Did you know that the greatest volcanic eruption of our times occurred in 1815 on the East Indian island of Tambora? It's an event rarely covered in history classes and yet that single occurrence has had a cultural, political, and economic impact that extends to present day. From altered ocean currents to famines in farflung corners of the globe, from US grain prices to the Chinese opium trade, cultural and environmental historian Gillen D'Arcy Wood tells the fascinating story of the interrelationships that connect our planet and the way they were altered by events on Tambora. You can see the Monitor's full review of "Tambora" here.
