MARK MOLESKY is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his PhD from Harvard University. He specializes in the intellectual, cultural, and political history of modern Europe, and is currently an associate professor of history at Seton Hall University. He lives in New York City.
"A gripping and valuable history ... [Molesky] has uncovered new
sources on this much-studied disaster, allowing him not only to
provide novel anecdotes and insights but also to contribute to
debates about the earthquake's impact on eighteenth-century
political and intellectual struggles ... A fabulously written
monograph that contributes a great deal and never veers toward
history lite."
-Charles F. Walker, The American Historical Review "Superb ...
Engrossing ... A welcome resurrection of an epic tragedy ...
Molesky's gripping portrait ... is gleaned from a seemingly endless
number of firsthand accounts. [His] narrative ... transports you to
the midst of this horror."
-William O'Connor, The Daily Beast
"Richly readable ... [Molesky] paints an astonishing picture of the
natural cataclysm that struck Lisbon on Nov. 1, 1755."
-Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times
"The definitive history of the Lisbon earthquake and its aftermath.
[This Gulf of Fire] combines exhaustive research with dramatic
eyewitness accounts and modern discoveries in geology and
seismology ... Molesky has masterfully revived [the Lisbon tragedy]
here. [This is] a powerful story about human and cultural loss and
recovery that is hard to forget."
--R.W. Clark, Washington Independent Review of Books
"Molesky's rendering of the continent-wide philosophical debate
following the earthquake is particularly lucid."
--Henrik Bering, The New Criterion "[A] vivid portrayal . . .
Molesky's story is well-informed and well-paced . . . [and] fluent
prose and vivid vignettes keep the reader engaged . . . Molesky
paints a dolorous picture of the decadence of the pre-earthquake
city . . . [and] knows everything worth knowing about the
quake."
--Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Wall Street Journal "Molesky brings
to vivid and horrifying life a disaster that forever changed Lisbon
and provoked a Europe-wide debate about God and the workings of
nature."
--Matthew Price, The Boston Globe "A thoroughly absorbing take on a
momentous event . . . Anyone interested in history and especially
disaster history will find this book enthralling."
--Laura Hiatt-Smith, Library Journal "[A] masterpiece of
nonfiction."
--News-Record "Excellent . . . a comprehensive account of nearly
every aspect of the disaster . . . As in any disaster story, great
heroism and great treachery abounded, and Molesky shows us plenty
of examples of both . . . [and] also places this earthquake firmly
in its historical context, arguing that the quake and its resultant
disasters helped to shape the 18th century."
--Emily Cataneo, Christian Science Monitor "Mesmerizingly
comprehensive . . . Magisterial in its account of a world-changing
event, this is a book to savor."
--John S. Major, The History Book Club "Focused, well-researched,
and fascinating . . . This smart, comprehensive, colorful account
shows readers Lisbon's phoenix-like recovery from destruction that
is now nearly forgotten, and how it ushered in a more recognizably
modern response to large-scale natural disasters."
--Publishers Weekly "Humanity's perennial battles between faith and
reason have always been tested most intensely in times of calamity.
The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 was the first and most dramatic of
such tests in the modern era, and the great calamity has long been
waiting for its historian. Now it has its brilliant chronicler and
analyst in Mark Molesky whose This Gulf of Fire is an extraordinary
marriage of fine, vivid narrative and sharp, clear thought. Full of
poignant stories, it makes gripping reading and like all powerful
histories stays around in one's mind long after the last page is
read."
--Simon Schama
Superb Engrossing A welcome resurrection of an epic tragedy Molesky
s gripping portrait is gleaned from a seemingly endless number of
firsthand accounts. [His] narrative transports you to the midst of
this horror.
-William O Connor, The Daily Beast
Richly readable [Molesky] paints an astonishing picture of the
natural cataclysm that struck Lisbon on Nov. 1, 1755.
-Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times
The definitive history of the Lisbon earthquake and its aftermath.
[This Gulf of Fire] combines exhaustive research with dramatic
eyewitness accounts and modern discoveries in geology and
seismology Molesky has masterfully revived [the Lisbon tragedy]
here. [This is]a powerful story about human and cultural loss and
recovery that is hard to forget.
R.W. Clark, Washington Independent Review of Books
Molesky s rendering of the continent-wide philosophical debate
following the earthquake is particularly lucid.
Henrik Bering, The New Criterion
[A] vivid portrayal . . . Molesky s story is well-informed and
well-paced . . . [and] fluent prose and vivid vignettes keep the
reader engaged . . . Molesky paints a dolorous picture of the
decadence of the pre-earthquake city . . . [and] knows everything
worth knowing about the quake.
Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Wall Street Journal
"Molesky brings to vivid and horrifying life a disaster that
forever changed Lisbon and provoked a Europe-wide debate about God
and the workings of nature."
Matthew Price, The Boston Globe
"A thoroughly absorbing take on a momentous event . . . Anyone
interested in history and especially disaster history will find
this book enthralling."
Laura Hiatt-Smith, Library Journal
"[A] masterpiece of nonfiction."
News-Record
Excellent . . . a comprehensive account of nearly every aspect of
the disaster . . . As in any disaster story, great heroism and
great treachery abounded, and Molesky shows us plenty of examples
of both . . . [and] also places this earthquake firmly in its
historical context, arguing that the quake and its resultant
disasters helped to shape the 18th century.
Emily Cataneo, Christian Science Monitor
"Mesmerizingly comprehensive . . . Magisterial in its account of a
world-changing event, this is a book to savor."
John S. Major, The History Book Club
"Focused, well-researched, and fascinating . . . This smart,
comprehensive, colorful account shows readers Lisbon s phoenix-like
recovery from destruction that is now nearly forgotten, and how it
ushered in a more recognizably modern response to large-scale
natural disasters."
Publishers Weekly Humanity s perennial battles between faith and
reason have always been tested most intensely in times of calamity.
The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 was the first and most dramatic of
such tests in the modern era, and the great calamity has long been
waiting for its historian. Now it has its brilliant chronicler and
analyst in Mark Molesky whose This Gulf of Fire is an extraordinary
marriage of fine, vivid narrative and sharp, clear thought. Full of
poignant stories, it makes gripping reading and like all powerful
histories stays around in one s mind long after the last page is
read.
Simon Schama"
[A] vivid portrayal . . . Molesky s story is well-informed and
well-paced . . . [and] fluent prose and vivid vignettes keep the
reader engaged . . . Molesky paints a dolorous picture of the
decadence of the pre-earthquake city . . . [and] knows everything
worth knowing about the quake.
Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, "The Wall Street Journal"
"Molesky brings to vivid and horrifying life a disaster that
forever changed Lisbon and provoked a Europe-wide debate about God
and the workings of nature."
Matthew Price, "The Boston Globe"
"A thoroughly absorbing take on a momentous event . . . Anyone
interested in history and especially disaster history will find
this book enthralling."
Laura Hiatt-Smith, "Library Journal"
"[A] masterpiece of nonfiction."
"News-Record"
Excellent . . . a comprehensive account of nearly every aspect of
the disaster . . . As in any disaster story, great heroism and
great treachery abounded, and Molesky shows us plenty of examples
of both . . . [and] also places this earthquake firmly in its
historical context, arguing that the quake and its resultant
disasters helped to shape the 18th century.
Emily Cataneo, "Christian Science Monitor"
Humanity s perennial battles between faith and reason have always
been tested most intensely in times of calamity. The Lisbon
Earthquake of 1755 was the first and most dramatic of such tests in
the modern era, and the great calamity has long been waiting for
its historian. Now it has its brilliant chronicler and analyst in
Mark Molesky whose "This Gulf of Fire" is an extraordinary marriage
of fine, vivid narrative and sharp, clear thought. Full of poignant
stories, it makes gripping reading and like all powerful histories
stays around in one s mind long after the last page is read.
Simon Schama"
Excellent . . . a comprehensive account of nearly every aspect of
the disaster . . . As in any disaster story, great heroism and
great treachery abounded, and Molesky shows us plenty of examples
of both . . . [and] also places this earthquake firmly in its
historical context, arguing that the quake and its resultant
disasters helped to shape the 18th century.
Emily Cataneo, "Christian Science Monitor"
Humanity s perennial battles between faith and reason have always
been tested most intensely in times of calamity. The Lisbon
Earthquake of 1755 was the first and most dramatic of such tests in
the modern era, and the great calamity has long been waiting for
its historian. Now it has its brilliant chronicler and analyst in
Mark Molesky whose "This Gulf of Fire" is an extraordinary marriage
of fine, vivid narrative and sharp, clear thought. Full of poignant
stories, it makes gripping reading and like all powerful histories
stays around in one s mind long after the last page is read.
Simon Schama"
Humanity s perennial battles between faith and reason have always
been tested most intensely in times of calamity. The Lisbon
Earthquake of 1755 was the first and most dramatic of such tests in
the modern era, and the great calamity has long been waiting for
its historian. Now it has its brilliant chronicler and analyst in
Mark Molesky whose "This Gulf of Fire" is an extraordinary marriage
of fine, vivid narrative and sharp, clear thought. Full of poignant
stories, it makes gripping reading and like all powerful histories
stays around in one s mind long after the last page is read.
Simon Schama"
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