A Crack in the Edge of the World: America And the Great California Earthquake of 1906 by Simon Winchester (2005, Hardcover)

Synopsis
The San Andreas fault runs along the coast of California. In April, 1906, it cracked, resulting in the devastating earthquake, measuring 8.25 on the Richter scale, that leveled much of San Francisco; this was followed by fires that raged through the city for days. All told, the loss of life was estimated in the thousands, and many thousands more were injured. In A CRACK IN THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, Simon Winchester recounts the events of this memorable disaster, bringing to the tale his training as a geologist, as he explains what happened above and below ground. Winchester also explains what modern science has learned about the San Andreas fault, and what that portends for the future. This combination of history and disaster science brings to life a high-interest chapter of American history, one with repercussions into current times.

Key Details
Author:	Simon Winchester
Language:	English
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Format:	Hardcover
ISBN-10:	0060571993
ISBN-13:	9780060571993

Size
Length:	462 pages
Thickness:	1.2 in
Weight:	27.2 oz

Publisher's Note
An informative exploration of earthquakes places a particular focus on the San Francisco disaster of 1906, describing how it affected more than two hundred miles of California, triggered a vast firestorm, and destroyed the gold-rush capital.

Industry Reviews
"...Winchester, a lyrical writer and an indefatigable researcher, packs his book with entertaining nuggets. We get a vivid picture of bawdy San Francisco, a scientific history of the fault and memorable sketches of heroes...."
Newsweek - Joshua Hammer (10/17/2005)

'[A] proudly idiosyncratic book, brrimming with words like 'gallimaufry' that places Winchester firmly in the category of author-as-ranteur."
New York Times Book Review - Bryan Burrough (10/09/2005)