Description

For three decades following World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, possessing all the power and prestige Silicon Valley does today. And no ship represented the apex of the American Century better than the 729-foot-long Edmund Fitzgeraldthe biggest, best, and most profitable ship on the Lakes.

But on November 10, 1975, as the storm of the century threw 100 mile-per-hour winds and 50-foot waves on Lake Superior, the Mighty Fitz found itself at the worst possible place, at the worst possible time. When she sank, she took all 29 men onboard down with her, leaving the tragedy shrouded in mystery for a half century.

In The Gales of November, award-winning journalist John U. Bacon presents the definitive account of the disaster, drawing on more than 100 interviews with the families, friends, and former crewmates of those lost. Bacon explores the vital role Great Lakes shipping played in Americas economic boom, the uncommon lives the sailors led, the sinkings most likely causes, and the heartbreaking aftermath for those left behindthe wives, the sons, and the daughters, as Gordon Lightfoot sang in his unforgettable ballad.

Focused on those directly affected by the tragedy, The Gales of November is both an emotional tribute to the lives lost and a propulsive, page-turning narrative history of Americas most-mourned maritime disaster.

Author: John U. Bacon
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Liveright Publishing Corporation
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9781324094647
Language: English