Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, November 2013. ISBN: 978-0-8166-8719-0
Coming out on the 100th anniversary of the storm, November's Fury provides a narrative account of one of the most destructive storms to hit the Great Lakes. On November 7-10, 1913, two fronts collided to generate hurricane force winds that lasted for hours. Twelve ships were sunk (eight in one day), thirty-one others were grounded on beaches and rocks while other boats were severely damaged. Over 250 men and women died as a result of the storm which also isolated Cleveland, Ohio in a blizzard that cut train service, disrupted food supplies and wracked the city with storm surges.Michael Schumacher provides a day by day account of the storm as it hits Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, then spreads to Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The author uses diaries, contemporary newspapers, official reports, and secondary sources to bring to life the tales of the men, women and ships involved. The reader is also provided many photographs of the ships named in the narrative, which also helps set the tone of the tale. Readers are introduced to ship captains and crew as they make their struggle against the storm and lake. We cheer and groan as disaster is averted or strikes with deadly consequences. The author provides closure by letting the reader in on what has been discovered since 1913 in regard to the wrecks. He also provides an appendix which summarizes all the ships involved with details regarding cargo, size, deaths involved, etc.
Despite growing up near the Great Lakes, I had not heard about this storm. I found the book to be an interesting, informative and, despite the subject matter, an enjoyable read. The narrative tone is spot on to involve the reader in the story while providing just enough details to not overwhelm us. I highly recommend this book for those interested in maritime and Great Lakes history.
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