The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. BaconMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
John U. Bacon has written the definitive book about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975 in Lake Superior. The reader is taken through the background of lake freighters used to transport iron ore through the Great Lakes, how the Edmund Fitzgerald was built to be the largest and fastest boat on the lakes, information on each of the crew members and the captain, what life is like onboard a freighter, and a detailed description of their last voyage.
The book is incredibly well researched and Bacon's writing is both comprehensive and approachable for the novice. The various maps and the layout of the freighter were invaluable to me in my understanding. It is probably the best narrative nonfiction book that I have ever read, and would encourage anyone to read it!
I saw the author speak on the WDIV Backstory documentary which was aired last fall at the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the "Fitz," and was so impressed with his knowledge. I would highly recommend watching this documentary --
Edmund Fitzgerald (71 minutes)
https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/features/2025/11/07/full-documentary-the-edmund-fitzgerald-2025/
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