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. Be the first to ask a question about the great halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. I thought the first part of the book read too much like a textbook account of historic events. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Dec 06, 2017 century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. The sun was bright in a clear sky and the ground was clear of snow. Many authors have written admirable books on disastrous events. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the. 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. 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. Many safetyrelated changes were made after the halifax explosion, including new rules for storage of hazardous materials and harbour navigation.
Many ghosts have been reported in halifax nova scotia since colonel cornwallis and 2600 settlers climbed upon its shores in 1749. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. It started as an idea of former halifax mayor and chair of the halifax foundation, edmund morris. The book was presented to the museum in 2002 by the halifax foundation. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. The explosion of a munitions ship in the harbour of halifax, nova scotia in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion until the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1945. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. When two ships collided in the halifax harbor, one filled to the. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. Halifax explosion book of remembrance 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.
Sally walker went beyond a mere narrative, however. Tides of honour and the blue tattoo september 14, 2015 a few months ago, i read a book called black snow, a love story set during wwi and the halifax explosion. It killed over 2000 people and flattened much of halifax and the town of dartmouth across the bay. The book is displayed at the entrance to the museums halifax explosion exhibit halifax wrecked. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. When i first encountered the halifax explosion, i knew immediately it was a ticktock of a story just waiting to become a book. 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. Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error.
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. More nova scotians were killed in the explosion than were killed in wwi. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Jul 04, 2011 the spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. Jun 21, 2008 there are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. From the opening 2page spread of 5 family trees, the reader should know this story will be handled differently. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918.
Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes, 99 years later. Read the halifax explosion canadas worst disaster by ken cuthbertson available from rakuten kobo. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. 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. Perhaps some of the more intriguing stories are a direct result of the explosion of 1917. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Learn more about the multicultural history of the city and the province of nova scotia in these titles. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. Book trailer for redeemed from the ashes is finally here. 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 is and was home to a variety of ethnic and cultural groups, all of which were affected by the halifax explosion. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u.
Watch the videos, and download the education guide and worksheets to learn the five key steps to analyzing. 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. Each section provides a brief overview of a portion of the event with links to relevant photographs, interactive maps, true stories of survivors, animated. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. 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. This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. 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. The resulting explosion was the most devastating manmade explosion until. The halifax explosion of 1917 paperback feb 25 2014. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out. The richmond neighbourhood of the historic port city and naval base a.
Information is presented in sequential order under the themes of. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. A building destroyed in the halifax explosion, 6 december 1917. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1946 casualties more than 300 of whom are recentlyconfirmed and identified victims. The most destructive moment of world war i occurred far from the. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion. Nearly 2000 people died from the halifax explosion, many killed instantly from the blast. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of.
In many ways it was a typical early winter day in halifax that december 6, 1917. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. The spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. Another great read is a book about the halifax explosionthe day the town diedcant remember the author. Cbc news interactives has recreated the city of halifax as it existed in 1917 to show how the halifax explosion unfolded and its effects on the people who lived there. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. The halifax explosion was the biggest canadian tragedy in terms of life loss and despair. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources.
New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Advisory board to the halifax relief commission special committee minute books. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the.
Bacon, whose previous books have focused on athletics and university of michigan sports, will read from and discuss the great halifax explosion at 7 p. 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 centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. I have read other books about the incident, but this one is on the human side of the tragedy, not as detail as other books, thou enough information is inserted that one can understand what had happen to cause this tragic accident to occur.
Dec 05, 2017 black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. The halifax explosion of 1917 was a horrific tale of oversights, mistakes, assumptions, and ignorance. The halifax explosion of 1917 in many ways december 6th, 1917 was a typical early winter day in halifax. Dec 01, 2017 cbc news interactives has recreated the city of halifax as it existed in 1917 to show how the halifax explosion unfolded and its effects on the people who li. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. Oct 11, 2019 shattered houses in halifax s north end, following the halifax explosion on 6 december, 1917. Nov 07, 2017 a history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people.
Many books have been written on the subject of the halifax explosion. A history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. On december 6, 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbour. Other communities affected by the halifax explosion. 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. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event.
Two more histories have been added to the dozens of other books. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. 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. List of mayors timeline of history historic places oldest buildings and structures flag of canada. We enjoy reading books set in our next vacation locale as we plan our trip. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and. Niniskamijinaqik ancestral images by ruth holmes whitehead. The ruins of the oland brewery, after the halifax explosion, 1917. 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 halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917.
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