Product Description

Despite major improvements in collecting information and forecasting the weather, the "factor of the unpredictable" is as real as it was in the days when Noah was forced to set sail on the ark. In this volume, Erik Durschmied casts his eye over history's dramatic changes through climate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1107140 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 324 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
That future armies "will be able to count on a weather arsenal of undreamed proportions" is the final, regretful conclusion of Erik Durschmied following his series of dramatic recreations of decisive moments in history that make up The Weather Factor. Following Durschmied's The Hinge Factor, this volume concentrates primarily on the collision of "weather fronts and human conflict". It also cites the climatic component in the Irish potato famine, describing the huge social and political repercussions of that terrible time.

From the campaigns of Roman legions and Napoleon to Mongol Asia and Vietnam, rain, extreme winter, typhoon and monsoon have contributed to the immediate horror and far reaching consequences which Durschmied vividly describes in highly readable story-telling style. He uses the poignancy of first-hand accounts for more recent events and also draws on his personal experiences as a reporter in Vietnam when he shows how "the elements, more than the black-pyjamaed battalions, were the enemy". Ending with present times, The Weather Factor describes how humankind is now seeking to control what was once considered to be divine intervention. Showing an intriguing side of history and graphically portraying the brutality of human conflict, this is a powerful and thought-provoking book. "Man can be victorious against fellow man," writes Durschmied, "but when confronted by the unleashed forces of nature, he stands powerless."--Karen Tiley

Choice, London (HINGE FACTOR)
‘His vivid descriptions of battles explain all.’

Independent (HINGE FACTOR)
‘Durschmeid brings an eye for the telling detail.’

Customer Reviews

The Weather Factor
Well written and interesting. I had no idea the weather played such crucial factors in war, and in peace - especially the potato crisis in Ireland. Although some important weather factors and incidents were missed. For example, the weather played a major factor when the British attacked Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812. It ultimately made for their retreat and dogged their columns of troops and supplies. They suffered greatly as a result. And how about the Great Dust Bowl in the United States? I would have thought this was obvious. That sent millions of Americans to the West- many more than then famous Gold Rush did. Finally the Donner Pass incident comes to mind when an entire expedition perished. I would think a follow-up book would be in order.

page turner
To understand history one should be a part of it. very few authors have succeeded in this front. this is one book where i felt very much a part of wht has happened. history is also a story which has to have a background and end. continuity factor is very much important to know what has happened and why that happened. this book provided that. history is tale of life - not just of the persons we know of as leaders but also of people who made them what they are to us. for history to be complete we need to know all that. this books gives us that in a nice way. history is not a story that is written by a person. its many other things, chiefly amoung that being the circustances. this books tells us that. i would say. great book.

great popular history
Another book by this author who writes history with a twist, and as good as his last one. Amazing stuff, all those killer typhoons and monster avalanches, thunderstorms and Russian winter; why don¹t they teach that in history classes and make historic events come alive. All they ever taught us in school was what day such-and-such fleet sank, instead to teach us how it sank. That Durschmied got spot on. A real page-turner and a lot better than the in-air movie. He has my vote.Dr. F.B.