The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906

The book cover... 

It was quite surprising to me to read the earthquake news from Asia very shortly after requesting this book, Disaster! The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 by Dan Kurzman, from the library. This recent quake brought devastation by water where as the San Francisco quake triggered massive fires.

I'd only a vague idea of the 1906 disaster and decided to read up on it, especially after seeing the author. I've read a few of Dan Kurzman's books before and found them to be to my liking. He narrates the events through the perspectives of characters such as Mayor Schimtz attempting to keep himself out of jail by appearing a hero; a couple who go ahead with their wedding plans despite the quake and fire and a Chinese teenager despairing of his life until shown some unexpected kindness. There are many others of course, I think you get the idea. Definitely a good historical narrative.