Imperial reckoning

Discover the forgotten story of America's deadliest fire, the Peshtigo firestorm of 1871, which devastated Wisconsin on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire. This book brings to life the harrowing experiences of those caught in its path, from ambitious lumber barons to a priest and local newspaper publishers. It also highlights the ignored warnings of geologist Increase Lapham, the only one who understood the fire's true danger. Based on survivor accounts and historical records, this book uncovers the human, political, and scientific dimensions of this catastrophic event.