Krakatoa

The Day the World Exploded, August 27, 1883

By: Simon Winchester

Narrated by: Simon Winchester

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of The Professor and the Madman and The Map That Changed the World examines the enduring and world-changing effects of the catastrophic eruption off the coast of Java of the earth's most dangerous volcano - Krakatoa.

The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa - the name has since become a byword for a cataclysmic disaster - was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. Beyond the purely physical horrors of an event that has only very recently been properly understood, the eruption changed the world in more ways than could possibly be imagined. Dust swirled round die planet for years, causing temperatures to plummet and sunsets to turn vivid with lurid and unsettling displays of light. The effects of the immense waves were felt as far away as France. Barometers in Bogotá and Washington, DC, went haywire. Bodies were washed up in Zanzibar. The sound of the island's destruction was heard in Australia and India and on islands thousands of miles away. Most significant of all - in view of today's new political climate - the eruption helped to trigger in Java a wave of murderous anti-Western militancy among fundamentalist Muslims: one of the first outbreaks of Islamic-inspired killings anywhere.

Simon Winchester's long experience in the world wandering as well as his knowledge of history and geology give us an entirely new perspective on this fascinating and iconic event as he brings it telling back to life.

©2003 Simon Winchester (P)2003 HarperCollinsPublishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Thrilling, comprehensive, literate, meticulously researched and scientifically accurate....It is one of the best books ever written about the history and significance of a natural disaster." (The New York Times Book Review)

"If you're looking for drama, you'll certainly find it here....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." (AudioFile)

"All readers, science-prone or not, will be delighted by this experience-expanding book." (Booklist)

The Caprice of Nature

The eruption of Krakatoa near Java and Sumatra in 1883 was the first major, natural disaster to occur in the early years of electric telegraphy and its undersea cables. By then all major cities and many smaller ones were connected by telegraph. News events could be sent around the world in an hour or two. The concept of the “global village” began in 1883 as the world quickly learned that all humankind survives at the caprice of Nature.

Simon Winchester’s book, “Krakatoa”, describes colonial history, early telegraphy and workings of geology leading up to the eruption. He then vividly depicts the series of warning eruptions over several months and finally the humongous explosions creating tsunamis killing over 36,000 people. The author describes the aftermath, including worldwide, barometric waves and colorful sunsets. Finally, there’s the robust return of life to initially sterile Anak Krakatoa (Child of Krakatoa).

The author’s descriptions of the Dutch colonization of Indonesia, the role of gutta-percha in underwater cables, Alfred Wegener, plate tectonics and subduction, just to name a few, give the story greater depth. However, these may be tangential wanderings for some listeners. The author is his own reader. His conversational style and dry wit may not be sufficiently dynamic for some. One should listen to the audio sample and read some other reviews before buying the book.

more than the story of a volcano eruption

This book was terrific. It tells a rich story about Krakatoa and the Dutch ruled Indonesian territory that Krakatoa was situated in. The author weaves history and geology with exquisite language (....the mortally expensive event) and a narration in a very listenable English accent. The thorough research done by the author is reflected in his description of many sources of information that were sought out to tell the entire story.

Cumbersome

While many of the stories that the author shared were interesting, this could have been slimmed down considerably. He goes into incredibly long-winded accounts of uninteresting stories several times. It would have been much better to establish some main characters and follow them thoughgout the timeline rather than bouncing around with many small almost irritating accounts.

Kratatoa - West of Java

In typical Winchester style, this book covers the topic with throrough details, including the history of the Dutch colony, the geology, the history of theory of plate tectonics, the event itself and it's ramifications.

It probably helps to be a bit of a geology buff due to the details and some of the terminology, but even without any geologic knowledge, this book is certain to make fascinating reading.

Better the 2d time around!

I first listened to this book on CD's, while on an elliptical trainer. It was slow going! I enjoy audible and came across this book again. It is a much better experience this 2d time. One suggestion, look up Krakatoa on google earth for reference points. It will aid your understanding of the story and plot locations.

Tedious

The first 3 or 4 hours were very difficult to wade through. After that the narrative picked up and was quite enjoyable. Loaded with facts and somewhat tedious to listen too.

One of the best books ever

I've listened to this book several times. Winchester's voice is hynotic. He describes the history of Indonesia, pepper, Dutch colonialsim, tsunamis, early telegraph communication, the London Times, and the discovery of plate techtonics. It is a really wonderful book - well-researched and topical.

Tremendous

The reader is excellent and the background information the author gives you is incredible. This author gives you details from the basics of geology and why the volcano is there in the first place to the general placement of animals and plants in the archipeligo to first hand accounts of the mountain's demise and the after effects on the population. The accounts are vivid and personal. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in science and how it affects the larger world.

History or Story

I'd rate it 4 for History Book and a 2 as a story.

Exploring Krakatoa

Any additional comments?

Krakatoa is an exceptionally well researched work about the doomed volcano in modern day Indonesia, the eruption of which was one of the largest in the history of the world. However, I probably would have enjoyed this book in print more than the audio version, as I was not (and am not) a fan of Winchester's reading. Though Winchester's pronunciation was infallible, I was at times annoyed with pretentiousness of his tone. Even though I learned English in England, I find scholarly British English to be dry and I prefer American readers (or even Irish, or Australians).

On the other hand, the book flowed well for the most part. There was a part in which Winchester seems to give the entire history of the telegraph cable, and its laying on the bottom of the ocean floor that made me almost give up the book. I'm glad I didn't, as it was informative and easy to imagine.

Recommended; and if you like British accents - highly recommended.