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Glenn's Reviews > Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919
Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919
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The author, Stephen Puleo, states at the start that this is the first book about the Boston Molasses Flood. It might as well be the last, because he covers every aspect so well that it's hard to imagine what anyone else could add.
The collapse of the U.S.Industrial Alcohol storage tank, which flooded Boston's North End with over 2 million gallons of molasses in 1915, killing 21 and destroying much of the surrounding neighborhood, was the result of corporate greed, disregard for low-income immigrants and inept design. Before the collapse, when the tank showed obvious signs of leakage, the company repainted the tank dark brown so the leaks wouldn't show. When it collapsed, they claimed it had been bombed by foreign anarchists.
Puleo had a wealth of primary sources -- thousands of pages of first-person accounts of the tragedy and its aftermath -- which he turned into an exciting, at times horrifying story of destruction, heroism, and legal wrangling (the subsequent trial lasted 3 years).
Recommended! (Why hasn't there been a movie???)
The collapse of the U.S.Industrial Alcohol storage tank, which flooded Boston's North End with over 2 million gallons of molasses in 1915, killing 21 and destroying much of the surrounding neighborhood, was the result of corporate greed, disregard for low-income immigrants and inept design. Before the collapse, when the tank showed obvious signs of leakage, the company repainted the tank dark brown so the leaks wouldn't show. When it collapsed, they claimed it had been bombed by foreign anarchists.
Puleo had a wealth of primary sources -- thousands of pages of first-person accounts of the tragedy and its aftermath -- which he turned into an exciting, at times horrifying story of destruction, heroism, and legal wrangling (the subsequent trial lasted 3 years).
Recommended! (Why hasn't there been a movie???)
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Reading Progress
November 26, 2018
–
Started Reading
November 26, 2018
– Shelved
November 26, 2018
–
50.0%
November 28, 2018
– Shelved as:
history
November 28, 2018
– Shelved as:
nonfiction
November 28, 2018
–
Finished Reading
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Bob
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Nov 29, 2018 12:58PM
A film could have the sweet smell of success, but of course, it might be slow. An explosive topic. But anyhow it's an interesting review. Maybe I'll read it one day. Bob
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Oooh. Ow. Jeez. Stop, Bob, stop!
Excellent review, Glenn! I really cannot see another nonfiction book topping this one.
Thanks so much Debbie.
