The island that went straight up the new york times. In august 1883, a catastrophic volcanic eruption off the coast of java was followed by a tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. August 27, 1883, by simon winchester, was an informative read with an interesting point of view. This book is richly laden with information, history and anecdote, with description, scientific explanation and speculation regarding the 1883 volcanic eruption and destruction of the island of krakatoa which killed nearly 37,000 people, mainly owing to the ensuing immense tsunamis which ravaged the coastal regions of java and sumatra in. I very much enjoyed the book the 1883 eruption of krakatoa.
The 1883 eruption of krakatoa audiobook by charles river. Letusan krakatau 1883 in the sunda strait began on the afternoon of sunday, 26 august 1883with origins as early as that mayand peaked on the late morning of monday, 27 august 1883, when over 70% of the island of krakatoa and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed as it collapsed into a caldera. On august 26 and 27, 1883, the island volcano krakatau erupted, ejecting more than four cubic miles of debris and creating a huge plume of gas and ashes that rose to an altitude of. In the 1880s, close to the epicentre of this boxing days earthquake, huge waves crashed into countries all around the indian ocean. Introduction the legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa the name has since become a byword for a cataclysmic disaster was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people. Sep 15, 2017 the eruption of krakatoa, or krakatau, in august 1883 was one of the most deadly volcanic eruptions of modern history.
But perhaps the most famous and most destructive eruption in modern history was the 1883 eruption of krakatoa. Krakatoa book chicago public library bibliocommons. Came for the krakatoa story, stayed for the brilliant history of indonesia, the evolution of biology, and the progress of vulcanology, that were all served as the context leading up towards the day krakatoa finally exploded in 1883. This video is compile from other youtube account, however many thanks to them. It was the morning of august 27, 1883 that one of the worlds most astronomical eruptions occurred from the krakatoa. Twentysix miles to the southward and westward was the village of anjer. News events could be sent around the world in an hour or two. He starts by explaining the social structure in the dutch east indies at the time. The book was concise and brief, and provided a lot of scientific information related to the eruption. This book is a massive documentary analysis of krakatau 1883, the volcanic eruption and its effects. The island is called anak krakatau, which means childofkrakatau. On august 27, 1883, the tiny volcanic island krakatoa in the sunda strait between java and sumatra blew itself into the history books, altering weather patterns around the world for years, killing. Simon winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including the professor and the madman, the men who united the states, the map that changed the world, the man who loved china, a crack in the edge of the world, and krakatoa, all of which were new york times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. The history of the worlds most notorious volcanic explosions.
The 1883 eruption of krakatoa in the dutch east indies now indonesia began on august 26, 1883 with origins as early as may of that year and culminated with several destructive eruptions of the remaining caldera. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The eruption was the plot in irwin allens the time tunnel episode, crack of doom. On august 27, two thirds of krakatoa collapsed in a chain of titanic explosions, destroying most of the island and its surrounding archipelago. Beyond the purely physical horrors of an event that has only very recently been properly understood, the eruption changed the world in more ways than could possibly be imagined.
Aug 27, 2011 perhaps, however, the most important evidence of what was actually going on at krakatoa during the crisis of the eruption is that derived from witnesses on board ships which sailed between java. Volcanic eruptions have amazed people for millennia, and notorious ones like the eruption of mount st. The day the world exploded by winchester, simon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The day the world exploded, august 27, 1883, a book in which simon winchester has the gall to make fun of a geographically mistitled film called krakatoa, east of java, while himself failing to provide an adequate map of the region. It is pretty much erupting all the time at a low level, but once or twice a year it has slightly larger eruptions that people notice and sometimes report in the news. Viking first vgvg edgewear 432pp with illustrations and photos 8 5 x 5 5 650g, 2003. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. Of course none of these are anywhere near the size of the famous 1883 eruption.
The first modern tsunami by simon winchester expert on the krakatoa eruption it is not the first time that a major seismic event in indonesia has made frontpage news around the world. Japan tsunami is small compared to five of worlds biggest tsunamis. Harper perennial march 1, 2004 paperback 432 pages simon winchester tells the frightening tale of the biggest volcanic eruption in history using a blend of gentle geology and narrative history. On the volcanic phenomena of the eruption, and on the nature and distribution of the ejected materials. In krakatoa simon winchester, author of the map that changed the world and the professor and the madman, focuses his considerable research powers on one of the most cataclysmic events of modern history. Krakatoa the day the world exploded, august 27, 1883 book. Aug 31, 2016 the eruption of the krakatau or krakatoa on a small island located in the middle of the sunda strait at the time part of the netherlands east indies in august 1883 was, in many aspects, the. Krakatoa book lawrence public library bibliocommons.
The eruption was at krakatoa, an island in the fairway of the strait of sunda, about midway between java and sumatra. The author brings new perspective to this iconic event, showing how it marked a. The newbery medalwinning 1947 young adult ya novel the twentyone balloons, by william pene du bois, features the 1883 eruption of krakatoa as a major plot point. Krakatau aka krakatoa had been rumbling and sending up puffs of ash since may 1883. The annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people. Krakatoa book king county library system bibliocommons. It has almost every important analysis up to the date of publishing in 1983 100 years later. The concept of the global village began in 1883 as the world quickly learned that all humankind survives at the caprice of nature. August 27, 1883 first edition by winchester, simon isbn. On the seismic sea waves caused by the eruption of krakatoa, august 26th and 27th, 1883, by w.
Simon winchester, new york times bestselling author of the professor and the madman, examines the legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa, which was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people. This bustling colonial backdrop provides an effective canvas for the suspense leading up to august 27th, 1883, when the nearby island of krakatoa would violently vaporize. On august 26, 1883, krakatoa began to erupt and release significant ash clouds a far distance above the island. It was the first book i read by simon winchester and i enjoyed it a lot. Simon winchesters book, krakatoa, describes colonial history, early telegraphy and workings of geology leading up to the eruption. This is the first book that i have read by simon winchester and i must say he has done a great job in explaining the history, culture, geology and timeline of the 1883 krakatoa eruption. An erudite, fascinating account by one of the foremost purveyors of contemporary nonfiction, this book chronicles the underlying causes, utter devastation and lasting effects of the cataclysmic 188. It may seem a stretch to connect a volcanic eruption with civil and religious unrest in indonesia today, but simon winchester makes a compelling case. The caldera is part of a volcanic island group krakatoa archipelago comprising four islands.
The effects of the immense waves were felt as far away as france. Winchester describes the eruption through the eyes of its survivors, and readers will be as horrified and mesmerized as eyewitnesses were as the death toll reached nearly 40,000 almost all of whom died from tsunamis generated. Krakatoa was dormant until the period between may and august of 1883. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. With krakatoa simon winchester gives a very interesting account not only of the actual eruption of the krakatoa and its immediate aftermath, but also spend a lot of time to set the scene and look into consequences of the eruption. Krakatau in the sunda strait began on the afternoon of sunday, 26 august 1883 with origins as early as may of that yearand peaked on the late morning of monday, 27 august 1883, when over 70% of the island of krakatoa and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed as it collapsed into a caldera. The 1969 disaster film krakatoa, east of java is very loosely based on the 1883 eruption. The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa. The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa the name has since become a. List of some of the principal books and papers published respecting the phenomena reported upon. The eruption of krakatoa, and subsequent phenomena. Krakatau erupted in, in one of the largest eruptions in recent time.
The book starts off not by talking about krakatoa, but with the history of the spice trade in the sunda strait. On 27th august 1883 the most terrifying volcanic eruption occurred off the western tip of java, on the island of krakatoa. The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa the name has since become a byword for a cataclysmic disaster was. On the air waves and sounds caused by the eruption of krakatoa in august, 1883. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 2006, winchester was made an officer of the order of. Krakatau, 1883 the volcanic eruption and its effects. The name is also used for the surrounding volcanic island group krakatoa archipelago comprising four islands. August 27, 1883 from the worlds largest community of readers. August 27, 1883 has 5 available editions to buy at half price books. As news breaks of a deadly tsunami in the sunda strait, we revisit the 1883 eruption of krakatoa, which caused destruction on an almost unimaginable scale and resulted in.
The eruption of the krakatau or krakatoa on a small island located in the middle of the sunda strait at the time part of the netherlands east indies in august 1883 was, in many aspects, the. He builds what could have been a rather dry story into a captivating tale. The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcanoisland of krakatoa the name has since become a byword for a cataclysmic disaster was followed by an. The map that changed the world 2001, is the story of william smith, the 19thcentury engineer and father of modern geology. What caused krakatoa to erupt in 1883 simon winchester. He tells the story of the unrecognized genius who beat darwin to the discovery of evolution. It was the morning of august 27, 1883 that one of the worlds most astronomical eruptions occurred from the krakatoa volcano. Krakatau 1883, the volcanic eruption and its effects. Before this tsunami, krakatoas eruption in 1883 rocked. Krakatoa erupted at a time when technologies like the telegraph were becoming commonplace and asian trade routes were being expanded by northern european companies. The eruption of krakatoa was the first global catastrophe.
August 27, 1883 9780786257294 by simon winchester and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. The eruption turned deadly on the afternoon of aug. The son also rises as americans view volcanic activity at mount st. The day the world exploded book by simon winchester. In 1883, the volcanic island of krakatoa erupted in indonesia. The island of krakatoa blows up posted on august 27, 2011 by skullsinthestars today, august 27th, marks the grim anniversary of one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in recorded history. On august 26 and 27, 1883, the island volcano krakatau erupted, ejecting more than four cubic miles of debris and creating a huge plume of gas and ashes that rose to an altitude of thirty miles. The volcanic eruption and its effects krakatoa by simpkin, tom, etc.
Krakatau, is a caldera in the sunda strait between the islands of java and sumatra in the indonesian province of lampung. Apr 18, 2012 this movie shows a physicsbased computer simulation of the 1883 krakatoa eruption, lateral blast, pyroclastic flow and tsunami. Historic krakatau eruption of 1883 courtesy of the library of congress on an early may morning in 1883, the captain of the german warship elisabeth spotted a cloud of ash and dust rising above the uninhabited island of krakatau. An erudite, fascinating account by one of the foremost purveyors of contemporary nonfiction, this book chronicles the underlying causes, utter devastation and lasting effects of the cataclysmic 1883 eruption of the volcano island krakatoa in what is now indonesia. Jul 05, 2005 in krakatoa author simon winchester examines the great explosion of august 27, 1883 from all angles, including historical, scientific, social, political and religious. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read krakatoa. August 27, 1883 by simon winchester online at alibris. Krakatoa, the day the world exploded by simon winchester. Helens can still be immediately recalled even by some who werent alive at the time. Simon winchesters brilliant chronicle of the destruction of the indonesian island of krakatoa in 1883 charts the birth of our modern world. The acknowledgments section of simon winchesters latest book. Helens with awe and unease, tourists are flocking to indonesia and the site of one of historys most. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
The eruption of krakatoa, or krakatau, in august 1883 was one of the most deadly volcanic eruptions of modern history. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The bestselling author of the professor and the madman and the map that changed the world examines the enduring and worldchanging effects of the catastrophic eruption off the coast of java of the earths most dangerous volcano krakatoa. Krakatau, 1883the volcanic eruption and its effects. Beyond the purely physical horrors of an event that has only very recently been properly understood, the eruption changed. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The eruption was at krakatoa, an island in the fairway of the strait of sunda, eighty miles distant, on the 20th of may. The bestselling author of the professor and the madman and the map that changed the world examines the enduring and worldchanging effects of the catastrophic eruption off the coast of java of the. Simon winchester is the author of several books, including works of travel writing, history and acclaimed biography, including the surgeon of crowthorne 1998.