Post by Admin on May 6, 2016 20:24:48 GMT -7
Islands of the Smokey Sea by Murray Morgan
A captivating account of Aleutian Island history written by a soldier who served there in World War II. Murray Morgan writes history from a popular and sometimes entertaining, standpoint. Short on analysis, but rich with adventure and quite factual. His writing lacks current political correctness which I found refreshing. The copy I read was printed in 1981. It was a paperback copy of the original book published in 1947.
Murray speaks about the geology of the Aleutian Island chain and then goes into the early Russian history and their deadly encounters with the natives or Aleuts. Neither side was civilized and the results were often bloody. He traces Russian exploration from Siberia to Alaska, down the coast to California and even to Hawaii. After covering how and why the Russians sold Alaska to America, Murray continues the story via the American whale and seal industries. He discusses the interactions between Russian missionaries, Aleuts and the British navy.
His greatest detail is describing scenes from the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Much of the action he must have participated in, to describe it so well. The islands come alive with his words and I felt like I was traversing the tundra with him.
Islands of the Smokey Sea is a fascinating book and an easy read. Some of the facts, like his comments about the Aleuts personal lives, have been disputed. Others are on solid ground. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Murray speaks about the geology of the Aleutian Island chain and then goes into the early Russian history and their deadly encounters with the natives or Aleuts. Neither side was civilized and the results were often bloody. He traces Russian exploration from Siberia to Alaska, down the coast to California and even to Hawaii. After covering how and why the Russians sold Alaska to America, Murray continues the story via the American whale and seal industries. He discusses the interactions between Russian missionaries, Aleuts and the British navy.
His greatest detail is describing scenes from the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Much of the action he must have participated in, to describe it so well. The islands come alive with his words and I felt like I was traversing the tundra with him.
Islands of the Smokey Sea is a fascinating book and an easy read. Some of the facts, like his comments about the Aleuts personal lives, have been disputed. Others are on solid ground. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.