For more information visit the halifax explosion website. Students will identify the key details in this narrative nonfiction feature about the 1917 explosion of a cargo ship in halifax harbor. The explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. Remembering the halifax explosion on the hundredth anniversary of the disaster, we look back at how some of the citys children miraculously survived december 6, 2017 april 2, 2020 by katie ingram katie ingram updated 21. Barometer rising is a romanticrealist novel by canadian author hugh maclennan. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. The halifax explosion of december 6 1917 was a major event in canadas history, which has helped to shape canadas identity by influencing literature, architecture, and local culture. Nov 09, 2017 the great halifax explosion is a narrative a gripping narrative, to borrow from the books blurb itself and reads more like maclennan than kitz, active and well paced for a nearly 500.
A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion that. When the ships collided, montblancs hold was pierced, fire started and quickly spread, igniting vapours from the benzol. An introduction to the halifax explosion from one moment to. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear age took place in halifax, nova scotia.
New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. Bacons the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. Nov 07, 2017 in 1917, the thriving seaport of halifax, nova scotia, was leveled by a munitions explosion of unprecedented force when two ships collided in the citys harbor. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. Davidson, who lived in the citys north end, was employed by the city of halifax as a mechanic until his retirement in 1980. This is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u.
A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best. The condition of this soft cover book is good, with exception previous owners name on inside front cover. The halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive. The great halifax explosion is a narrative a gripping narrative, to borrow from the books blurb itself and reads more like maclennan than kitz, active and well paced for a. First, the halifax explosion of 1917 has helped to shape canadas identity by influencing its national fictional, and nonfictional literature. He spent more than a year researching and writing this book which is filled with.
On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. Post previously asserted that africville was completely destroyed. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships collided in the halifax harbour. Jul 14, 2015 the halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the. The ship was a floating bomb, every substance in the cargo engineered to blow up, noted laura m. As newspapers rushed to print information, stories of tragedy and survival changed as the days went on, amid the confusion, to form a picture of a developing event. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. The story and scope of the disaster and its aftermath is revealed in fiction and non fiction narratives for both adults and children in these selections from the collection of the cape breton regional library. The halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military.
The geography and a series of events and errors that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, on december 6 th, 1917, contributed to the most catastrophic and dramatic manmade violence to a surrounding area and its inhabitants before the atomic age. Books on the disaster proliferate, and while nonfiction resurrects and. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a. Survivors not only lost friends and siblings, but would forever carry the physical and mental scars of that day. The great halifax explosion smithsonian libraries unbound. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism kindle edition by bacon, john u download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
See racism and relief distribution in the aftermath of the halifax explosion 2019 by mark culligan and katrin macphee for more information. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books. One was carrying a full load of wartime explosives. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. Along with time, humankind invariably changes the landscape. After reading about this shocking and littleknown disaster, your students will no doubt be eager to learn more. Bell, after the explosion, had assisted in the medical rescue. The blast that resulted was the largest manmade explosion prior to the development of nuclear weapons. Jul 04, 2011 the halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military. The children of the halifax explosion and shattered city. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest.
A romance of the halifax disaster 1918 is a rare novella by lieutenantcolonel frank mckelvey bell based on the halifax explosion of 1917. Fiction brings halifax explosion to heart atlantic books today. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. At the time of his death in 2009, davidson was the penultimate living survivor with permanent injuries from the halifax explosion, which killed more than 1,600 people. Kitz 4 times halifax explosion by graham metson 3 times too many to mourn by james mahar 3 times burden of desire harvest book by robert macneil 3 times miracles and mysteries. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by.
Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917, by dan soucoup, nimbus publishing, 128 pages. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon. This little book is great for a straightforward overview of the facts and. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. Halifaxsombre ceremonies will be held across halifax on wednesday to mark 100 years since the port city was devastated by a wartime blast. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima. Perhaps maclennan had it easiest, writing when the explosion was a. Nov 30, 2017 the maritime museum of the atlantic, the halifax explosion halifax explosion 100 years 100 stories corrected 4320.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. Halifax was devastated on 6 december 1917 when two ships collided in the citys harbour, one of them a munitions ship loaded with explosives bound for the battlefields of the first world war.
Mustread books about the halifax explosion halifax magazine. Halifax explosion simple english wikipedia, the free. It tells the riveting story of two world war i ships that collided in halifax harbor in 1917, causing one of the most powerful explosions in historya devastating blast that ripped through the canadian towns of halifax and dartmouth. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. The work explores life in halifax, nova scotia during world war i, and its interruption by the halifax explosion. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. Alison watt has a personal connection to that history, and it inspired her debut novel. There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. In the annals of disasters of the 20 th century, including. An introduction to the halifax explosion from one moment. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax and its harbour and how important it was for the war effort in europe.
The halifax explosion took place on december 6, 1917 when the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship loaded with explosives collided with the ss imo, a norwegian ship in the harbour in halifax, nova scotia, canada. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are. Davidson also provided first person accounts of the attack to several books and publications, including the survivors. The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture the canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh maclennan is set in halifax at the time of the explosion and includes a carefully researched description of its impact on the city. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb on hiroshima. Dec 05, 2017 the halifax explosion in non fiction the great halifax explosion. This was the largest manmade explosion in history until july 1945 when the first atomic bomb blew up. Print a read and math workbook with the halifax explosion reading comprehension. Dec 02, 2017 this is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion.
Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. The halifax explosion reading comprehension worksheet. Even after a century, with most of its survivors deceased, the 1917 halifax explosion continues to grip writers imaginations. Wisdom was still in her first year of consolidating halifax s patchwork of charities into the halifax welfare bureau when, on december 6 1917, halifax was devastated by the biggest humanmade explosion prior to the atomic bomb. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax. The halifax explosion required unprecedented, innovative social work intervention. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. Following in maclennans footsteps, journalist robert macneil penned burden of desire 1992. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u.
The research and writing of this book has given me an abiding sense that the inherent goodness of people emerges in great crisis. Books on the disaster proliferate, and while nonfiction resurrects and reexamines its facts from various angles, it cant go where fiction does, reenvisioning the event and exploring its impact on the human heart and mind. He was two years old when he was blinded by the halifax explosion on december 6, 1917. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its. John eric davidson may 10, 1915september 9, 2009 was one of the last survivors of the halifax explosion. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Jul 14, 2017 a newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the.
Excerpt from the great halifax explosion book details collision of 2 ships and the explosion that altered a city, residents and relations between canada and u. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the emotions of the people involved. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless.
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