Krakatoa

The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883

De: Simon Winchester

Narrado por: Simon Winchester

The bestselling 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 forty thousand 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, D.C., 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.

I Am Delighted to Have Found This Author

Krakatoa displays outstanding research, writing and narration. My next read/listen will be from Simon Winchester.

interesting history of the region

If thou were looking for a book that dissects the eruption: causes, plate tectonics, chemical effects etc, thus isn't it. this is a history book. it covers the history of the region, experiences during, and experiences after. it touches a bit on politics, a bit on the personalities and drama of the sciences, but doesn't get to deep into the scientific. more the drama and controversy. so, for a good history book yes, good science book, less so. but I thought thoroughly enjoyable.

enjoyed

I enjoyed the book. Had many interesting tidbits and connections to various situations and happenings

Phenomenal book

This book was so much more than I expected. I was expecting a book just about the disaster, but it covered so much more. It starts off covering the initially Portuguese, and subsequently Dutch, colonial history of Indonesia and the Phillipines. Then, onto a thorough discourse about the development of the theory of evolution through natural selection, but focused on the discoveries of Alfred Russel Wallace as I have never heard that story told. Then he follows that with the discovery of the only other unifying scientific theory: Plate Tectonics. Then he gets into the geology of the Indonesian archipelago, and finally, the disaster. He describes both the disaster itself from a natural and geologic standpoint, but then he follows that up with first-hand accounts of the people who survived it. Then, a discourse on the after effects of the volcano, both from a scientific and cultural/political angle. The book is incredibly well written and narrated as all Simon Winchester's works are. With a wry wit, he tells the story of the greatest volcanic disaster in modern history in an unforgettable way. Highly recommend.

Riveting

A magnificent book, thoroughly absorbing and beautifully read. Simon Winchester always comes through with fascinating tales of somewhat obscure bits of history, deftly woven into an engrossing narrative. I have never been disappointed by any of his books.