HISTORICAL CATASTROPHES: FLOODS

Natural catastrophes have their own fascination and Brown and Cutchen keep their stories rushing along with a lively combination of narrative overview, eye witness anecdotes and a few sharp images of grotesque horror. The circumstances of each of the eight featured floods determine the approach: one chapter becomes a little history of Venice, one a profile of the Mennonite Disaster Service, another a human interest drama starring--are you ready?--Herbert Hoover. But with all the variety in the telling there is thematic unity as well, for from the first chapter, on the Johnstown flood which began with a break in a dam whose owners had ignored repeated reports and warnings, man's greed or stupidity turns out to be responsible for a surprising proportion of heaven sent disasters.