Mighty winter winds

In 1703, Britain's only hurricane tore across England and Wales, leaving exceptional devastation.

Daniel Defoe, a journalist and satirist before becoming Britain's first novelist with Robinson Crusoe, was witness to this 'terrible providence' and set about requesting other first-eye accounts via an advertisement in a newspaper.

The collected results, in addition to Defoe's own observations, form this sensational account of that night in what also serves as a crucial landmark in Defoe's own development as a writer. Combining an almost biblical sense of awe with a meticulous attention to fact, this is fascinating stuff, and particularly perfect reading for a stormy night.