The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism - Hardcover

"The most destructive moment of World War I occurred far from the Western Front, in Canada, where an explosion blew a city apart but propelled two nations together. John U. Bacon, a superbly talented historian and story teller, has rescued from obscurity an astonishing episode of horror and heroism."--GEORGE F. WILL

"The Great Halifax Explosion is absorbing from first page to last. With deep research and evocative writing, John U. Bacon has brought back to life this devastating wartime event and illuminated its lasting meaning."--DAVID MARANISS, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of Once in a Great City

"Fans of Ken Burns, Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat, and John Hersey's Hiroshima will find in John Bacon's meticulous reporting a story that literally rocked the world. This is a story with an enormous heart; this is an author with astounding range."--DOUG STANTON, New York Times bestselling author of The Odyssey of Echo Company

"John U. Bacon's The Great Halifax Explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest man-made disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. This is a riveting, well-written and researched World War I book. Highly recommended!"--DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, author of Cronkite

"Bacon documents the terrifying incident in vivid detail. ... An absorbing history of disaster and survival."--Kirkus Reviews

"Well-documented. ... Details the lapses in procedure and judgment that led up to the catastrophe, describing both the victims' accounts and the enormous outpouring of aid from both Canada and America. ... An accessible narrative useful to all World War I collections."--Library Journal

"Definitive. ... Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. ... Brings to light one of the most dramatic events of the twentieth century.'"--Book Riot

"Bacon's discovery of a trove of Barss's letters... injects his book with a fresh and compelling storyline."--Toronto Globe and Mail

"Bacon does an excellent job of bringing the century-old events to life. He has immersed himself in old letters and journalistic accounts, finding the human stories that allow readers to connect with stories of men, women and children whose lives were ended or altered by the terrible explosion."--Chicago Tribune

"Bacon is a fine storyteller, who brings all of his skills as a historian to bear on the tragedy. ... Anyone who wants to know more about a remarkable story should not miss this book."--CBC Radio