Dimensions
140 x 213 x 23mm
Early December, 1917, the city of Halifax was destroyed by a catastrophic explosion which triggered a tsunami and was then followed by a blizzard, isolating it from the world.
Set against the vivid backdrop of World War I, Curse of the Narrows chronicles one of the most dramatic events in North American history: the catastrophic explosion that shattered Halifax. It is filled with unforgettable human stories: Charles Duggan, who was thrown to the seabed, stripped of his clothes, and left stranded on the opposite shore by the tsunami; Duggan's nine-year-old niece, Helena, who pulled her mother and siblings out of trouble and led them to safety: Dr. George Cox, an eye surgeon who operated for more than three straight days; pioneering surgeon W.E. Ladd, whose experiences treating children in Halifax would lead to the first pediatric surgery ward in North America; the Boston relief train which literally dug its way through the snowdrifts to bring desperately needed supplies, doctors, and relief workers; and the Boston Christmas Tree, to this day given by the citizens of Halifax in remembrance of its sister city's heroic efforts.
Utilising primary sources, including the files of the explosion's official historian plus medical and social work files - many of which have not been read since 1918 - Laura M. Mac Donald has written the definitive narrative history of this early twentieth-century drama and the untold story of America's first emergency response unit.
