A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion that devastated the. 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 true story of the greatest manmade explosion before hiroshima, michael j. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today.
Heres a few books that i know of that have a nova scotia setting. The retired history teachers latest literary work recounts one of the. The blast that resulted was the largest manmade explosion prior to the development of nuclear weapons. It was directed by bruce pittman and written by keith ross leckie. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. He was two years old when he was blinded by the halifax explosion on december 6, 1917.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. I read all the nonfiction books i could find on the subject, then found 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. 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.
Another great read is a book about the halifax explosionthe day the town diedcant. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax. 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. And, amidst all the devastation, what helps him tap in to his spirit of resilience and hope.
On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships collided in the halifax harbour. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. Dec 18, 20 images from the halifax explosion that happened back in 1917. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Charlotte struggles to find her twin brother after the rest of her family is killed in the tragic halifax explosion. On december 6, 1917 two ships collided in halifax harbour. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books. Uncovering new halifax explosion stories trident newspaper. Books on the disaster proliferate, and while non fiction 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.
I had read another account of the halifax explosion years ago, but this book out a. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. 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. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism debuts tuesday.
Cuthbertsons take is a touch more academic than bacons riveting account, but does better probe the explosions. Jul 14, 2015 the halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. Eric davidson lost both eyes in the halifax explosion when he was two years old.
When i first encountered the halifax explosion, i knew immediately it was a ticktock of a story just waiting to become a book. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. 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. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. 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. One ship was loaded top to bottom with munitions and one held relief supplies, both intended for wartorn. 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. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. 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 work explores life in halifax, nova scotia during world war i, and its interruption by the halifax explosion. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. For more information visit the halifax explosion website. Bacon applies something like a playbyplay strategy to his nonfiction that makes it nearly. 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. 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. This is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion.
Barometer rising is a romanticrealist novel by canadian author hugh maclennan. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with. The halifax explosion is a twopart miniseries produced in 2003 by cbc television. 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.
There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. We would also appreciate nonfiction suggestions, since my husband enjoys those. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion 1917 nova scotia, canada youtube. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. 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. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. More detailed accounts of response are found in allison lawlors non fiction book broken pieces.
Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. 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. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion. One was carrying a full load of wartime explosives. The halifax explosion goodreads meet your next favorite book. Write a speech this 3minute npr clip tells the story behind a heartwarming tradition that came about in the wake of the halifax tragedy. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. An orphan of the halifax explosion nimbus, aimed at seven to 10yearold readers. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that.
This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. Images from the halifax explosion that happened back in 1917. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with. 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. 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. Also i believe the book that beachgrass was referring to was the town that died. The halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. The film stars vincent walsh, tamara hope, clare stone, zachary bennett, shauna macdonald and ted. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest. Print a read and math workbook with the halifax explosion reading comprehension. Cuthbertsons take is a touch more academic than bacons riveting account, but. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before.
Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story.
The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima. Following in maclennans footsteps, journalist robert macneil penned burden of desire 1992 and used the. The condition of this soft cover book is good, with exception previous owners name on inside front cover. I survived the halifax explosion book halifax public. Nov 09, 2017 a double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster terra arnone. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader.
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. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. Dec 05, 2017 the halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. Click ok to close the content settings popup and close the settings tab. While my maternal grandfather and two of his brothers were fighting in the trenches of europe, their father, my great grandfather, and a brotherinlaw, were working as stevedores on the halifax waterfront. Assiduous research, beautiful writing, and a great talent for historical reconstruction make laura macdonalds curse of the narrows the definitive account of the. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience. 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 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. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and.
This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Alison watt has a personal connection to that history, and it inspired her debut novel. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. Dartmouth book award and a globe and mail best book of the. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster terra arnone. Against all odds, he taught himself to become an auto mechanic and had a successful decadeslong career as one of the boys. 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. 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. 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. 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. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax.
The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. The resulting explosion was the most devastating manmade explosion until. What is it like for a young boy to survive the halifax explosion. I was letting my history drive the plot, rather than using the settings. 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. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Dec 02, 2017 this is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion. On december 6, 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbour.
It presents a fictionalized version of the halifax explosion, a 1917 catastrophe that destroyed much of the canadian city of halifax. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. The halifax explosion reading comprehension worksheet. 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. At the time of his death in 2009, davidson was the penultimate living survivor with permanent injuries from the halifax explosion, which killed more than 1,600 people. Bacon is clearly the perfect writer for the job, able to keep you awake reading hours after your spouse has turned out the lights. John eric davidson may 10, 1915september 9, 2009 was one of the last survivors of the halifax explosion. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Even after a century, with most of its survivors deceased, the 1917 halifax explosion continues to grip writers imaginations. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered 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. 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. No safe harbour is set in the months before and after the december 6, 1917 halifax explosion, which was the largest manmade blast in history.
On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. 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. 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. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything.
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