Combining human disaster, dramatic history and travel writing this work tells the story of how in 1902, Mont Pelee, a dormant volanco on the island of Martinque, erupted and destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre, killing its 30,000 citizens. On Thursday, 8th May 1902, the citizens of Saint-Pierre huddled together in their Notre Dame cathedral. Earlier that morning the sky had turned black with volcanic dust and a slow, steady rain of ash had begun to fall on the city. The island volcano that had remained dormant for so long had suddenly came alive. The rumblings of the volcano soon turned into a savage roar and within minutes the beautiful city had been destroyed along with its 30000 inhabitants. The erruption was the most sensational event of its time.