A review by tonyfrobisher
Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, by Simon Winchester
5.0
Explosive History - in the best way
As someone who has a long relationship with Indonesia and has written two novels set in Java, Simon Winchester's Krakatoa is one of the best sources of information you can read.
The book is not only about the devastating 1883 eruption. It covers geological discovery, the science and theories of continental drift and plate tectonics, the ecological and biological, societal, political and climatic impacts of the biggest bang known in living history. It is detailed, but not dense. It reads effortlessly and creates a thorough understanding of the causes and consequences of the Krakatoa eruption.
And it is prescient too. Winchester visits the new volcanic island of Anak Krakatoa that emerged from the sea in 1927. Having observed it from the geological observation post on the Javanese coast in Carita, his visit considers that Anak Krakatoa needs constant monitoring, continually active as it is. And further devastating eruptions may well occur. Indeed they did. The collapse of Anak Krakatoa and subsequent tsunami in 2018 reminding us that our earth is a fragile place, in constant flux, fickle and geologically indiscriminate.
A superb book and brilliantly written. Highly recommended.
As someone who has a long relationship with Indonesia and has written two novels set in Java, Simon Winchester's Krakatoa is one of the best sources of information you can read.
The book is not only about the devastating 1883 eruption. It covers geological discovery, the science and theories of continental drift and plate tectonics, the ecological and biological, societal, political and climatic impacts of the biggest bang known in living history. It is detailed, but not dense. It reads effortlessly and creates a thorough understanding of the causes and consequences of the Krakatoa eruption.
And it is prescient too. Winchester visits the new volcanic island of Anak Krakatoa that emerged from the sea in 1927. Having observed it from the geological observation post on the Javanese coast in Carita, his visit considers that Anak Krakatoa needs constant monitoring, continually active as it is. And further devastating eruptions may well occur. Indeed they did. The collapse of Anak Krakatoa and subsequent tsunami in 2018 reminding us that our earth is a fragile place, in constant flux, fickle and geologically indiscriminate.
A superb book and brilliantly written. Highly recommended.