author talk Chris Wisniewski

Bank Square Books presents an author talk and Q&A with Chris Wisniewski for the new book, The Hurricane of 1938: Norwich remembers the Storm of the Century.
Books will be available for purchase during the event!
The Hurricane of 1938 Cover ImageAbout the Book
The storm came without warning. On September 21, 1938 everyone went about business as usual, expecting just another rainy day. By evening Norwich had been battered by 120 mph winds, rivers surged over their banks, and a tidal wave raced up the Thames leaving Franklin Square under 10 feet of water. Bridges and dams washed out. Streets were blocked with downed trees and roofs. The Rose Citywas devastated. The ‘38 Hurricane still remains the most destructive storm in New England history.

Chris Wisniewski and The Norwich Bulletin partnered on this book on the 1938 Hurricane in 2013, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the storm. The book containe personal accounts from over 65 residents of Norwich and the surrounds area and over 60 photographs, many never published before. Experience the storm through the eyes of the people who lived through it.

“All my life I have heard stories of the ’38 hurricane — stories that seemed too crazy to be true. I assumed these stories must have been embellished over the years. After all, storms that powerful don’t hit New England. In 2013, as the 75th anniversary of the storm approached, the opportunity presented itself for me to collect the stories of as many people as I could find who still remembered the storm. The people of Norwich and the surrounding towns responded by sharing the amazing stories and photos with me. The more people I interviewed about the storm, the more I understood that all those crazy stories I had heard years before, were actually true. It was such a wonderful experience to collect these stories and I’m pleased to be able to offer them together in this book.”
— Chris Wisniewski

About Chris Wisniewski
Chris Wisniewski is a personal historian and owner of Saving Stories. Chris works to help individuals, families, businesses, and non-profits preserve their stories and memories. Chris is originally from Preston, Connecticut, a small town outside of Norwich. She has always been fascinated with the rich history of the area and is excited to be able to preserve these first hand accounts of the 1938 hurricane.

Event date:
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – 6:00pm
Event address:
Bank Square Books
53 West Main Street
Mystic, CT 06355