The Weather Factor: How Nature Has Changed History Book

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 TileyRead More