Bookshelf
| Krakatoa, Simon Winchester |
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Krakatoa, by Simon Winchester **** Many of you might think that the history of the Dutch East Indies and description of a volcanic explosion that occurred over 100 years ago might be boring. You'd be wrong. Simon Winchester has forged together this true tale of death and destruction in a way that it is compelling and exciting. Of course, we're not talking about just any volcano either. When Krakatoa exploded in 1883 it was one of the five biggest volcanic eruptions, that we know of, in the history of the Earth. It not only killed thousands, it's effects were felt globally. The story of the volcano and the geology behind it is a fascinating one but Winchester adds to the story with his history of the Dutch East Indies, specifically the islands of Java and Sumatra and the city of Batavia (modern-day Jakarta). In doing so, you become invested in the lives of the residents whose world will literally be rocked. His descriptions are rich and you get a good picture of colonial life in an exotic location. The only weakness to this book is Winchester's thoughts on the social after-effects of the explosion. I don't think the relationship between the Dutch treatment of the locals and their subsequent ties to radical Islam is as simple as presented. This is a fascinating book. Krakatoa didn't erupt in a movie-like way with lava flowing and people standing and watching. The island literally exploded and disappeared sending 150 foot waves across the sea and shock waves that were measured on the other side of the world. Even if you don't usually like stuff in the "science and nature" categories, I think almost anyone will really enjoy this story.
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 September 2008 10:56 |