Perspective

The perspective of the story changes throughout the novel, but the voice of the narrator remains the same. However, a big reason why this book is so successful is the number of angles it takes as the storm progresses. In addition, the scene and environment, including important geographic details, are fully discussed from each perspective in the story.

From the beginning, the reader gets thrust into the hours leading up to the destructive storm at Galveston and can immediately see the decision-making process that will change or destroy the lives of thousands of people. As the story progresses, the narrator gives readers Issac Clines' full background to help us better understand the man who is in charge of helping or hurting so many residents. Sprinkled throughout this history is the history of the Galveston hurricane itself. Larson depicts how a hurricane begins and how hurricanes have influenced our...