An interesting history of a tramatic event

This is another excellent book by Winchester who does wonderful geological history. Krakatoa was a cataclysmic natural disaster that affected the world. Its seismic effects were felt across the world. There was plenty of warning across the world and most of it went ignored but when it exploded the response was immediate. The island was completely swallowed and the implications are well outlined. As with all Wincheser books the general effects of a volcano are outlined. Occasionally it does wonder off topic but it mostly stays on track and does an excellent job relating to the main topic.

A frequently engrossing discussion of both the event and the effects...

Simon Winchester's KRAKATOA is an unusual bestseller: in many ways, Winchester's audacity is very impressive. It's tough to write about major natural events or disasters - there is the temptation towards hyperbole, and simple summations too often ignore the tangents built into such events - newsy, or scholarly, such writing - when done at all - usually seems a bit dreary.

a complete narrative, scientific and historical

The book puts the reader into the lives of those affected just long enough