Will I love Krakatoa?

I love a seamless blend of science and history that creates a gripping story, and Krakatoa is at the top of my list. The book left me in awe at the power of nature.

The Krakatoa eruption unleashed a 120-foot tsunami, killed tens of thousands, and cast ash into the atmosphere that cooled temperatures around the globe. I was fascinated by Winchester’s tale of how the cataclysm contributed to our understanding of volcanology, tsunamis, and the revolutionary theory of plate tectonics.

To top it off, he took me into another world by weaving in a moving story of Dutch colonization… show more.

Welcome to an account of an enormous volcanic eruption!

Winchester takes the reader through the real-life activities that preceded and followed one of the largest recorded volcanic eruptions in written history. Ten chapters skillfully interweave tales of people who were directly impacted by the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. While many people have heard that Krakatoa was the site of a large eruption, most of them may not realize that the monster tsunamis produced by that explosion were the deadliest aspect of the eruption.

It is captivating reading, even for those not as hooked on volcanoes as I am.