More Nova Scotians were killed in this disaster than were killed in the fours years of World War 1. Crowds gathered to watch the fire, unaware that 20 minutes later an explosion would rip through the harbour, killing 1600 people and injuring 9000. The two boats collided and the explosives on the Mont Blanc caught fire almost immediately. Little did they know that on the morning of Decemdanger was lurking in Halifax Harbour when the munitions ship, the Mont Blanc (the book calls the ship a “floating bomb”) and the Imo were waiting to enter the inner harbour, the Bedford Basin. Nonetheless, life is generally happy, other than concerns for the safety of her brother overseas. There is a part of her mother’s life that is a mystery to Charlotte and is never mentioned. He gives Charlotte a diary for her birthday and promises to keep one himself so that they can read each other’s journal when he returns.Ĭharlotte records day-to-day happenings in her family and at school. She has two older sisters and a twin brother, in addition to Luke. Families have conflicts and families sometimes have secrets. Luke, Charlotte’s older brother, is fighting in France. The story is set in 1917 Halifax, during the last year of World War I. No Safe Harbour brings these two elements together into a great read. I enjoy history and I enjoy a good story. Title: No Safe Harbour: The Halifax Explosion Diary of Charlotte Blackburn
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