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Lusitania: an Epic Tragedy
A brilliantly sunny day, and then the explosion; on what had been an ordinary weekday, there is suddenly fire, smoke, confusion, bodies, panic...
On May 7, 1915, the ocean liner Lusitania was struck by a terrifying new weapon-and became a casualty of a terrible new kind of war. This is a vivid account of the event that shocked the world; of the heyday of the luxury liner ...more
On May 7, 1915, the ocean liner Lusitania was struck by a terrifying new weapon-and became a casualty of a terrible new kind of war. This is a vivid account of the event that shocked the world; of the heyday of the luxury liner ...more
Paperback, 544 pages
Published
May 6th 2003
by Berkley Trade
(first published May 1st 2002)
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World War One is in many ways staggeringly complex to understand. It's a Balkan war gone bad, very bad. To get a feel for it, to understand the various ententes and alliances, you need to know a lot history. Teachers have cut this Gordian knot by giving us landmark moments to which causation can be attributed. Chief among these moments is the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His death didn't cause World War One; it was just one stop along doom's highway. Still, it's just easier to pret...more
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I liked this book. It was a smooth read. The author did not just tell the story in sequential order, the tale was told from the perspective of the U-boat, the passengers, the citizens of NY as well as the citizens in the UK. With regards to the passengers, the author tells their personal stories in a way that allows you to relate and emotionally invest in each passenger. While you read you are thinking: "Who will live? Who will die?" The story becomes suspenseful, and all the more trag...more
Years ago I remember reading a National Geopgraphic magazine that told all about the Lusitania. Ever since I have meant to read up on the whole story. I came across this book while I was at the library, and I couldn't put it down for two weeks. It was so surprising to hear how this one event altered history forever. Reading about how the decisions people made days before the sinking of this ship eventually impacted the outcome of WWI was both frustrating and fascinating. I kept thinking of ...more
Diana Preston's new book covering the events leading to the sinking of the Lusitania is sure to become one of the classic accounts on the subject. From a land-lubber's point of view I found the story well researched and very well presented. I enjoyed the background information on the ship and people involved, the build up to the final voyage, the accounts of the sinking and the world-wide ramifications of the German submarine attack. I found that the authors use of first-hand accounts were well ...more
This was a very interesting book. I liked that the writer was able to provide us with details of the survivors but also that we got to know the people that died. So many. The way Britain, America and Germany played a role in all of this is also an eye opener.
I do not understand why there is always so much talk about The Titanic. To me this tragedy was even worse. All the babies that died, and the boats that they tried to pull to the sea but in the meantime crashing and killing people. It w...more
I do not understand why there is always so much talk about The Titanic. To me this tragedy was even worse. All the babies that died, and the boats that they tried to pull to the sea but in the meantime crashing and killing people. It w...more
A fascinating story but bogged down by too much detail. Sometimes we don't need to know everything. It would have been a better read at 2/3 the length. Fine for an academioc audience, but I think most general readers will get lost or give up.
This is such a gripping and detailed account of the Lusitania's fatal voyage that you can almost feel the icy waters of the Irish Sea. Getting to know some of the people who were aboard makes the story even more tragic.
A really good investigation of the sinking of the Lusitania. The author explains the times, the state of mind of the U. S., Britain, and Germany. The stage is well set, and the chapters that describe the actual sinking are horrifying. The author, however, doesn't stop there, she goes on to look at the aftermath, and to present the facts as they now stand today. A really good read.
This was one of the 2003 RUSA Notable Books winners. For the complete list, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/a...
So far she has made this a good meld of fact and story. Maybe has a little too much "back story"..but I could be just picking nits.
Very informative.Gives reality to the myths surrounding the sinking and the politics involved in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Account of the May 1915 torpedoing of the liner and the politics involved. Many accounts from participants
Jeff Noble
added it
Lusitania by Diane Preston (?)
John
added it
How total war was changed forever.
I really liked this book and had trouble putting it down so I raced through the pages and even read the appendices though I set out not to. It felt a bit repetitive at times but I sympathize with the author that it is hard to tell the story from all perspectives without some revisiting of topics and I think she found a good balance.
Fascinating account. Beginning is long, extremely technical history of submarines - power through and you'll be rewarded.
Marleah
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
History or WWI buffs
Shelves:
non-fiction
Excellently told. I didn't feel like I was ready "history" at all. Mesmerizing and heart breakingly sad.
Very detailed account of the sinking of the Lusitania and how it helped bring the US into WWI
1915 the Lusitania is sunk by Germans, killing 1200 people.
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