald building to life as its events unfold during the weeks after the disaster.
Dec 06, 2017 if you ever go to halifax, be sure to visit the halifax explosion memorial bell tower which was erected near the collision site. Dec 05, 2017 december 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. December 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. Things change during the halifax explosion, which is vividly told. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax. The halifax explosion tells the gripping, asyet untold story of canadas worst disastera haunting tale of survival, incredible courage and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit. Dec 07, 2014 the halifax explosion december 7, 2014 july 20, 2015 snapshots of canadas past.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. The halifax explosion was the largest manmade explosion prior to the atomic bomb. Flying along the us mexico border san diego uniontribune duration. Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. It was a devastating moment in canadian history, the impact of which still resonates today. Spalding puts her spin on the history of design at smithsonians cooper hewitt museum in a show. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary. On december 6th of this year, 2017, it will be the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion one of the things i find compelling about reading these books is comparing them. The halifax explosion book edmonton public library. Dec 01, 2017 memorial service commemorates 100th anniversary of halifax explosion posted.
The book contains the names, ages, residential address at the time of explosion and burial location of all 1,951 people lost in the explosion. Her interest in the halifax explosion started when she was studying at saint marys university in 1980. Zemels biography of the halifax explosion scapegoat. Halifax is known to mikmaq as chebucto kjipuktuk or great harbour.
Since time immemorial a number of mikmaq clans held permanent villages in kjipuktuk. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv. Eric davidson was a beautiful, fairhaired toddler when. Bacons book, called the great halifax explosion, reconstructs what happened on december 6. Dec 06, 2017 halifaxsombre ceremonies will be held across halifax on wednesday to mark 100 years since the port city was devastated by a wartime blast that killed or injured about 11,000 people. Bacons the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. Bacons thoughtful and detailed approach in his new book the great halifax explosion. I have read nonfiction books on the halifax explosion, but this was so well described that it made it much more real for me. While it does hold private schools, country clubs, and some milliondollar houses, the area is much more diverse than its reputation. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out, fourth and long, endzone, and bos lasting lessons, coauthored with michigan coach bo schembechler.
On the morning of the 6th december 1917, halifax, canada, the world bore witness to the largest manmade preatomic explosion in history. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. The geography and a series of events and errors that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, on december 6 th, 1917, contributed to the most catastrophic and dramatic manmade violence to a surrounding area and its inhabitants before the atomic age. An account of the great halifax explosion of 1917 when the freighter montblanc, carrying six million pounds of explosives, detonated, sending a shockwave that leveled the surrounding city. It killed over 2000 people and flattened much of halifax and the town of dartmouth across the bay.
Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today. The halifax explosion 2,000 dead, 9,000 injured view looking south, showing the damage c by biblioarchives libraryarchives. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax and its. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. Dec 06, 2017 century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. History is more than just words on a screen or from a textbook. The south end of halifax is well known as the wealthy part of the peninsula.
Heres what you need to know about the halifax explosion. The great halifax explosion and millions of other books are available for instant. Along with time, humankind invariably changes the landscape. The mikmaq of kjipuktuk took advantage of the coves in the harbour since they offered protection from the elements, a place to beach canoes, and a constant supply of fresh water from the streams flowing down from one of.
The halifax explosion tells the gripping, asyet untold story of canadas worst disaster a haunting tale of. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. Dec 08, 2017 while i was in halifax this week to write about the massive explosion there 100 years ago that killed 2,000 people and injured 10,000, i went to a screening of a documentary film without a soundtrack. December 6 will mark the centenary of the halifax explosion, when the munitions freighter mont blanc exploded in the halifax narrows after a collision, producing a blast that levelled much of northend halifax and killed over 2000 people. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Writers perspectives presents insight into a writers. The book will also be available in selected bookstores throughout atlantic canada at bookmark and chaptersindigo, and online at amazon. It devastated the busy port city, leveling more than a square mile of the waterfront, killing. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. Published november 30, 2017 updated december 7, 2017. In 1917, the thriving seaport of halifax, nova scotia, was leveled by a munitions explosion of unprecedented force when two ships collided in the citys harbor. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. Betrayal of trust, commander wyatt and the halifax explosion will debut at word on the street, 16 september 2017, can be obtained from nwp through its website. Government of canada commemorates halifax explosion national historic event.
Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. On december 6, 1917, two tramp steamers, the montblanc and the imo, collided in wartime halifax harbour. Government of canada commemorates halifax explosion. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. Tragedy, and extraordinary heroism hardcover november 7, 2017. Dec 06, 2017 andy fillmore, parliamentary secretary to the minister of democratic institutions and member of parliament for halifax, on behalf of the minister of environment and climate change and minister responsible for parks canada, catherine mckenna, today recognized the national historic significance of the halifax explosion with the unveiling of a. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. December 6, 2017, marks the centennial of the great halifax explosion.
Those familiar with joel zemels magisterial study of the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 halifax explosion will recognize the scapegoat of the title of his earlier book as evan wyatt, chief examining officer for the port of halifax at the time of the disaster. In addition to adopting books online, the cooper hewitt library will be having a special adopt a book event on nov. The explosion would revolutionize pediatric medicine. The halifax explosion, history s largest explosion before. Eric davidson lost both eyes in the halifax explosion when he was two years old.
New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion. Photographs portray halifax after the catastrophe, as well as the beginnings of the recovery efforts. How boston got its christmas tree the nova scotia thank you. The massive explosion killed more than 1,800 people, injured another 9,000including blinding 200and destroyed almost the entire north end of the city of halifax, including more than 1,600 homes. On the day of the explosion, there were a number of ships in bedford basin. It is a very solemn and beautiful place of commemoration.
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