Before the days of radar and the Weather Channel, hurricanes would strike full force with little or no warning. This book describes the deadliest of these storms, an unnamed but incredibly intense category 5 hurricane that struck Galveston in 1900. It is a fantastic account that I couldn't put down. I've only experienced a category 1 hurricane first-hand (Jeanne went right over Plant City in 2004), but this book gave me an appreciation for the power and terrifying nature of hurricanes that I just didn't have before. Gripping tale for any reader; an absolute must-read for weather geeks. ( )

An account of the 1900 hurricane that hit the city of Galveston. ( )

http://amiralace.blogspot.com/2007/01... ( )

This is a book I have recommended to friends, particularly following the huricanes in the Gulf region during the past few years. It is remarkable that our reporting system began in such difficulty and could not be overcome to save the citizens of Galveston. ( )

This is a book about Isaac Cline, the chief meteorologist for the US Weather Bureau in Galveston during the devastating 1900 hurricane, as well as the storm itself, which killed at least 6,000.

I'd purchased it in abridged audiobook format (read by actor Edward Herrmann) for my workplace, and also found the print version and an unabridged audiobook (read by actor Richard M. Davidson) at the public library. I decided to listen to it after Hurricane Ike ravaged Galveston earlier this month. I thought it rather interesting that Ike is a nickname for Isaac.

I generally prefer unabridged versions so I started with that. Unfortunately, this copy was on cassette, and the 2nd and 4th cassettes were unplayable, so I listened to the abridged versions for those portions. I have to say I prefer Herrmann's reading; he's not quite as emphatic as Davidson. A bonus for the unabridged version, though, was a lengthy interview with the author (in 2000) at the end.

An abridged version might have been better anyway, because my only complaint about the book would be too much unnecessary detail (particularly about storm formation and Isaac's early life) and some repetition. It may have just been the audiobook format in this case though, for I also found the interwoven storylines of multiple characters (all real people) a bit difficult to follow at times.

The story is at its best when the worst of the storm hits Galveston, and during the city's recovery. Larson did extensive research at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston, which has a huge 1900 Storm collection with personal accounts of survivors, letters, photographs, and maps. The endnotes and bibliography take up 38 pages of the print book (the narrative is 273 pages), and at times it feels like Larson is trying to cram every bit of research into his story.

Another major source was Cline's autobiography, originally published in 1945 when Cline was 84. Self-described "historical journalist" Larson takes issue with Cline's claims in the latter book that his storm warnings saved lives, but I got the feeling that Larson was following the path of most journalists today and looking for someone to blame for a very bad storm.

There's a lot of blame too for the fledgling U.S. Weather Bureau, particularly for their apparent disregard for Cuban forecasting (which tended to predict a lot of hurricanes and thus induce panic). In my opinion, given the technology available in 1900, no one could have predicted the severity of the hurricane that demolished Galveston, and with the slower modes of transportation available in those days, an unnecessary panicked evacuation could have also been deadly (like Hurricane Rita). It's unfair to paint Cline as a villian, particularly given the personal losses (his wife and unborn child) that he endured. ( )

Very Good

Isaac's Storm, published in 1999, is the story of the most horrible hurricane in American history. While reading, I wondered if Hurricane Katrina had outstripped the Galveston hurricane described by Larson. It did not. The Galveston hurricane claimed at least 6,000 lives and the entire town. Hurricane Katrina, however, claimed less than 2,000 lives according to most estimates. While Katrina is the most tragic natural disaster of our age, our forebears experienced even worse. The Isaac of the title is Isaac Cline, the U.S. Weather Bureau's chief observer in Galveston. Larson weaves meteorological details of the storm with the story of Isaac and other Galveston residents as well as the bureaucratic failures that left the city vulnerable. The story is touching and, at times, horrifying. Larson clearly conveys the fear residents felt during the storm and the way it changed the lives of survivors forever. I cannot imagine living through such an ordeal. This is a wonderful precursor of Larson's later work, The Devil in the White City. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed that book. ( )

This is an excellent book about the Great Storm, the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. This book delves into the historical aspect of the National Weather Bureau, as well as the scientifics behind hurricanes and what was known in the beginning of the 20th century. It also tells the story of Isaac Cline, long thought of as the hero of the storm.

I have long been a fan of Weekend in September, but this adds another aspect to the tragic story. I highly recommend it. ( )

I loved this book. Regretably, I loaned it out and never saw it again!! But with that being said, I liked it enough that I will replace it in my library when I come across it again. Historically very interesting book - I learned so much. ( )

A well-told story. It is both informative and a page turner. ( )

Engrossing.

Another of those books that I picked up to read for a few minutes before falling asleep, only to put it down much later, having finished it.

Isaac Cline was one of the early forecasters with the US government as it was attempting to establish its weather service. To someone accustomed to all the bells and whistles available to weather forecasters today, it was quite eye opening to read about the science of meteorology in its infancy. It was commonly held that attempting to predict the weather was folly.

Larson ably brings together the myriad factors which combined to allow the hurricane of 1900 to blindside Galveston. He discusses how the US government's contempt for and racism towards the Cubans, who had vastly greater experience with hurricanes, set the stage for the misjudgments regarding the path of the hurricane or even whether or not the hurricane was a hurricane.

By plumbing the perspectives and experiences of sea captains in the hurricane's path, Larson adds a layer of appreciation for the extent to which the storm was unforeseen. Larson also weaves in the personal story of Isaac and his brother, Joseph, whose relationship was yet another casualty of the storm.

Well-researched, the book also stands as a treatise on the phenomenon of hurricanes. ( )

Excellent and interesting story of the 1900 hurricane that hit Galvastan, Texas. It offered supurb details of the times and setting. ( )

3276. Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, by Erik Larson (read Dec 9, 1999) This account of the Galveston storm of Sept 1900 is carefully researched, but the author is so intent to tell a "human interest" story that the book doesn't seem to reflect very well the research done. As I read this book I kept thinking how much better a book was A Perfect Storm, by Sebastian Junger (read Nov. 16, 1997) and all in all, while
this book was easy to read, I found it not too memorable. ( )

History of the hurricane that destroyed Galveston through the experience of a meteriologist ( )

http://www.chrisgray.me/2004/11/book-... ( )

An excellent narrative of the great Galveston hurricane. Highly recommended. ( )

Great story, what the hell were those guys thinking - not letting those people know what was coming their way??

Well-researched and written in the page-turning prose style of a mystery novel, this book retells the events leading up to and the aftermath of the 1900 hurricane that virtually destroyed the thriving city of Galveston, Texas. Key individuals' lives are detailed to provide depth and a sense of identity for the faceless thousands who were killed by the force of this natural disaster. ( )

Larson writes really well. This story is decent and interesting. Not nearly as good as the story behind Devil in the White City, but written superbly. I always find myself wondering how such and such historic figure felt during whatever time of tragedy or triumph. This is why I find Larson's books so compelling. Gives me suggestions.
( )

Larson has created a very readable and engaging period piece giving readers the opportunity to imagine not only what life must have been like on the Texas Gulf Coast at the turn of the Century, but also how much we rely on meterological technology and disaster/storm predictions today.

His narrative prosaic style brings his non-fiction to life and reminds one of the way Capote could capture factual events and "novelize" them. One becomes sympathetic with the protagonist and central character, Isaac Monroe Cline, who battles the US Weather Service as well as the "storm of the century." This is a real page-turner and while not as gripping or remarkable as Larson's The Devil in White City, this earlier title is well worth the read and any subsequent research. Bravo.
kbooe ( )

Erik Larson writes fascinating non-fiction. This book, which addresses the Galveston hurricane of 1900 or 1899 (I haven't read it in a while), not only gives you an understanding of the impact and aftermath of the storm, but takes you as far back as the butterfly-effect beginnings of the storm. The storm is treated as a character, given chapters in which it swells and changes before decimating the Gulf.
Larson also uses correspondence and other media to flesh out the personal stories of the disaster, the families trapped on rooftops, etc. There is nothing dry or stuffy about the writing or content- he makes the time period and the event both immediate and real. ( )

http://www.peskyapostrophe.com/index.... ( )

Erik Larson, who also wrote Devil in the White City (another phenomenal book) is an outstanding writer. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. I was simply riveted to the story and to the way Larson presented it. Obviously the man's done his homework, if the last few pages of primary sources is any indication. But his prose is also very powerful & his organization well crafted. All told, even people whose first inclination when reading history is suggested is a "ugh!" would enjoy this book. I recommend it to anyone who can read...it's one you should not miss.

The story of Isaac's storm is based on the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston and left in its wake a 15-foot tidal surge and somewhere around 4000 people dead. The storm is chronicled from its beginning until it hits Galveston, which may sound kind of boring, but trust me; this storm is the major player in this book. It is also a story of Isaac Cline, who with his family lived in Galveston, and served as an officer for the U.S. Weather Service, where politics & petty rivalries led to a great deal of bureaucratic inertia which played a role in the thousands of deaths the hurricane left behind.

It is important to realize that at this time there was very little information available or even understood about the nature of hurricanes. What passed for science back then in this area was a great deal of speculation. The people who really understood hurricanes were those who lived in the Caribbean; but because of some problems with Cuba stemming from political rivalries & the war of 1898 (and because of the stupidity of the head of the Weather Service at the time), reports coming out of Cuba dealing with the 1900 hurricane were summarily dismissed as being too "passionate" and full of drama. Sad thing, too, because the Cubans predicted that the hurricane would turn into the Gulf and hit the coast of Texas.

I really don't want to spend a lot of time summarizing this book; it was one to be read and savored. After finishing this book earlier today, I bought a copy to keep at home in my non-fiction/history library. This is a fantastic story even though it is incredibly tragic. You will find that you are unable to put it down. ( )