The Gales of November, The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald
✓ Product data checked October 23, 2026
The Gales of November tells the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Great Lakes freighter that sank in 1975. Published for the fiftieth anniversary of the wreck, it is by the author of The Great Halifax Explosion, who tracked down the families of the crew to tell the story through them. It was a New York Times bestseller and the listing cites Smithsonian among its best history books of 2025. As a gift it suits a reader of narrative history in the vein of The Perfect Storm, or anyone from the Great Lakes region who grew up with the song. Rated 4.7 across more than 3,000 reviews, around $26.
Why it makes a good gift
Best for : A reader of narrative history or maritime stories, especially from the Great Lakes
Best occasion : Christmas, Father's Day, a birthday
Why it works : It ties a story many Americans know through a song to the real families behind it, which gives the book an emotional weight beyond a history lesson.
Avoid if : The reader wants light entertainment: this is the account of a deadly shipwreck.
For
Him, Retirement, Her
Budget
$$ — Affordable
Frequently asked questions
What is the book about?
The 1975 sinking of the Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald and the people connected to it.
Is it a novel?
No, it is narrative nonfiction based on reporting and interviews with the crew's loved ones.
Has it received recognition?
The listing says it is a New York Times bestseller and one of Smithsonian's 10 best history books of 2025.
Is it hardcover?
The Amazon listing does not say.
