Worst of Days: Inside the Black Saturday Firestorm

by Karen Kissane

WORST OF DAYS takes readers inside the ferocious, insatiable beast that was the Black Saturday inferno. It takes us to the people who found themselves in its path, fighting and fleeing the flames. It is a powerful journey into the human psyche, showing the very best and worst of what we do under threat: one man who's just heard his family has been killed goes on to save the lives of others and another man refuses to cover the face of someone who has died because 'it's not my job, mate.' This is a gripping behind-the-scenes tale of officials and their bungles, towns and their heroes, of survivors, saviours and lost souls. It is the story of the creature that pursued them all: fire.

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a terrific read for anyone who wants an understanding of what happened, how it happened and why it happened. I spent school holidays as a kid in Kinglake and moved onto the mountain, myself not too long ago. I'd say anyone wanting to do the same, should read this book to understand the place and the people and the risks involved in living in such a beautiful place.
Terrific book.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally well written book describing the horrors of this terrifying and sad day in Victorian history.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad day

[Jennyfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read, detaining the events in Kinglake/Strathewen and the actions of the CFA firies and controllers in the region on Black Saturday. While there are some harrowing stories of survival and loss, the book also looks into what went wrong in the communication chains, the frustration of those hampered and affected by it, and introduces the preliminary Royal COmmission findings. A nice, if somewhat disquieting touch, was the inclusion of text from the 1939 and 1851 fire reports.

I would have liked more information about other towns devastated, but despite this, it was an excellent book for those still searching for answers from that terrible day.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book, but that's only because I've been busy! The book is a gripping account of the Black Saturday Bushfires and the mistakes that were made by the authorities that made compounded the disaster of that day and the death toll.

It was amazing to read how some people were able to survive the fire and the work of the volunteer fire fighters in the face of the danger.

It was also disturbing to discover how many things went wrong and the reasons behind them - office politics and a strict adherence to rules to the detriment of the people in the danger zone.

I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in the anatomy of a disaster.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very difficult to read in terms of emotional content. Moved me to tears at times. The author handled the subject matter very well considering its delicacy. I'm glad I read it. In a way, I felt I was honouring those who lost so much. Living in Queensland, we have the most amazing cyclone warning systems. It was frustrating to read how the people of Victoria were left to face the fire with no warning, and little back up. If not for an unwieldy bureaucracy and a tangle of red tape, there's no doubt lives would have been saved. As for the Stay or Go policy - a travesty.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, lots of information about the failures before and during the day but very readable. Probably 4.5 really

[Robert Oag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devastating insight inti these fires.