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Liked It “An amazing story. I have not yet met one Bostonian who knows it even happened!” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“An amazing story. I have not yet met one Bostonian who knows it even happened!”
Heather K wrote this review Tuesday, October 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was an excellent recounting of a disaster I'd only heard bits and pieces about. It was a story, not just a documentation, with many facts inserted about the times in which this happened, giving a really good picture of what people were dealing with. As events leading up to the disaster were occurring, Puleo noted the many factors going on around the area. When the disaster had occurred and there was now a court decision to be made as to cause, we already knew the type of man who would be determining that outcome. After the case was decided, there was an Afterword, as well as a few other additional pieces, which put even more knowledge at the hands of the reader. All in all, this was a great story.”
Marie T wrote this review Wednesday, September 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Charlie and I attended the Hanover Library, MA, to hear the author speak.”
Tashy wrote this review Tuesday, September 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Add another star if you like books set in Boston!!”
Joyce L wrote this review Thursday, September 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Yep, molasses flood. On the afternoon of January 15, 1919, a fifty-foot tall steel tank collapsed, sending 2.3 million gallons of molasses cascading across Boston's waterfront. Bystanders were swept away and buildings were demolished by the sticky, 15-ft wave traveling at 35 mph. Ultimately, 21 people died, over a hundred were injured and no one counted the number of horses that had to be shot after becoming mired in the muck.
Isabelle S wrote this review Saturday, May 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Puleo does a great job with this subject. He's divided his book into three parts. In the first, he provides background on US Industrial Alcohol, its rapid and shoddy construction of the tank and the importance of molasses in the manufacture of munitions for WWI. Historical context (USIA's panic once munitions contracts expire after the war and Prohibition threatens the final market for its product) is woven with personal anecdotes of the inhabitants of the neighborhood around the tank.
The second section tells the story of the tank's collapse and the immediate aftermath. Several photos show the devastation. The third section details the court case against USIA, in which the defense pointed to the concurrent Sacco and Vanzetti trial to argue that anarchists must have blown up the tank.
Overall, a fascinating little piece of history handled very well. ”0 of 65535 members found this review helpful“Excellent! Incredibly researched. This one will haunt me for quite a while.”
Marija S wrote this review Tuesday, March 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The Great Molasses Flood must sruely be one of the weirdest tragedies of all time. This book not only gives a detailed account of the event itself, but also discusses the many complex causes behind the disaster, and the aftermath and repercussions of the disaster. As funny as a molasses flood sounds, this was not laughing matter, and I hope this book book will bring more attention to a sad and unnessary accident.”
Aladdin wrote this review Monday, October 15 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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