The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald
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On the fiftieth anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s sinking, the bestselling author of The Great Halifax Explosion tells the definitive story of the “Mighty Fitz.”
For three decades following World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, possessing all the power and prestige Silicon Valley does today. And no ship represented the apex of the American Century better than the 729-foot-long Edmund Fitzgerald—the biggest, best, and most profitable ship on the Lakes.
But on November 10, 1975, as the “storm of the century” threw 100 mile-per-hour winds and 50-foot waves on Lake Superior, the Mighty Fitz found itself at the worst possible place, at the worst possible time. When she sank, she took all 29 men onboard down with her, leaving the tragedy shrouded in mystery for a half century.
In The Gales of November, award-winning journalist John U. Bacon presents the definitive account of the disaster, drawing on more than 100 interviews with the families, friends, and former crewmates of those lost. Bacon explores the vital role Great Lakes shipping played in America’s economic boom, the uncommon lives the sailors led, the sinking’s most likely causes, and the heartbreaking aftermath for those left behind—“the wives, the sons, and the daughters,” as Gordon Lightfoot sang in his unforgettable ballad.
Focused on those directly affected by the tragedy, The Gales of November is both an emotional tribute to the lives lost and a propulsive, thrilling narrative history of America’s most-mourned maritime disaster.
“John Bacon has done it again! This is another riveting narrative that puts facts on a still-mesmerizing legend. But this is more than getting the details right. Bacon has distilled the essence of the story and rendered a huge monument to those lost and a great gift to the rest of us.”—Ken Burns, filmmaker
Francis O Walker –
Anatomy of Misadventure
The people, place, and time captured in John Bacon’s, ‘Gales of November’ resemble those in a well-known work of fiction, Robert Travers ‘Anatomy of a Murder” (a book and later a movie starring James Stewart). Both dissect tragic events in a Great Lakes setting and highlight their aftermath in a no-nonsense manner, Anatomy focusing on legal, the Gales, on nautical mechanics. Both highlight the complexity of human motivation and decision making in emergent situations. The first half of Gales is its strongest, providing facts and figures that explain how the Great Lakes became an economic powerhouse via mining, shipping, industry and innovation, and pose navigational challenges which have taxed human ingenuity. Its discussion of the crew members captivates by describing their daily routines and the sacrifices involved in their arduous workload and schedules. The vivid prose gives readers the vicarious experience of the grandeur of gale storms on dry land, their terror in the water, the intense heat of summer work in the engine room, the icy fate faced the shipwrecked, and the bending and sagging of a huge boat in the rise and fall of swells and rogue waves. Rich in corroborative detail, the book also captures what it was like to grow up in the upper Midwest and the stoic work ethic and social structure of a working crew. The last quarter of the book has a slower pace as it belabors the unknowns around the sinking of the boat and reimagines the possible futures of its lost sailors. Nonetheless, follow-ups with “the wives, and the sons and the daughters” provides readers a poignant closure not found in the ballad that alludes only to “.. the faces and the names”. Sprinkled in are asides on the music industry, which add to its appeal both in the making of “Brandy” a perennial favorite of sailors young and old and of course and in Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting dirge. Another tragic figure of the era, Jimmy Hoffa, even gets a brief mention. This book will be of interest to shipping and Great Lakes enthusiasts but will have an even broader appeal to those who grew up with the above songs and in states which provided the crew members for the Edmund Fitzgerald. Highly Recommended.
Amazon Customer –
Maybe the best book I’ve ever read?
Not a huge reader here. Typically a book like this would take me 3-6 months of “night time reading” to finish. I stumbled about John U Bacon promoting this book when he was a guest on The Meat Eater podcast, great episode by the way! Living and Growing up in Michigan and having been to whitefish point shipwreck museum, as a kid, I thought I had a good understanding of the Fitz. Come to find out, I didn’t have a clue. This book was hard to put down, by far the fastest book I’ve ever read cover to cover (4days). The other shipwrecks he goes in detail over and how they all tie into and lead up to the wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald were fascinating to say the least. The stats and facts will blow your mind and the stories will wreck you. If you’re even considering buying this book for you or someone else, you have to buy it, you won’t regret it. I also made my dad buy it!
Januari M Works –
Don’t miss this exceptional true story!
If you love reading non-fiction stories that give you a genuine piece of history mixed with all manner of facts about a myriad of subjects then this is the book for you. Everything from geography to mechanics to craftsmanship to life on and off sailing vessels, plus a deep knowledge of the Great Lakes and their magnificence, their uses, their history for the United States and big industrial business, then you cannot miss this gem. I am from Michigan but never knew ANY of these details at all. To the actual subject….the Edmund Fitzgerald’s story is riveting, exciting and tragic all at the same time. Every one of the 29 sailors and their families are interviewed by the author. No one and nothing are left out.
wvfgolden –
Deeply researched, interesting read
I learned a lot about shipping and the Great Lakes. Would have been better to have photos interspersed throughout the book rather than all at the end. And, beware, it reads more like one of those 2-hour TV documentaries that could have been more succinctly covered in a half hour without loss of conten.t
Shannon Barnard –
Must read for Michiganders!
I grew up in Michigan and had always heard tales of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, but this book brought the story to life in such a special way. Fantastic writing. It kept me captivated for hours. Couldn’t put it down and finished in a couple of days.
JEDrury –
A sensitive and riveting history to the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald !
John Bacon’s “The Gales of November” is as much riveting history as it is a heartfelt, sensitive memorial to the twenty nine (29) crewmen and captain who went down with the Edmund Fitzgerald in November, 1975. Detailing the shipping business, the geographic complexities and uniqueness of Lake Superior (and the rest of the Great Lakes), and the “lead up” to the sailing, Bacon also offers rich cameos (and colored photos) of many of the crew and their surviving families as memorials to them. His later chapter on the possible causes of the sinking is highly informative and refrains from become accusatory, leaving the reader understanding the possible causes of the sinking. Bacon’s portrayal of Gordon Lightfoot and the background to the composition of his seven minute musical tribute to the dead is clearly memorable as an ending to this superb history book. The book contains color photos and a telling compilation of maps.
Jacqulyn P. –
Gitchie Gumee Gone
I bought this for a friend’s birthday. While I have not read it yet, my friends describe the book as a very detailed account the demise of the Edmund Fitzgerald along with its origin, history of its voyages, captain and crew. Additionally there are descriptions about the Great Lakes and the fierceness of the waters and the conditions upon Lake Superior that fateful night. It is the most up to date, well-researched book on the Edmund Fitzgerald. Definitely a good read and a great story.
Jean –
Bought as a present for somebody who had visited that Lake and area. He’s found it very good. He likes Gordon Lightfoot’s songs so it was even more appropriate.
Tommy Lewis –
Phenomenal story not just of the Fitz but the whole shipping / freighter industry that spans the Great Lakes.
Geoffrey –
A wonderful book about a tragedy we know from Gordon Lightfoot’s song. But there is so much more to it and to the song, all of which is revealed in this wonderfully well written account. It is by turns thrilling, frightening, informative, personal, and tragic. I am a huge fan of Mr. Lightfoot, but I am a bigger fan after reading this book. I can’t recommend the book highly enough.
JRH –
Interesting and informative. An excellent read.
barrytherocker –
The book is very interesting and in great detail