David Laskin Reading
David Laskin discusses his nonfiction work, The Children’s Blizzard, which details the blizzard that hit the Midwest on January 12, 1888. Laskin details the terrible storm, pointing out that the temperature dropped 80 degrees in one day. Approximately 500 people were killed during the storm. Laskin explains why roughly one fifth of the victims were children: the storm hit the majority of the Midwest during the day, while many children were still at school.
Laskin describes the format of his book and his choice to follow five specific families that were affected by the blizzard. He describes in detail the story of seven Mormon boys that were caught in the storm; five of which were lost. Laskin also mentions the numerous schoolteachers that were considered heroes due to their attempts to move their children to safety.
Laskin goes on to explain the meteorological factors that produced the blizzard, namely the merging of both a cold front from the north and an unseasonably warm front from the south. He explains the physical effects that hypothermia has on the human body, as well as the hallucinations and “amnesia” that these individuals most likely experienced.
During a question and answer session, Laskin discusses the research he conducted, as well as the assistance he received with interpreting weather maps that were produced during that time. He explains the lack of preparedness on the part of the government, pointing out that the lack of funding and technology contributed to the inability to inform the public of the winter storm before it had reached them.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: David Laskin
Date Recorded: January 19, 2005
Works Read: The Children's Blizzard, by David Laskin
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: discussion
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: blizzards, Midwest, meterology, historical research