[fantasyfan]

Like others, I found the book a mixed bag. For instance, all the business outlining the Great War was fairly superficial. Barss was not particularly interesting character. I suppose his letters home about trench conditions have some point but that seems of little relevance for this narrative. Possibly one should make links and highlights to the various characters to help remember who’s who.

On the other hand, as an Irish American I had practically no knowledge about Canadian History and the unpleasant relations that existed with the US at that period. So I was glad to learn about this aspect of our mutual history.

But I actually had never even heard of this terrible explosion. Once we finally reach Part IV the narrative moves logically from the horrifying results, the blizzard, through to the rebuilding process.

I take Bookpossum’s point that Bacon is writing popular history. But how likely is it that anyone who knew little or nothing about the Halifax Explosion would ever have sourced Shattered City—the book she recommends? I wouldn’t mind checking it out now that I know about it but it is because The Great Halifax Explosion was nominated, chosen, and read that I even know about it.

So, personally, I think that while it wasn’t perfect, it was well worth reading and was reasonably well written—particularly from Part IV.