The Hartford Circus Fire, Michael Skidgell
The Hartford Circus Fire, Michael Skidgell
List: $15.99 | Sale: $11.20
Club: $7.99

The Hartford Circus Fire
Tragedy Under the Big Top

Author: Michael Skidgell

Narrator: P.J. Ochlan

Unabridged: 4 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/17/2023

Synopsis

Through firsthand accounts and interviews with survivors, author Michael Skidgell attempts to make sense of one of Hartford's worst tragedies.

Almost 7,000 fans eagerly packed into the Ringling Brothers big top on July 6, 1944. With a single careless act, an afternoon at the "Greatest Show on Earth" quickly became one of terror and tragedy as the paraffin-coated circus tent caught fire. Panicked crowds rushed for the few exits, but in minutes, the tent collapsed on those still struggling to escape below. A total of 168 lives were lost, many of them children, with many more injured and forever scarred by the events. Hartford and the surrounding communities reeled in the aftermath as investigators searched for the source of the fire and the responsible parties.

About Michael Skidgell

Michael Skidgell, a lifelong Connecticut resident, is a project manager and an engineering manager at Steeltech Building Products. He has served in the construction company as a draftsman, engineer, estimator, coordinator, and project manager for thirty years. Skidgell started his research on the Hartford circus fire in 2001, and has been pursuing the subject ever since.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jill on May 12, 2014

There are two elements saving this book from total mediocrity and appearing to be an extended "book report" on the Hartford Circus Fire. One is the extensive collection of diagrams and photographs which appear on nearly every page and help the reader picture the time frame and severity of the events......more

Goodreads review by Andrea on July 29, 2014

I knew nothing of the Hartford Circus Fire. Very easy to read and understand. Such a horrible tragedy. Thanks Mike for paying tribute to all those that were lost in this fire, and those who survived.......more

Goodreads review by Judith on June 19, 2024

The only thing keeping this from being a two star review was the roll call in chapter 4. The rest felt very “book report”-y. Not a lot of structure to the information given. I did this via audiobook, so maybe it’s better hard copy?......more

Goodreads review by MMF on January 06, 2021

You are better off visiting the author's extensive website on the fire and reading Stewart O'Nan's book on the tragedy. There is little to no information here not provided in those two sources, and the book is not as well-written, organized or compelling as O'Nan's account.......more

Goodreads review by Reneda Baer on July 12, 2018

Very interesting ! This is a very interesting and detailed telling of the Hartford Circus Fire story. As a former firefighter / EMS personnel myself, I can't believe there wasn't more replanting by the Fire Department. And as a former Deputy Coroner, I can't imagine dealing with a tragedy of that mag......more

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