A Furious Sky | Eric Jay Dolin

A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America's Hurricanes

Accolades & Recognition

• Authored by bestselling historian and writer Eric Jay Dolin.
• A sweeping history combining meteorology, disaster narrative, and American historical trajectory.
• Extensively praised for its vivid storytelling, meticulous archival research, and crucial environmental insights.

Extended Synopsis

In A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America's Hurricanes, acclaimed author Eric Jay Dolin presents a gripping account of how catastrophic tempests have repeatedly reshaped the United States over five centuries. From nameless storms that threatened early New World voyages to modern megastorms intensified by global warming, Dolin weaves together history, science, and human endurance to reveal the powerful influence of these mega-weather events.

Dolin brings to life a rich cast of figures, including early European explorers, pioneering meteorologists, unsung heroes, and political leaders forced to respond to unexpected destruction. Along the way, he traces the gradual evolution of weather forecasting—from early atmospheric theories to radar technology and satellite tracking—illustrating how human understanding of these violent storms developed alongside American society.

Combining vivid accounts of raw destruction with thoughtful analysis of human folly and tragedy, A Furious Sky forces readers to reckon with the reality that future storms will pose even greater challenges, reminding us of the urgent need to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world.

About the Author

Eric Jay Dolin is the bestselling author of numerous works of American history, including Leviathan, Black Flags, Blue Waters, and Rebels at Sea. A graduate of Brown, Yale, and MIT, where he earned his Ph.D. in environmental policy, Dolin has written extensively on maritime history, natural disasters, and environmental issues.

Reader Targeting

• Enthusiasts of American history, natural disaster narratives, and maritime history.
• Readers interested in meteorology, weather forecasting history, and climate science.
• Fans of popular history books that blend deep archival research with engaging narrative prose.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What period of history does A Furious Sky cover?
The book covers five hundred years of American hurricane history, from early European encounters in the New World through major twentieth and twenty-first-century storms.

Does the book focus on science or history?
It weaves both together seamlessly, combining American social and political history with the development of atmospheric science and hurricane forecasting techniques.

Who wrote A Furious Sky?
The author is Eric Jay Dolin, a bestselling historian known for his books on American maritime and environmental history.