Hauptmann, Atlantis, and Titanic

In Blue Thread, which takes place in late 1912, Miriam’s mother says: “The Titanic was such a shock. I can’t imagine how the Steinbachers have the courage to make the crossing next spring.”

Here it is, spring 2013, a hundred years after the Steinbachers’ ocean crossing, and I’ve discovered a coincidence that might have shocked writer Gerhart Hauptmann. Here’s the story.

By 1912, German-Polish author Gerhart Hauptmann had written several excellent plays and novels. His latest work that year, Atl...