The “Dark Tide” by Stephen Puleo was the first book to tell the full story of “The Great Boston Molasses Flood.” The reason he wrote the nonfiction novel was to give the full accounting of what happened in the historical context. He used court records, newspaper accounts, and files from the fire department. He recrafted the tale about what actually happened with painstaking and terrifying details of those affected. Puleo creates a new way to view the dreadful catastrophe as something that changed Boston (“Dark Tide”).
Puleo has written other books about Boston but none of the same subject. There have not been other books written about the Molasses Flood during the time Puleo wrote it and little information has been written about for this topic. Newspaper retrospectives and a few magazine articles were written about it through the years as well. Fiction books for children talked about molasses as something adventurous and fun but did not depict the actual tragedy of the event. This pushed him to write the book because he
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wanted to tell the true story of it not being just a disaster but a saga which spanned a decade (Puleo ix). Throughout “Dark Tide,” the author covers throughout three parts what truly happened with “The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919“. Instead of starting at the actual event, the author goes back to how it started and the cause of it in the year of 1915. The construction of the tank that flooded Boston started in 1915. The tank was rushed because the workers had already missed the deadline so it was not tested by professionals. Molasses leaked from the tank right after its completion so the United States Industrial Alcohol (USIA) painted the tank brown to cover the mess (Puleo 10). On January 15, 1919, a 25 feet high black wave emerged towards Boston consisting of 2.3 million gallons of molasses (Puleo 96). After 21 people died in the flood, a civil trial occurred called Dorr v. U.S. Industrial Alcohol which accused anarchists of sabotaging the tank. USIA did not want to risk the jury trial so they settled instead (Puleo 163). Puleo described the Molasses Flood better than anyone else did because he provided information from before, during, and after the tragedy. Puleo wrote the book to prove a point to journalists and writers who only focused on the fact that a molasses tank flooded Boston.
The author wanted to make sure everyone knew what exactly happened before and after the event (Puleo ix). Those who died were not really noticed or appreciated because most of them were immigrants with jobs as a laborer, teamster, driver, blacksmith, or unemployed. He made sure that every single person that passed would be known by their name, age, and job (Puleo 239). As the author talks about what happened with the molasses flood, he also covers the changes from Prohibition, immigration, World War I, the role big businesses have, and the anarchist movement. Overall, he wants to tell his readers that ordinary people have the courage and can be heroes too ( “Dark Tide”). The author explains “The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919” was more than just a disaster, but rather a decade-spanning heroic tale (Puleo
ix). The author has most definitely done his homework for this book because of his extensive bibliography, primary and secondary sources, and archives. Puleo’s primary sources are “Dorr v. U.S. Industrial Alcohol, the forty-volume, twenty-five-thousand-page transcript;” Reports on Damages, Hugh Ogden’s 4 boxes of awards for the flood victims; and the final Auditor’s Report by Hugh Ogden for the Supreme Court (Puleo 241). Other of his primary sources are The Hugh W. Ogden Collection, Numerous Boston Fire Department records, Inquest Docket Sheets, and many others including numerous secondary sources (Puleo 242, 243). His research was very thorough with his variety of sources that shows how well his thesis is supported. His book was published 84 years after the event happened so he had access to new information and more recent documents. I believe that the author has done a great job writing the book overall because of the format given and the way he divides the book into parts to represent each part of the situation. He split the book into three parts: A Monster in Our Midst, Waves of Terror, and David vs. Goliath (Puleo 7, 87, 239). In each part of the book, there are subtitles and other splits between different topics. The book is quite simple to read because of the style the author chose to use and the pictures that were included like maps, portraits of significant people, and the disasters outcome (Puleo 8, 101, 162). The story is told in chronological order which helps the readers figure the story out in an easier way. It is well told by Puleo because it introduces the story of how the tragic event actually happened, not how it is told on the cover of a newspaper (Puleo ix). The thesis can be controversial because the author tells the story as not just a flood but with courage from the workers who were not even recognized. Some may argue that those people had no importance in the event but they did a big job with helping others and providing for their families. Their occupation and names were unknown until Puleo introduced each and every person that was apart of what happened (Puleo 239). After I have read this heroic and decade-spanning tale, I learned a lot about what truly happened in the life-changing event. I realized every tale has a before and after, not just a momentary incident. I did not know about the forgotten event till I read this book and it was very interesting to learn how it began and all the parties that were accused of the occurrence. Puleo made sure he told the entire story by including a bibliographic essay with numerous sources that are as big as a 25 thousand page transcript to as small as a magazine article. “Dark Tide” was an incredible novel that increased my understanding of Boston history and I would definitely recommend this book to those interested in knowing about the surreal disaster but fascinating tale of “The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.”
In a passage from his book, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America, author John M. Barry makes an attempt use different rhetorical techniques to transmit his purpose. While to most, the Mississippi River is only some brown water in the middle of the state of Mississippi, to author John M. Barry, the lower Mississippi is an extremely complex and turbulent river. John M. Barry builds his ethos, uses elevated diction, several forms of figurative language, and different styles of syntax and sentence structure to communicate his fascination with the Mississippi River to a possible audience of students, teachers, and scientists.
Ann Rinaldi has written many books for young teenagers, she is an Award winning author who writes stories of American history and makes them become real to the readers. She has written many other books such as A Break with Charity, A Ride into Morning, and Cast two Shadows, etc. She was born in New York City on August 27, 1934. In 1979, at the age of 45, she finished her first book.
In the book, Apostles of Disunion, author Charles B. Dew opens the first chapter with a question the Immigration and Naturalization service has on an exam they administer to prospective new American citizens: “The Civil War was fought over what important issue”(4). Dew respond by noting that “according to the INS, you are correct if you offer either of the following answers: ‘slavery or states’ rights’” (4). Although this book provides more evidence and documentation that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, there are a few places where states’ rights are specifically noted. In presenting the findings of his extensive research, Dew provides compelling documentation that would allow the reader to conclude that slavery was indeed the cause for both secession and the Civil War.
Where Men Win Glory is an ironic euphemism for war. The title is ironic because there is nothing glorious about war or the way it ended Pat Tillman’s beautiful life. Jon Krakauer orchestrates this masterpiece with his diligently, articulated descriptions and with a timeline sewn together from the threads of two worlds. The author’s style can best be characterized by his challenging, precise diction and his ability to fluently intervene pertinent quotes and facts that further persuade the reader toward his cause. Throughout the book, the author’s tone harnesses resentment towards the militant hierarchy; for through its ingenuousness, deceit, and manipulation, the military uses Pat’s death as propaganda to bolster the war’s support. Furthermore, the military covers up the fact that Tillman was a victim of fratricide, and it deceives the nation into believing Tillman’s end was a valiant fight against insurgents. When the truth is exposed and pursued by Dannie - Pat’s mother - the army destroys evidence and pleads guilty to ignorance as a rebuttal. This book is molded by three prodigious aspects that help to illustrate Pat’s life story. The carelessness of war, importance of family, and enhancement through change were all important ingredients that created a virtuous life. Each theme, in addition, challenges me personally to reassess the facts I have been fed and the reality that I have been presented. By doing so, I can achieve a sound base of knowledge and an intellectual prowess capable of challenging all facts presented.
War has been a constant part of human history. It has greatly affected the lives of people around the world. These effects, however, are extremely detrimental. Soldiers must shoulder extreme stress on the battlefield. Those that cannot mentally overcome these challenges may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sadly, some resort to suicide to escape their insecurities. Soldiers, however, are not the only ones affected by wars; family members also experience mental hardships when their loved ones are sent to war. Timothy Findley accurately portrays the detrimental effects wars have on individuals in his masterpiece The Wars.
Overall, the use dual narration in this novel is very effective as it conveys the thoughts of both narrators. Furthermore, altering chapters also acquire momentum for the text, as well as foreshadow the events of McBride's life through that of his mother, plus suggest the similarities between them. Subsequently, by highlighting similarities between two stories due to the different narration, the novel, The Color of Water achieves complexity and nuance. While the parallelism of several issues and the rhetorical strategies further contribute to the meaning of the novel’s message, when Ruth and James finally came to terms with their past and when Ruth was able to help James understand his origin.
"When a trout rising to a fly gets hooked on a line and finds himself unable to swim about freely, he begins with a fight which results in struggles and splashes and sometimes an escape. Often, of course, the situation is too tough for him."
The book A ,Misplaced Massacre, Ari Kelman’s writing describes the Sandy Creek Massacre astounding while still explaining how historians struggled to get its story to public and be told. This epic event in the history of America’s settlement occurred on . The sandy river Massacre was once seen a horrific event. The tittle has even been debated over the years.
When reflecting and writing on Eiseley’s essay and the “magical element”, I balk. I think to myself, “What magic?”, and then put pen to page. I dubiously choose a kiddie pool to draw inspiration from, and unexpectedly, inspiration flows into me. As I sit here in this little 10x30 foot backyard, the sky is filled with the flowing gaseous form of water, dark patches of moist earth speckle the yard, the plants soak up their scattered watering, and the leaves of bushes and trees imbue the space with a sense of dampness from their foliage. As my senses tune into the moisture that surrounds me, I fill Braedon’s artificial pond with water. I stare at the shimmering surface, contemplating Eiseley’s narrative, and the little bit of life’s wellspring caught in Brae’s pool. I see why Eiseley thought the most abundant compound on the earth’s surface is mystical.
Brooks, Rebecca B. "The Boston Massacre." History of Massachusetts. N.p., 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
The Boston Massacre was a critical point in American history and fueled the American Revolution. It caused the Royal Governor to evacuate the occupying British troops from Boston. The Boston Massacre united the colonies in their fight for independence which, along with continued propaganda, led to the Revolutionary War.
"The Pamphlet War and the Boston Massacre." The American Revolution -. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
The Boston Massacre was an extremely influential event in U.S. History. It changed the complexion of our nation forever. No one was ever able to give an accurate description of what took place that night, but one thing that you can be sure of is the fact that America may have waited many years before revolting against Great Britain. The Boston Massacre should not only be remembered for the death of the five men, but also for the conflicts that brought on the shooting and for the events that it set off. The massacre was a culmination of tensions between the English and the Americans. The Boston Massacre set a fire under the colonists and drove them to freedom.
Beier, Anne. Cripus Attackus: Hero of the Boston Massacre. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2004.
In the story "The Open Boat," by Stephen Crane, Crane uses many literary techniques to convey the stories overall theme. The story is centered on four men: a cook, a correspondent, Billie, an oiler who is the only character named in the story, and a captain. They are stranded in a lifeboat in stormy seas just off the coast of Florida, just after their ship has sunk. Although they can eventually see the shore, the waves are so big that it is too dangerous to try to take the boat in to land. Instead, the men are forced to take the boat further out to sea, where the waves are not quite as big and dangerous. They spend the night in the lifeboat and take turns rowing and then resting. In the morning, the men are weak and exhausted. The captain decides that they must try to take the lifeboat as close to shore as possible and then be ready to swim when the surf inevitably turns the boat over and throws the men into the cold sea. As they get closer to land a big wave comes and all the men are thrown into the sea. The lifeboat turns over and the four men must swim into shore. There are rescuers waiting on shore who help the men out of the water. Strangely, as the cook, captain and correspondent reach the shore safely and are helped out of the water, they discover that, somehow, the oiler has drowned after being smashed in the surf by a huge wave. (255-270) “The Open Boat’s” main theme deals with a character’s seemingly insignificant life struggle against nature’s indifference. Crane expresses this theme through a suspenseful tone, creative point of view, and a mix of irony.