Krakatoa lighthouse, by Allan Baillie

Allan Baillie has the wonderful ability to blend adventure and history. This novel is set in Indonesia in 1883 – what was then known as the Dutch East Indies – and covers the period leading up to the eruption of the massive volcano.  It is seen through the eyes of Kerta who is the son of one of the lighthouse keepers.  His father is responsible for keeping the 4th point lighthouse lit so that ships can negotiate the dangerous waters of Sunda strait, the strait where Krakatoa lies.

In the weeks leading up to the explosion Kerta visits the island which is made up of 3 craters, including Krakatoa.  He climbs up the side of one of the craters and sees for himself the volcano beginning to stir into life.

Through Kerta’s eyes we see the life in his village, the people who lived there and learn about the tensions between the Dutch and the Indonesians and the anxiety everyone felt in relation to the Volcano. But more than anything else, Kerta gives us a first hand description of the noise of the explosion, the ash which rained down on Indonesia and the terrifying nature of the Tsunami which followed killing an estimated 36,400 people in Java and Sumatra alone. This is a fascinating look at what happened when Krakatoa exploded.  Allan Baillie gives us lots of amazing facts and figures, which make you realise just how terrifying the whole experience would have been and his postscript is that Krakatoa is growing again!

- Rita


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