THE LAST DAY Wrath, Ruin, and Reason in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755

In 1755 Lisbon was shattered by earthquakes and resulting fires that were spread by the wind. Patrick Lawlor puts a great deal of emotion into his narration, making this historical account sound as fresh as a first-person disaster account on the evening news. Stories from contemporary sources, such as that of the man detailing his bruises and wounds, are the high points. Lawlor's dramatic style makes the world of 1755--with Portugal's growing empire and the Inquisition--come alive. Nicholas Shrady's meticulous research uncovers the aftershocks of a disaster and provides a detailed glimpse of an earlier age. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]