The Johnstown Flood

One of the United States' most highly regarded popular historians, David McCullough, and one of the best narrators of audiobooks, Edward Herrmann-- an AUDIOFILE Golden Voice--together create an excellent production. The story told by McCullough and brought to life in Herrmann's sonorous voice is a gripping tale. In May 1889, Johnstown, nestled in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, was ravaged by a terrible flood, which killed over 2,200 people. The flood was not simply a product of nature. The primary culprit was a dam then owned by an association whose members included some great American industrialists, including Andrew Carnegie. The dam broke, and a wave of unimagined destruction passed through the valley. M.L.C. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

With so many natural disasters hitting the U.S., it's important to remember that we've always been at the mercy of nature's fury. There is no better reminder than the Johnstown Flood of 1889. Caused by rainstorms that overwhelmed a major dam, the flood was one of the worst disasters in post-Civil War America. Nelson Runger has made a career out of reading our nation's past with eloquence and care, and his performance here is no exception. Runger has added some suspect character voices to his repertoire, but otherwise he is commanding and trustworthy. This is no easy feat since the author has a distinguished narrating record himself. Runger does McCullough's words justice, making this book fascinating and enjoyable. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine