The blast that resulted was the largest manmade explosion prior to the development of nuclear weapons. A great read for anyone interested in atlantic canadian history and the suffering as a result of the halifax explosion. Shattered winds of war, winds of change book 1 kindle. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. Walker 4 stars on dec 6, 1917, there was an explosion in the halifax harbour. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Whether you read it for the complications of love in a conservative early 20 th century halifax or for his haunting descriptions of the death and destruction that the explosion wreaked on the city it makes for a compelling story. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. They are stories constructed around truth, around some segment of the past thats both stunning and stunningly forgotten. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships collided in the halifax harbour. Dec 05, 2017 even after a century, with most of its survivors deceased, the 1917 halifax explosion continues to grip writers imaginations.
The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully loaded with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today.
A friend recommended this book by tattrie, a local journalist in halifax. The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture the canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh maclennan is set in halifax at the time of the explosion and includes a carefully researched description of its impact on the city. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. Have fun and i hope your trip to nova scotia is an enjoyable one. Another great read is a book about the halifax explosionthe day the town.
Around 2000 people were killed and many more injured. Another great read is a book about the halifax explosionthe day the town diedcant remember the author. Powered by users, the librarything community, open library, geonames, natural earth and postgis. Nova scotia books canadian fictionnonfiction reading. For more information visit the halifax explosion website. Mustread books about the halifax explosion halifax magazine. Burden of desire by journalist robert macneil was first published in 1992. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. Over the last couple of years ive developed an interest in readng fictional accounts about the explosion. A great book that we had to read in school about the halifax explosion is barometer rising by hugh maclennan also i believe the book that beachgrass was referring to was the town that died.
Write a speech this 3minute npr clip tells the story behind a heartwarming tradition that came about in the wake of the halifax tragedy. I remember that it was a good story about the halifax explosion, which had always been a historical event that interested me. I even listed it in my hopeful reading list for 2015. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. The disastrous 1917 explosion of a munitions ship in halifax harbor, nova scotia, forms the backdrop to this rich, abundantly humane love story chicago tribunea powerful piece of work washington post book world that marks an auspicious fiction debut for an already accomplished author and awardwinning journalist chicago suntimes.
The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. We enjoy reading books set in our next vacation locale as we plan our trip. Of the shops plentiful selection of halifax explosion books, some works of fiction include. Everything about the disaster the ww1 setting, the ship explosion, the subsequent blizzard intrigued me, and i knew i had to know more. We would also appreciate nonfiction suggestions, since my husband enjoys those.
The canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh maclennan is set in halifax at the time of the explosion and includes a carefully. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax. Black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. An orphan of the halifax explosion nimbus, aimed at seven to 10yearold readers. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u.
The port was a major hub of wartime activity and halifax harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and. At around the same time, i heard about a new book coming out set during the same time and place, the blue tattoo. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. And, amidst all the devastation, what helps him tap in to his spirit of resilience and hope.
The halifax explosion occurred near halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of december 6, 1917. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. The characters are all interesting and welldevelopped and the story is well paced. The halifax explosion of 1917 was a horrific tale of oversights, mistakes, assumptions, and ignorance. The explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifax homeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Rich in fact and shocking images, the story sets a blistering pace following one mans search through a ruined city for the love of his life as he confronts the wreckage of his past. Hardly anyone nowadays seems to know about it which is a tragedy since it had such an impact, was so large, and killed so many. Nov 07, 2017 the explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Score a books 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. Heres a few books that i know of that have a nova scotia setting a great book that we had to read in school about the halifax explosion is barometer rising by hugh maclennan. The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima.
Thank you to freehand books for sending me a copy of this book. This was my second attempt at getting through the book. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully laden with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. This canadian history for kids, sketches of our canada, looks at the devastation created by the halifax explosion of december 6, 1917. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion. I even listed it in my hopeful reading list for 2015, and finally got to it while on vacation in august in the meantime, i discovered yet another new book with the same. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. Kitz 4 times halifax explosion by graham metson 3 times too many to mourn by james mahar 3 times burden of desire harvest book by robert macneil 3 times miracles and mysteries. Even after a century, with most of its survivors deceased, the 1917 halifax explosion continues to grip writers imaginations. The halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military.
Written in the 1940s, and set in the time of the great war and the halifax explosion, this is a story of lives and love at wartime which in a moment is subsumed by a more immediate tragedythe halifax explosion. One was carrying a full load of wartime explosives. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb on hiroshima. Laffoley, who lives in halifax, proves equally adept here as he did in his earlier novel, at recreating the setting and milieu so familiar to all of.
The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. These authors names will give you husband a start at locating some of the books and of course there are always more and more. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the emotions of the people involved. The novel is graphic at times and tells a couple stories in the short 192 pages, but certainly among the likes of barometer rising by hugh maclennan. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f.
Also i believe the book that beachgrass was referring to was the town that died. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience. From the opening 2page spread of 5 family trees, the reader should know this story will be handled differently. Author bacon sums up the book with the legal ramifications that took place as to which ship was to blame for the collision in the harbor at halifax.
This book is aimed toward younger readers, but i found it a good introduction. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. I survived the halifax explosion book halifax public. It is a fantastic portrait of not only the halifax explosion and its aftermath but the difficult lives of soldiers enduring trench warfare in wwi. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. The true story of the greatest manmade explosion before hiroshima, michael j. Use the api for geographical book searches to find books set in a specific location or implement locally relevant book recommendations in your own projects. On december 6, 1917, as world war i continued in europe, ships carrying troops, supplies and munitions filled the harbour of the port city of halifax, nova scotia. This is a story of severe heartache with the towns of halifax, dartmouth, and richmond being especially hard hit by the explosion. 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. The halifax explosion reading comprehension worksheet.
If you want more about the halifax explosion just check out the wikipedia page which has a big list down at the bottom of the page of books on the subject. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. The highlighted books will link to my thoughts on the book. Alison watt has a personal connection to that history, and it inspired her debut novel. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism.
Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax. This non fiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war. Dec 06, 2017 remembering the halifax explosion on the hundredth anniversary of the disaster, we look back at how some of the citys children miraculously survived december 6, 2017 april 2, 2020 by katie ingram katie ingram updated 21. When i read it was incorporated into this title, i. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. 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 former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. 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. I hardly got past the 10th page on my first attempt but this time, the first half of the book really captivated me. For those in halifax, nova scotia, in december of 1917, it. Nov 07, 2017 an earlier book by janet kitz, shattered city. Books set in halifax curse of the narrows tripfiction. Heres a few books that i know of that have a nova scotia setting.
New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Books on the disaster proliferate, and while nonfiction resurrects and reexamines its facts from various angles, it cant go where fiction does, reenvisioning the event and exploring its impact on the human heart. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. Cape breton island 49 books cape breton 3 books chester 1 book cole harbour 2 books dalhousie university 2 books dartmouth 11 books grand pre 2 books halifax 162 books havre boucher 3 books kentville 1 book liverpool 2 books louisburg 22 books lunenburg 7 books. The events of the horrific halifax explosion are well documented. When two ships collided in the halifax harbor, one filled to the. Approximately twenty minutes later, a fire on board the french ship ignited her explosive cargo. Excellent nonfiction book, largely set on the atlantic, but the foundation franklin was based in halifax. Books set in nova scotia 716 books set in nova scotia. Dec 05, 2017 the halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. 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.
I had read another account of the halifax explosion years ago, but this book out a human outlook on this tragedy. What are some great novels that take place in nova scotia. Recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about it through fiction. Halifax was devastated on 6 december 1917 when two ships collided in the citys harbour, one of them a munitions ship loaded with explosives bound for the battlefields of the first world war. The halifax explosion of 1917 is one of those forgotten events in history, outside the community where it happened. The halifax explosion of 1917 has been virtually forgotten, at least until this excellent book. 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. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. More detailed accounts of response are found in allison lawlors non fiction book broken pieces. Every december, the province of nova scotia sends boston a large christmas tree as a thankyou for the citys speedy and generous support after the explosion.
I didnt set out to write about art, but these things just find their way into our. Students will identify the key details in this narrative nonfiction feature about the 1917 explosion of a cargo ship in halifax harbor. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. Excerpt from the great halifax explosion book details collision of 2 ships and the explosion that altered a city, residents and relations between canada and u.
What is it like for a young boy to survive the halifax explosion. A few months ago, i read a book called black snow, a love story set during wwi and the halifax explosion. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before. His story brings its hospitals, waterfront and old downtown herald building to life as its events unfold during the weeks after the disaster. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917.
Story is set in halifax, nova scotia in 1917 during wwi and the time of the terrible disaster known as the halifax explosion when two ships collided in halifax harbour and destroyed most of the north end of the city, killing and injuring thousands. 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. Jul 04, 2011 the halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military. My latest novel, beautiful in his sight, is set during the halifax explosion, a ww1 event little known in most of the world. Following in maclennans footsteps, journalist robert macneil penned burden of desire 1992 and used the. Sally walker went beyond a mere narrative, however. Laffoley, who lives in halifax, proves equally adept here as he did in his earlier novel, at recreating the setting and milieu so familiar to all of us who know the citys peninsula and its history. Ive also included lists of non fiction and books for young readers. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. I wasnt as interested in the second half of the book the pace moved too quickly compared to the first half and the story was somewhat lost in the halifax explosion. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. In 1917, halifax, nova scotia was the main base of the new canadian navy and housed the most important army garrison in canada.