Tambora and the Year without a Summer

Wolfgang Behringer is Professor of Early Modern History at Saarland University.

"In this masterly work, Behringer draws on a wealth of detail to demonstrate the profound effects of the Tambora eruption on human society globally. Engagingly written, it will appeal to students and scholars of history as well as a wide general readership."J. Donald Hughes, University of Denver"Charting Tambora's effects on climate, global politics, the history of science, the world economy and individual lives, this outstanding book makes the history of most places in the world between the years 1815 and 1820 unthinkable without the story of the largest volcanic eruption ever recorded. Fast-paced and intricately constructed, this is climate crisis as page-turner."Alan Mikhail, Yale University"This is a truly remarkable book, a global history ranging from Indonesia to Munich to Tasmania. Behringer shows how a volcano in Tambora touched off a weather crisis that brought famine and political instability in Europe, witch hunting in Africa and even genocide in Australia. He brings the story to life through the voices of contemporaries: Mary Wollstonecraft, Goethe, Constable ... unforgettable."Lyndal Roper, University of Oxford"Behringer provides a brilliant illustration of the truly global character of this natural catastrophe and all its ramifications."Deutsche Presse-Agentur"By showing how the planet was completely transformed by extreme weather events some 200 years ago, Behringer offers a highly original contribution to current climate debates."Deutschlandradio Kultur"The largest volcanic eruption ever recorded took place in Indonesia in April 1815 — and no region on earth was untouched by its effects. This comprehensive account of the impact of one of the greatest environmental disasters in human history offers a case study for how societies and individuals respond to climate change, what risks emerge and how they might be overcome."Climate & Capitalism"This book is a considerable achievement on the part of its author. It is well written, meticulously researched, closely referenced allowing follow up work to proceed with ease, and it is a joy to read… highly recommended not only for library purchase, but also for personal use by those interested in volcanology, the atmospheric sciences and environmental history."Environment and History"Behringer's book makes a convincing case for acknowledging the Tambora eruption as a major event in the history of the early nineteenth century. It is clearly the best synthesis of the subject to date, drawing on a broad reading of other studies, and on source material primarily from Western Europe and the United States, but also beyond… Behringer has provided a highly readable and impressive panorama, and he has firmly placed Tambora on the map for global historians.American Historical Review

• 1. Introduction: The Tambora Crisis2. The year of the explosion: 18153. The year without a summer: 18164. The year of famine: 18175. The turbulent years that followed: 1818Ð18206. The long-range effects of the Tambora Crisis7. Epilogue: From meaningless to meaningful crisisAbbreviationsNotesBibliographyPicture creditsIndex