The halifax explosion in nonfiction the great halifax explosion. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. The halifax explosion occurred when a belgian relief vessel and a french munitions carrier collided in halifax harbour during world war i. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. Babies whose mothers had not been located and children injured in the halifax explosion on dec. Bacon is the author of the great halifax explosion. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. 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. The gulf war and operation iraqi freedom veteran resists blatant comparisons of those two wars with vietnam although he suggests that in iraq, army gen. Brad has written thirteen new york times bestsellers. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest.
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. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in operation enduring freedom and operation iraqi freedom, as well as classified operations around the globe. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an. 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. Halifax author janet kitz says the photo shows how difficult it was for babies to be identified if their mothers were dead. Halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917.
Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh. The spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. An official inquiry opened just days after the explosion and in april of 1918, the mont blanc was declared solely to blame for the disaster. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. But his book begins not with barss or the explosion. More nova scotians were killed in the explosion than were killed in wwi. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. 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. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion haligonia. The munitions ship drifted towards the pier and after twenty minutes blew sky high. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f.
Cuthbertsons take is a touch more academic than bacons riveting account, but does better probe the explosions. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion. Beside the name of each victim is listed the age and local residential addresses at the time of the explosion, in addition to their burial sites.
Aarestrup, lottie 31 veith street, halifax, nova scotia. Hann, emily 11 inglis street, halifax, nova scotia 63 19171206 hannan, annie florence 52 veith street, halifax, nova scotia 31 19171206 hannan, jack. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. The halifax explosion 2003, which took the title but has no relationship to janet kitzs nonfiction book shattered city. Janet kitzs acclaimed nonfiction book shattered city. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. 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.
Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. Uncovering new halifax explosion stories trident newspaper. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. Robert macneils first novel is a book about heroism, halifax and hotblooded love. The following year, on appeal, both ships were judged equally at fault. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery 1990.
His final military post was as assistant professor of military science at the citadel. Halifax explosion nova scotia canada 1917 about 2000 people killed. This is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbou. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Kaye chapman, now 104, was five years old on the fateful day in.
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. Keith ross leckie scripted a miniseries entitled shattered city. 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. Ken cuthbertson lives in kingston, ontario, with his family. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before. Though not an antiwar novel, this book shows effects of the war on. The remembrance book contains a list of the 1,951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion. The most destructive moment of world war i occurred far from the.
He retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in operation enduring freedom and operation iraqi freedom, as well as classified operations around the globe. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Read the halifax explosion canadas worst disaster by ken cuthbertson available from rakuten kobo. Nearly 2000 people died from the halifax explosion, many killed instantly from the blast. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. Macneil, who hosted the macneillehrer newshour, has also published other fiction and nonfiction books including breaking news 1999. On december 6, 1917, the munitions ship montblanc exploded in halifax harbor, nova scotia, in the biggest manmade explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs on japan during world war ii while sailing into the harbor on the morning of december 6, the french munitions ship montblancwith its cargo of 2,925 tons of explosives for the allied war. The retired history teachers latest literary work recounts one of the.
Since i was currently in the second humvee of the convoy with my fireteam, lance corporal lynn, the m2 gunner and the 0331 machine gunner of the fireteam starts firing some bursts off into the general direction the first humvee fired upon. 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. Nova scotia hasnt forgotten the generosity of the volunteers and doctors from boston who rushed to the scene of the halifax explosion to help in. The story of the halifax explosion video realclearscience. A few months ago, i read a book called black snow, a love story set during wwi and the halifax explosion.
Complete with letters and photographs, it reads more like an engaging novel than a tale of one of canadas greatest disasters. The explosion is also referred to in some detail in john irvings novel until i find you. Before shooting the mk19 at the iraqis shooting at us. At around the same time, i heard about a new book coming out set during the same time and place, the blue tattoo. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster terra arnone. Burden of desire 1992 is a large massmarket book based on the halifax explosion of 1917 written by canadianborn journalist robert macneil.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. The halifax explosion documentary on ami tv remembers canadas biggest disaster. An illustrated authors note provides further detail on the halifax explosion. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of. Crowds gathered around to watch the fire from the initial collision. He also teaches the history of college athletics at the. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. The film was criticized for distortions and inaccuracies. The biography of john gunther shortlisted for the governor generals literary award for nonfiction and a complex fate. The 1917 explosion in halifax that reverberated in boston. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Ami tv will air an original, the halifax explosion documentary detailing one of the worst manmade explosions in history and how it forever changed the lives of canadians.
The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture. Books on the disaster proliferate, and while nonfiction resurrects. No one person has ever been blamed for the largest manmade explosion before the atomic age. Cant remember its name, but read it sometime around 2010. This article appeared on wikipedias main page as todays featured article on december 6, 2017. The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. Although i like anita shreve, i am sure that this book is an independent novel, written as expressed by the first inquirer, about a young eye surgeon who arrived in halifax the night before the tragedy. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes, 99 years later.
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