With an unerring eye for evocative detail, author Neil Hanson creates a striking portrait of pre-fire London, its narrow alleys and jettied houses a testament to the city's medieval past, every vestige of which would soon be obliterated. His graphic descriptions of the conflagration, written in prose as fiercely driven as the flames themselves, are, according to the Daily Telegraph (London), "the literary equivalent of the special effects in a disaster movie." Many Londoners were certain that the fire was a dreadful judgment -- God's wrath visited at last on a sinful earth. The book describes in detail the chemistry and behavior of firestorms, making it easy to understand why anyone might have felt that way -- especially when the melting leaden roof of St. Paul's Cathedral rained boiling droplets down upon terrified onlookers. The book also lays the groundwork for several convincing theories on the origins of the blaze.
Supplemented with period illustrations, maps, and photos, The Great Fire of London tells a riveting tale of terror and courage, chaos and resilience, despair and the rebirth of hope. This unforgettable account is must reading for anyone who is fascinated by great disasters, British history, or the indomitable human spirit.
With an unerring eye for evocative detail, author Neil Hanson creates a striking portrait of pre-fire London, its narrow alleys and jettied houses a testament to the city's medieval past, every vestige of which would soon be obliterated. His graphic descriptions of the conflagration, written in prose as fiercely driven as the flames themselves, are, according to the Daily Telegraph (London), "the literary equivalent of the special effects in a disaster movie." Many Londoners were certain that the fire was a dreadful judgment -- God's wrath visited at last on a sinful earth. The book describes in detail the chemistry and behavior of firestorms, making it easy to understand why anyone might have felt that way -- especially when the melting leaden roof of St. Paul's Cathedral rained boiling droplets down upon terrified onlookers. The book also lays the groundwork for several convincing theories on the origins of the blaze.
Supplemented with period illustrations, maps, and photos, The Great Fire of London tells a riveting tale of terror and courage, chaos and resilience, despair and the rebirth of hope. This unforgettable account is must reading for anyone who is fascinated by great disasters, British history, or the indomitable human spirit.