Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. Two recent novels about infidelity consumed by ink. Babies whose mothers had not been located and children injured in the halifax explosion on dec. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada. 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.
Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. I survived the halifax explosion book halifax public. The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture. Ken cuthbertson lives in kingston, ontario, with his family. 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. Even after a century, with most of its survivors deceased, the 1917 halifax explosion continues to grip writers imaginations. Blast cloud right photo noted by historian janet kitz in her book, survivors children of the halifax explosion, as having been taken by a soldier stationed at york redoubt from a slightly closer and straighton vantage point. The page featuring the halifax explosion photograph is contained in one of two scrapbooks that were put together at the time by a member or members of the halifax relief commission and can be viewed on microfilm housed at nsarm mg 20, volume 529 no.
Nov 30, 2017 ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. But his book begins not with barss or the explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Nov 07, 2017 a history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Dec 08, 2017 the halifax explosion and au revoir to hi. The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima. The resulting explosion was the most devastating manmade explosion until. As it approached the lively port city of halifax, montblancs deadly cargo erupted with the. But when my family and i moved to halifax, nova scotia in 2008 and i learned for the first time about the halifax explosion the largest manmade explosion the world had ever seen. Here are a couple of new possibilities you might like. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before. The retired history teachers latest literary work recounts one of the. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia.
Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917. What is it like for a young boy to survive the halifax explosion. Jul 04, 2011 the city of boston played a large role in helping to rebuild halifax. Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes, 99 years later. The canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh. Halifax author janet kitz says the photo shows how difficult it was for babies to be identified if their mothers were dead. 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. 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.
Barnstead was the registrar of deaths for halifax, already responsible for keeping municipal death records. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. To this day, haligonians send their thanks by shipping a large nova scotia christmas tree to grace bostons prudential plaza. The 1917 halifax explosion was an unfortunate but predictable tragedy, given the sea traffic and munitions cargo, resulting in sudden largescale damage and catastrophic injuries, with 1950 dead.
Carol bruneaus 2007 book glass voices, features the halifax explosion, but is not exclusively about it. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today. This work follows the love affair of a young woman and an injured soldier. Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. 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 was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. Ami mackays 2006 novel about midwives in in early 20 th century nova scotia. 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. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 4. True personal story about the halifax explosion, on its 100th anniversary. Bacon s the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. West, levi 212 grafton street, halifax, nova scotia 28. The naval accident that erased an entire city in canada. Mar 02, 2016 train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. Dec 03, 2017 the points on this map correspond to the home addresses given for victims of the halifax explosion who lived in halifax and listed in the explosion remembrance book available online from the nova.
As the mont blanc waited to dock in halifax, it was struck by a norwegian relief ship, the imo. Ive just been in the right place at the wrong time. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. The city of boston played a large role in helping to rebuild halifax. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. The halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec.
He is the author of several nonfiction books but burden of desire is his first novel. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. John henry barnstead, a halifax physician, had been responsible in 1912 for identifying the bodies of titanic victims that had been picked up and brought to the nearest large port, which was halifax. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. 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. I read all the nonfiction books i could find on the subject, then found the website for the. True personal story about the halifax explosion youtube. The story and scope of the disaster and its aftermath is revealed in fiction and non fiction narratives for both adults and children in these selections from the collection of the cape breton regional library.
The imo can been seen beached on the far shore the james collectioncity of toronto archives in a final, fatal maneuver both captains bellowed out orders to put their engines full speed astern. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. 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. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. Interested in stories about marriage and infidelity. Fire sermon by jamie quatro 2018 the thing that makes fire sermon unique is that the couple having the affair are both religious. Brian had been distraught over his parents impending divorce and the secret he.
Alison watt has a personal connection to that history, and it inspired her debut novel. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion. 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. The ship was a floating bomb, every substance in the cargo engineered to blow up, noted laura m.
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. Kaye chapman, now 104, was five years old on the fateful day in 1917 when a munitions ships collision. Halifax explosion nova scotia canada 1917 about 2000 people killed. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. The halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. If you are unfamiliar with the explosion in halifax, nova scotia in 1917 then this book would be of interest to you. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion.
The story and scope of the disaster and its aftermath is revealed in fiction and nonfiction narratives for both adults and children in these selections from the collection of the cape breton regional library. The halifax explosion remembrance book was originally developed in 2002 as a commemorative project sponsored by the halifax foundation and its chair, the late edmund morris, a former city mayor, to mark the 85th anniversary of the halifax explosion. I was surprised by an image i noticed that i had previously missed. His grandparents, mother and uncle lived in halifax during wwi. 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. It is touch that is the deadliest enemy of chastity, loyalty, monogamy, gentility with its codes and conventions and restraints. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. And, amidst all the devastation, what helps him tap in to his spirit of resilience and hope. Dec 05, 2017 black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. Uncovering new halifax explosion stories trident newspaper. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i.
Harrison, the girl on the train by paula hawkins, heart of the matter. On december 6, 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbour. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. Mountview middle school summer reading suggested book list. For snair, it marked the first of a handful of remarkable brushes with his. A massive smoke cloud rises into the sky moments after the 2. Macneil is the cofounder of the pbs macneil leher report.
There are other books that are much more detailed but this book is certainly a good beginning. 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. Identifying the victims of the halifax explosion from. Dec 06, 2017 true personal story about the halifax explosion, on its 100th anniversary. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. The accidental explosion that erased a canadian city in 1917. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Following in maclennans footsteps, journalist robert macneil penned burden of desire 1992 and used the. 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. 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. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. It was a postcard photo that bore a close resemblance to the blast cloud in the mcnabs island photo and was credited to halifax photographers, cox and cox.
The book has a fairly large print and many contemporary photos. Ive just been in the right place at the wrong time among. I had gone to nsarm to take another look at the xeroxed photo record book of the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. If youd like to learn more about the halifax explosion, try this web sites. When the ships collided, montblancs hold was pierced, fire started and quickly spread, igniting vapours from the benzol. While i was in halifax this week to write about the massive explosion there 100 years ago that killed. Devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood. The book spans decades, but the storys main characters are irreversibly changed by the tragedy of the 1917 explosion. Halifax explosion book uncovers military ties to epic disaster peter mallett, the lookout staff victoria author michael dupuis fascination with the halifax explosion has led to a 194page book, bearing witness. Dec 06, 2017 ive just been in the right place at the wrong time among last of the halifax explosion survivors back to video.
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