Description: A novelist and historian team up to tell the story of the October 1871 fire in the lumber town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, vividly re-creating the personal and political battles leading to this monumental natural disaster, and delivering it from the lost annals of American history. 16-page insert. 3 maps.
Brief description: William Lutz is a professor of English at Rutgers University and the author of fifteen books, including the bestseller Doublespeak. He lives in Philadelphia.
Review Quotes:
"Another stunning disaster read. Denise Gess and William Lutz strike a pitch-perfect balance between historical detail and writing style." --The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"A heartbreaking narrative history that captures the inferno's full horror." --Raleigh News Observer "Vivid and compelling history." --The Boston Globe "A hot read. The story is gripping and ghastly and true." --The Philadelphia Inquirer