A Crack in the Edge of the World by Simon Winchester - 4 stars (Steeplechase)

[Joy D]

A Crack in the Edge of the World: America & the Great California Earthquake of 1906 by Simon Winchester - 4* - My Review

This book is a combination of travelogue, history, science, and memoir. In Winchester’s usual sweeping style, he covers a broad range of subject matter to provide the full context of the historical, cultural, and geological conditions surrounding the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Winchester starts at the eastern edge of the North American Plate, in Iceland, and journeys to the western edge in California. Along the way, he covers plate tectonics, other significant North American earthquakes, and specifics about the San Andreas and other faults. After relating the sequence of events that occurred in San Francisco in 1906, he continues his travelogue on to Alaska, recounting anecdotes and information about other major earthquakes that took place in the region. Winchester engages in interesting digressions, such as the 1849 California Gold Rush, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the screening of Chinese immigrants at Angel Island, the development of insurance agencies, the roots of Pentecostalism, and much more. It is obvious that the author has done extensive research, and he excels at creating an engaging narrative around topics that could otherwise seem rather dry. I always enjoy Simon Winchester’s writing and this book is right up there with his other excellent works. It is both educational and entertaining.

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "disasters" x18:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...