Krakatoa

The Day the World Exploded, August 27, 1883

By: Simon Winchester

Narrated by: Simon Winchester

The best-selling author of The Professor and the Madman and The Map That Changed the World examines the enduring and world-changing effects of the catastrophic eruption off the coast of Java of the earth's most dangerous volcano - Krakatoa.

The legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa - the name has since become a byword for a cataclysmic disaster - was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. 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. Dust swirled round die planet for years, causing temperatures to plummet and sunsets to turn vivid with lurid and unsettling displays of light. The effects of the immense waves were felt as far away as France. Barometers in Bogotá and Washington, DC, went haywire. Bodies were washed up in Zanzibar. The sound of the island's destruction was heard in Australia and India and on islands thousands of miles away. Most significant of all - in view of today's new political climate - the eruption helped to trigger in Java a wave of murderous anti-Western militancy among fundamentalist Muslims: one of the first outbreaks of Islamic-inspired killings anywhere.

Simon Winchester's long experience in the world wandering as well as his knowledge of history and geology give us an entirely new perspective on this fascinating and iconic event as he brings it telling back to life.

©2003 Simon Winchester (P)2003 HarperCollinsPublishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Thrilling, comprehensive, literate, meticulously researched and scientifically accurate....It is one of the best books ever written about the history and significance of a natural disaster." (The New York Times Book Review)

"If you're looking for drama, you'll certainly find it here....Winchester manages a dry and ironic delivery, very much in keeping with his writing style. But the main point of interest when the dust has settled is the far-flung ramifications of this eruption upon world events. This is a winner." (AudioFile)

"All readers, science-prone or not, will be delighted by this experience-expanding book." (Booklist)

On the Fence on This One!

This is the second book I’ve listened to by Simon Winchester, which I was prompted to do by his title The Professor and the Madman. This book seemed to be the most interesting of all his other titles beyond that book, but as good as that book was this book simply does not measure up on any level. This book left me feeling flat and unsated. While I did finish the book in a reasonably swift manner I was doing so more in hopes that it would suddenly, and without warning, grab me and pull me in. It never did.

Krakatoa is overly detailed and it has far too much ancillary filler history about the colonial ambitions of the Europeans, about the location, and the goings on of the people in Batavia; so on and so forth. It reads more like a history text book then what a book like this, by this caliber of writer, should read like. It simply does not focus enough on the event itself in my view. A small glimmer of hope is that Winchester managed to weave enough interesting scientific information into the entire telling that I did learn something and I found those parts particularly good and of value.

Winchester is a very good narrator, but narration alone cannot invest someone in a book. I have mixed emotions about this book because I judge my books based on how much I learn, how many bookmarks I place for later reference, how I feel about listening to the book again, and if the writer can stick to the facts without bias or embellishment. I definitely learned new things from this book, but I placed only two book marks, I’m not sure about listening again, and I'm not sure how biased some of the story is? So, I sit on the fence wondering what I should do because as I write this I honestly cannot say 'get the book', or, 'avoid the book'. I wish Audible allowed updates to reviews so I could give it another go and if I find I am wrong update this! I regret being of no help in your decision!

Best writing I've ever encountered!

Narrator and author of this masterpiece composed layers of research and brilliant descriptions. Simon winchester is a true artist and I'll be searching for more titles from him now. This book looks at Krakatoa as a geological event and as catalyst for many other types of scientific and social improvement.

great history book

As always, Simon is able to pull so much worldly knowledge into one subject. Absolutely brilliant. he hasn't disappointed me yet. So far my favorite book of his is Atlantic.

Fantastic!!!

This is a fantastic book! I have read and enjoyed several of Winchester's books and find them all fascinating and well written. He weaves geology and history together in unanticipated ways. Since reading the Map That Changed the World, I have a new found respect/interest in the effects that geology shapes culture, and this book brings this notion to a new level, providing insights that are fundamental to my understaning of both the physical evolution of the planet and human history. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in either understanding how culture/society are shaped and changed and the emergence of the concept of a global village or in the history of our understanding of the earths geology. Also I highly recommend the Map That Changed the Wold as well as (not by Winchester) A History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. These three books together will gave me a profound respect/understanding of the link between earth history and human history.

The Caprice of Nature

The eruption of Krakatoa near Java and Sumatra in 1883 was the first major, natural disaster to occur in the early years of electric telegraphy and its undersea cables. By then all major cities and many smaller ones were connected by telegraph. News events could be sent around the world in an hour or two. The concept of the “global village” began in 1883 as the world quickly learned that all humankind survives at the caprice of Nature.

Simon Winchester’s book, “Krakatoa”, describes colonial history, early telegraphy and workings of geology leading up to the eruption. He then vividly depicts the series of warning eruptions over several months and finally the humongous explosions creating tsunamis killing over 36,000 people. The author describes the aftermath, including worldwide, barometric waves and colorful sunsets. Finally, there’s the robust return of life to initially sterile Anak Krakatoa (Child of Krakatoa).

The author’s descriptions of the Dutch colonization of Indonesia, the role of gutta-percha in underwater cables, Alfred Wegener, plate tectonics and subduction, just to name a few, give the story greater depth. However, these may be tangential wanderings for some listeners. The author is his own reader. His conversational style and dry wit may not be sufficiently dynamic for some. One should listen to the audio sample and read some other reviews before buying the book.

more than the story of a volcano eruption

This book was terrific. It tells a rich story about Krakatoa and the Dutch ruled Indonesian territory that Krakatoa was situated in. The author weaves history and geology with exquisite language (....the mortally expensive event) and a narration in a very listenable English accent. The thorough research done by the author is reflected in his description of many sources of information that were sought out to tell the entire story.

Cumbersome

While many of the stories that the author shared were interesting, this could have been slimmed down considerably. He goes into incredibly long-winded accounts of uninteresting stories several times. It would have been much better to establish some main characters and follow them thoughgout the timeline rather than bouncing around with many small almost irritating accounts.

Kratatoa - West of Java

In typical Winchester style, this book covers the topic with throrough details, including the history of the Dutch colony, the geology, the history of theory of plate tectonics, the event itself and it's ramifications.

It probably helps to be a bit of a geology buff due to the details and some of the terminology, but even without any geologic knowledge, this book is certain to make fascinating reading.

Better the 2d time around!

I first listened to this book on CD's, while on an elliptical trainer. It was slow going! I enjoy audible and came across this book again. It is a much better experience this 2d time. One suggestion, look up Krakatoa on google earth for reference points. It will aid your understanding of the story and plot locations.

excellent and in depth

more than just the story of a volcano blowing up, the author is fantastically detailed and the image of the tsunami that's painted in the mind is an allegory for pure terror