The Johnstown Flood

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation's burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon. Despite repeated warnings of possible danger, nothing was done about the dam. Then came May 31, 1889, when the dam burst, sending a wall of water thundering down the mountain, smashing through Johnstown, and killing more than 2,000 people. It was a tragedy that became a national scandal.

Graced by David McCullough's remarkable gift for writing richly textured, sympathetic social history, The Johnstown Flood is an absorbing portrait of life in 19th-century America, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. This is a powerful historical lesson for our century and all times: the danger of assuming that because people are in positions of responsibility they are behaving responsibly.

©1968 David McCullough (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

detailed and researched

Rich in detail and thoroughly researched. I am from the area where the flood occured and while listening feel that I am transported back in time.

Excellent story read very well

I knew nothing about Johnstown. I even had to look on Google Maps to see where it is. Now, I feel cheated that this was never covered in any history class I ever took. What a monumental event! McCullough makes the story very interesting and the reader is superb. I just finished "The Wright Brothers", which McCullough reads himself, but this reader is even better. If you have never heard f this event or know little about it, this is a must read for any fan of history.

Excellent book

This was an excellent audiobook. I went to the Johnstown Flood museum several years ago, but found this to be much more informative (I'm sure a repeat visit would add to the book, though). Very well done. It can be a bit tricky to keep the geography in your head without a map, but it's still easy to follow.

Extraordinary Tale, Well Told

Any additional comments?

The heading says it all: 'Extraordinary Tale, Well Told' - well researched and written as well as beautifully narrated. This was a fully absorbing audio book as well as being personally educational as I knew nothing of this historical calamity. I thoroughly recommend this one!

David McCullough @ his Best

The Johnstown Flood has been a stable in Pennsylvania's High School history classes for decades. Being born and raised in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, I've been told of the legendary events because of my hometown's location on the Susquehanna River. We suffered certain 5 year flooding events but only as an inconvenience with minimal properties damaged.

This historical recounting of the cause and effects of such a major catastrophe north of Pittsburgh is nothing short of catastrophic with overwhelming loss of life and all significant residential. business and industrial property demolition.

It has been written and narrated, so as, to seductively tell the story and keep my undivided attention from beginning to end. McCullough has once again provided me with a factual recounting of this major American tragedy. I was unable to knowingly listen in the evening before sleeping without setting the timer. An excellent Autum selection for all who enjoy a great story that has been painfully constructed and narrated for our benefit.

great book on a horrible event in us history

great written book and great reader to listen to. one of the worst events in American history and this book covers it all.

Excellent Audio Book

Excellent audio book it keeps the listener involved in this devastating story throughout the reading.

I Need to Visit Johnstown, Now

If you could sum up The Johnstown Flood in three words, what would they be?

Tragic but true

What did you like best about this story?

McCullough is a master storyteller. He goes well beyond the sources, and accounts, to weave a story about the era, the place, and the people.

Which scene was your favorite?

The description of the horrific flood, as it unfolded, was as grim as it was gripping.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I loved the story, and this is one of the few books that I would consider listening to in one sitting. The history, the facts, and the characters unfold easily. This isn't one of those histories that bogs you down too much with the hard facts. It unfolds, one story at a time, until the flood takes you with it down to Pittsburgh.

The warning!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend this book to all of my friends. I have read many books about how our monetary system could collapse, but it never happens. Just because a collapse hasn't happened yet, people think your crazy for mentioning it. just like this story, people get tired of the warnings, and the people forecasting it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't have a favorite.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the dam broke.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The dredge is coming.

Any additional comments?

It amazed me how everyone came together to help out after the flood. Well, almost everyone, at least one person just high tailed it out of town and everyone thought he was dead.

Fascinating Story

A fascinating and sad piece of American history very well told by Edward Herrman. the author certainly did their research, and it was by no means dry storytelling.