A review by mcarson24
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

4.0

Another Erik Larson in the books, so to speak. Here, Larson takes the reader on two journeys, one through Marconi’s intense quest to prove that wireless trans-Atlantic communication was not only possible, but practical and the other following one of Britain’s most famous crimes and infamous criminals.

What in the world do the two have to do with each other?? Well, not all that much. That is, until the two story lines quite dramatically intersect, each part thrusting the other into the world spotlight. Along the way, Larson explores the growing conflict between “true science” and commercial enterprise, the increasing political tensions of pre-WWI Europe, and a whole host of personal traits and experiences of one of history’s most notable scientists, one of Scotland Yard’s most pursued murderers and many of the key figures who surrounded them.

In a world where we tuck wireless into our back pockets dozens of times each day, it’s easy to forget that it took several acres of land and hundreds of feet of wire to send just a few words a few hundred feet. And that at the time, most people believed it to be of little practical value - a parlor trick. How quickly things can change!

Be forewarned…as the details of the murder are exposed, things get quite gruesome. Think PD James. And if physics never excited you, you may have to wade through some technical jargon that threatens to bore you. But hang in there. Larson balances it out and brings these two distinctly different stories into a unique juxtaposition.
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