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Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived
'Shadow of the Titanic' tells the extraordinary stories of some of those 705 who survived. How did the loss of the ship shape the lives of the people who survived? How did those who were saved feel about those who perished? And how did they remember that terrible night?
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
714 people are currently reading
4425 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Wilson
15 books110 followersAbout himself:
"I'm a journalist and author. My work has appeared in the Guardian, the Washington Post, the Daily Telegraph, the Observer, the Sunday Times, the Independent on Sunday, the Daily Mail, the New Statesman and the Evening Standard magazine."
Source: http://www.andrewwilsonauthor.co.uk/d...
"I'm a journalist and author. My work has appeared in the Guardian, the Washington Post, the Daily Telegraph, the Observer, the Sunday Times, the Independent on Sunday, the Daily Mail, the New Statesman and the Evening Standard magazine."
Source: http://www.andrewwilsonauthor.co.uk/d...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
July 25, 2021
I have read several books on the sinking of the Titanic but few, if any, followed the lives of those who survived. So, it is a story, not of the sinking of the ship but the actions of and effects on those who lived through the horror. It should be noted that there were several people who claimed to have been on the Titanic but were just seeking publicity.
There are only a couple of chapters which focus on the actual sinking and the majority of the book begins with the lowering of the lifeboats and those who took their chances jumping off the ship at the last minute. Most of the latter did not live since the water was frigid and they froze to death in approximately ten minutes. Some, however, were rescued when a few of the lifeboats came back to pick them up.
The author then concentrates on a number of people, mostly first class, women and children and those sailors who were in charge of the lifeboats. Some of those he chose had some claim to fame before the sinking but others did not. But even those unknown people became “celebrities” once they reached NYC on the rescue ship, Carpathia. Some used their experience to propel themselves to fame while others were so wracked with guilt that the rest of their lives were spent under the Titanic’s shadow. Those that felt this guilt were, in modern terminology, suffering from PTSD. Reputations were ruined and some survivors committed suicide.
The author uses a wealth of unpublished letters, memoirs, and diaries to document his facts and does not fall into the trap that some authors do, of inventing conversations or thoughts which were not validated by his sources. His writing is fluid and story is well constructed. I would recommend this harrowing account of “a night to remember” and its aftereffects to those who have an interest in all aspects of the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic.
There are only a couple of chapters which focus on the actual sinking and the majority of the book begins with the lowering of the lifeboats and those who took their chances jumping off the ship at the last minute. Most of the latter did not live since the water was frigid and they froze to death in approximately ten minutes. Some, however, were rescued when a few of the lifeboats came back to pick them up.
The author then concentrates on a number of people, mostly first class, women and children and those sailors who were in charge of the lifeboats. Some of those he chose had some claim to fame before the sinking but others did not. But even those unknown people became “celebrities” once they reached NYC on the rescue ship, Carpathia. Some used their experience to propel themselves to fame while others were so wracked with guilt that the rest of their lives were spent under the Titanic’s shadow. Those that felt this guilt were, in modern terminology, suffering from PTSD. Reputations were ruined and some survivors committed suicide.
The author uses a wealth of unpublished letters, memoirs, and diaries to document his facts and does not fall into the trap that some authors do, of inventing conversations or thoughts which were not validated by his sources. His writing is fluid and story is well constructed. I would recommend this harrowing account of “a night to remember” and its aftereffects to those who have an interest in all aspects of the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic.
March 26, 2021
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
This non-fiction follows the fateful day the Titanic sank, through the eyes of those who survived it. The reader is first invited to voyage with them on the ironically titled 'unsinkable' ship before being provided an insight to their lives following this maritime tragedy.
It took me almost an entire month to listen to this audiobook, as I found myself grief-stricken by the repeated stories of loss, grief, and suffering. This, rightly so, spared the reader none of the emotions of that day, detailing not only the sinking, but also the endless night spent awaiting help afloat in various lifeboats, the numb purgatory of their time onboard the Carpathia, who answered the Titanic's distress signals and rescued those stranded at sea, the chaos of their first days in New York, and the struggle to piece together a life from the fragments of their families, and themselves, that remained. It gave a very human face to this infamous tragedy and did so both sensitively but also without withholding any of the details.
This non-fiction follows the fateful day the Titanic sank, through the eyes of those who survived it. The reader is first invited to voyage with them on the ironically titled 'unsinkable' ship before being provided an insight to their lives following this maritime tragedy.
It took me almost an entire month to listen to this audiobook, as I found myself grief-stricken by the repeated stories of loss, grief, and suffering. This, rightly so, spared the reader none of the emotions of that day, detailing not only the sinking, but also the endless night spent awaiting help afloat in various lifeboats, the numb purgatory of their time onboard the Carpathia, who answered the Titanic's distress signals and rescued those stranded at sea, the chaos of their first days in New York, and the struggle to piece together a life from the fragments of their families, and themselves, that remained. It gave a very human face to this infamous tragedy and did so both sensitively but also without withholding any of the details.
May 13, 2013
This book, as the title indicates, is intended to inform the reader of the post-shipwreck lives of what are presumably the survivors most worthy of note. The problem with writing a tale of this nature is that the most interesting people perished with the ship; the survivors were mostly first class passengers, and the bulk of these were women and children. There is really little to commend these people to anyone: the children are blameless, of course, and the women for the most part were passive creatures herded onto the lifeboats by the men on the ship. Of the men who made it into the lifeboats it could fairly be said that many were cowardly, or at least occupying a seat that could have been used by a child. It is noted that many of the upper crust pulled away right heartily in lifeboats that were not even close to being at capacity, ignoring the cries of their fellow passengers who were perishing in the cold waters close by.
The author makes an interesting point when he reveals that males of British heritage were most likely to perish in the wreck, this because of their upbringing, their willingness to patiently form queues, and their reverence for the British code of ethics that required the manly man to ensure the safety of women and children before looking to their own security. Several references are made to instances where a father would escort his wife and child to a boat and, having seen them safely aboard, turned to join the press of men awaiting their doom upon the deck. Compare that to the German gentleman who actually injured a woman by jumping on her as she sat in a lifeboat! Proportionately higher numbers of American and continental European males survived than did their English counterparts. It would be interesting to see how this would play out today...I can envision little old ladies brained by skateboards and trampled by the baggy-pants crowd...but perhaps I have a jaded view of humanity. My point is that the most interesting passengers, the most gallant and courageous, went down with the ship and consequently left no story to tell.
Of the survivors, Mr Wilson takes a number of the most newsworthy and details how their experiences during and subsequent to the sinking affected their lives after they were safely ashore. I won't spoil the book by elaborating, but I will tell you that the book is nicely written and thoroughly researched. Definitely worth a read.
The author makes an interesting point when he reveals that males of British heritage were most likely to perish in the wreck, this because of their upbringing, their willingness to patiently form queues, and their reverence for the British code of ethics that required the manly man to ensure the safety of women and children before looking to their own security. Several references are made to instances where a father would escort his wife and child to a boat and, having seen them safely aboard, turned to join the press of men awaiting their doom upon the deck. Compare that to the German gentleman who actually injured a woman by jumping on her as she sat in a lifeboat! Proportionately higher numbers of American and continental European males survived than did their English counterparts. It would be interesting to see how this would play out today...I can envision little old ladies brained by skateboards and trampled by the baggy-pants crowd...but perhaps I have a jaded view of humanity. My point is that the most interesting passengers, the most gallant and courageous, went down with the ship and consequently left no story to tell.
Of the survivors, Mr Wilson takes a number of the most newsworthy and details how their experiences during and subsequent to the sinking affected their lives after they were safely ashore. I won't spoil the book by elaborating, but I will tell you that the book is nicely written and thoroughly researched. Definitely worth a read.
April 20, 2012
I saw this book listed in Entertainment Weekly. It is one of a slew of books put out to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I have read many books on the subject, the most recent being the fictional book The Dressmaker. The thing that I really liked about this book was how it covered the lives of people after they were rescued. I knew quite a bit about who was on Titanic but not too much much about how the sinking affected their lives after. As it turns out people's bodies may have been rescued but a lot of them had their souls go down in the north Atlantic.
Eighteen year old Madeleine was on her honeymoon with the richest man on ship, John Jacob Astor. She made into the lifeboat without her husband and although she survived the sinking she seemed doomed to live in the shadow of the disaster. Her story proves the old saying that money cannot buy happiness although she certainly tried with the purchase of a boy toy husband. Her marriages read like a Dominick Dunne novel. It all ended very sadly for her at the young age of 47.
Survivors Lady Duff Gordon and her husband Cosmo are also profiled. Cosmo was reviled for having made it into a lifeboat when so many women and children perished. It was even rumored that the couple paid the crew in their lifeboat to not go back for the dying people in the water. I wanted to read a more factual account of them because I had read Kate Alcott's new book The Dressmaker where they feature prominently. I can't say that either book painted a particularly flattering portrait of them although this book provided a more complete picture. What was really strange was the story of Lady Duff's kimono that she wore on the night of the sinking. Fascinating stuff.
Speaking of reviled, Bruce Ismay embarked from the Carpathia as arguably the most hated man in the world and strangely he seemed to like it that way. People rested the blame of the sinking of the Titanic squarely on his soldiers and were quite upset that he did not go down with the ship as so many husbands and fathers did. He continued a regiment of self punishment that would last the rest of his life.
One thing I found very surprising from this book was that ten survivors committed suicide. You would think that having cheated death they would embrace living but some of them chose to end their lives. People didn't understand post traumatic stress or counseling and therapy as is the norm today. Some survivors chose to never speak of the disaster and instead locked it inside of them where it ate at them like a cancer. Other survivors like Eva hart and Millvina Dean, young children when the Titanic sunk, chose to embrace the notoriety that came with the title of survivor. When the wreck of the Titanic was located by Robert Ballard in 1985 it renewed interest in the story again and the last two survivors were called upon to relate their stories countless times. A rivalry sprung up between Eva and Millvina as to who was the ultimate authority. Ultimately Millivina outlasted Eva and when she passed in 2009 the last living link to the direct survivors Titanic was severed.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the people on the Titanic and what life was like for the survivors. If you were a man who survived it seemed to be much better for you if you tried to go down with the ship and somehow found your way to a boat once you were in the water like seventeen year old Jack Thayer as opposed to actually seating yourself in a lifeboat like Cosmo Duff and Bruce Ismay. Either way the survivors were haunted by what they saw and heard the night the Titanic sunk and they carried the memories like a weight for the rest of their lives. This is a fascinating book perfect for the hundred year anniversary of the disaster.
Eighteen year old Madeleine was on her honeymoon with the richest man on ship, John Jacob Astor. She made into the lifeboat without her husband and although she survived the sinking she seemed doomed to live in the shadow of the disaster. Her story proves the old saying that money cannot buy happiness although she certainly tried with the purchase of a boy toy husband. Her marriages read like a Dominick Dunne novel. It all ended very sadly for her at the young age of 47.
Survivors Lady Duff Gordon and her husband Cosmo are also profiled. Cosmo was reviled for having made it into a lifeboat when so many women and children perished. It was even rumored that the couple paid the crew in their lifeboat to not go back for the dying people in the water. I wanted to read a more factual account of them because I had read Kate Alcott's new book The Dressmaker where they feature prominently. I can't say that either book painted a particularly flattering portrait of them although this book provided a more complete picture. What was really strange was the story of Lady Duff's kimono that she wore on the night of the sinking. Fascinating stuff.
Speaking of reviled, Bruce Ismay embarked from the Carpathia as arguably the most hated man in the world and strangely he seemed to like it that way. People rested the blame of the sinking of the Titanic squarely on his soldiers and were quite upset that he did not go down with the ship as so many husbands and fathers did. He continued a regiment of self punishment that would last the rest of his life.
One thing I found very surprising from this book was that ten survivors committed suicide. You would think that having cheated death they would embrace living but some of them chose to end their lives. People didn't understand post traumatic stress or counseling and therapy as is the norm today. Some survivors chose to never speak of the disaster and instead locked it inside of them where it ate at them like a cancer. Other survivors like Eva hart and Millvina Dean, young children when the Titanic sunk, chose to embrace the notoriety that came with the title of survivor. When the wreck of the Titanic was located by Robert Ballard in 1985 it renewed interest in the story again and the last two survivors were called upon to relate their stories countless times. A rivalry sprung up between Eva and Millvina as to who was the ultimate authority. Ultimately Millivina outlasted Eva and when she passed in 2009 the last living link to the direct survivors Titanic was severed.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the people on the Titanic and what life was like for the survivors. If you were a man who survived it seemed to be much better for you if you tried to go down with the ship and somehow found your way to a boat once you were in the water like seventeen year old Jack Thayer as opposed to actually seating yourself in a lifeboat like Cosmo Duff and Bruce Ismay. Either way the survivors were haunted by what they saw and heard the night the Titanic sunk and they carried the memories like a weight for the rest of their lives. This is a fascinating book perfect for the hundred year anniversary of the disaster.
April 10, 2012
I have to say I was a little bit disappointed in this book. While I definitely enjoyed it, and some of the survivors stories were amazing, I felt the writing was a bit flowery in spots and the author linked everything that subsequently happened the survivors and every decision they made in their lives to the sinking of Titanic. If they made a bad decision in their lives or ended up with an unsuitable partner then according to the author, it was because they were subconsiously punishing themselves for surviving Titanic when so many died. . . Maybe, or maybe people just make bad choices sometimes, regardless of whether they survived a tragedy or not! I also found the writing repetitive in parts.
That said, it is an enjoyable read, some of the survivors went on to suffer extraordinary fates, truth really can be stranger than fiction! I especially enjoyed the story of J Bruce Ismay, he is portrayed here more sympathetically than a lot of works and comes across as quite a pitiful character.
That said, it is an enjoyable read, some of the survivors went on to suffer extraordinary fates, truth really can be stranger than fiction! I especially enjoyed the story of J Bruce Ismay, he is portrayed here more sympathetically than a lot of works and comes across as quite a pitiful character.
October 24, 2020
I was really disappointed with this book. The premise is interesting: what happened next for the survivors of the Titanic? And the parts of the text that draw directly on survivors' testimonies, the comments of their loved ones, the newspaper articles about the survivors and so on are wonderful. In fact, this is the only reason this book has two stars instead of one.
So why was it disappointing? This is a factual history book. There are certain things I expect of a factual history book. Some conjecture? Sure. Some flair in the writing to make the book entertaining? Ok.
-- Vague spoilers? --
But the author here actually chooses to fill in blanks with his own imagination. He tells us - with great certainty - exactly what individuals were thinking in the instant they committed suicide, and in other scenarios where there is no possible record of what a survivor was thinking or feeling. The result is that throughout the book it does not feel as if the author is providing us with an unbiased or completely trustworthy account. How are we supposed to trust sections where the author describes a person's motivations if we have no idea whether his descriptions are based off of what he was told or what he has made up?
He also reduces people with psychoanalysis in order to make their lives fit his narrative: someone suffering from PTSD and feeling intense guilt as a high ranking member of the crew to escape we are told was clearly a "secret masochist" who "wallowed" in his misery, "revelled in his new-found victimhood" and "did not want to recover". This as a description for a man who as far as we are aware never receives treatment for his PTSD or is otherwise given a *way* to recover, and yet the author feels it is appropriate to judge and dismiss his suffering as indulgent wish fulfilment. The author actually uses this idea that the survivor was a "secret masochist" to try and reduce the complexities of a person and what motivates them in individual decisions throughout their lives into a neat little character arc which feels distinctly fictional.
Another survivor is incorrectly diagnosed by the author by use of the phrase "Obsessive-Compulsive would be the more modern, medical description", for no other reason than that she feels a "deep psychological need to revisit a part of her life that many people would have gladly tried to put behind them" because she wants to help with a later film about the Titanic. This is frankly offensive both to the survivor and to sufferers of actual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, especially as this book was written in 2011 when the author can hardly claim ignorance of modern understanding of OCD.
Basically, this book was almost a DNF around 200 pages in, and I finished it with a lot of eye rolling and deep breathing to keep me going. It's a good summary of who survived the Titanic, but if you want a serious history book maybe look elsewhere.
So why was it disappointing? This is a factual history book. There are certain things I expect of a factual history book. Some conjecture? Sure. Some flair in the writing to make the book entertaining? Ok.
-- Vague spoilers? --
But the author here actually chooses to fill in blanks with his own imagination. He tells us - with great certainty - exactly what individuals were thinking in the instant they committed suicide, and in other scenarios where there is no possible record of what a survivor was thinking or feeling. The result is that throughout the book it does not feel as if the author is providing us with an unbiased or completely trustworthy account. How are we supposed to trust sections where the author describes a person's motivations if we have no idea whether his descriptions are based off of what he was told or what he has made up?
He also reduces people with psychoanalysis in order to make their lives fit his narrative: someone suffering from PTSD and feeling intense guilt as a high ranking member of the crew to escape we are told was clearly a "secret masochist" who "wallowed" in his misery, "revelled in his new-found victimhood" and "did not want to recover". This as a description for a man who as far as we are aware never receives treatment for his PTSD or is otherwise given a *way* to recover, and yet the author feels it is appropriate to judge and dismiss his suffering as indulgent wish fulfilment. The author actually uses this idea that the survivor was a "secret masochist" to try and reduce the complexities of a person and what motivates them in individual decisions throughout their lives into a neat little character arc which feels distinctly fictional.
Another survivor is incorrectly diagnosed by the author by use of the phrase "Obsessive-Compulsive would be the more modern, medical description", for no other reason than that she feels a "deep psychological need to revisit a part of her life that many people would have gladly tried to put behind them" because she wants to help with a later film about the Titanic. This is frankly offensive both to the survivor and to sufferers of actual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, especially as this book was written in 2011 when the author can hardly claim ignorance of modern understanding of OCD.
Basically, this book was almost a DNF around 200 pages in, and I finished it with a lot of eye rolling and deep breathing to keep me going. It's a good summary of who survived the Titanic, but if you want a serious history book maybe look elsewhere.
May 24, 2023
This book looks not just at the Titanic, but picks out a few of the survivors to follow after the ship sank. Of course, it also backs up to include biographical information on these people from before the Titanic, as well as where they were and what happened with each of them the night the ship sank.
This was a bit of a different look at the story of the Titanic. I quite liked it! Some of the stories were of first class passengers I knew a bit about or at least remember hearing their names (Madeleine Astor, John Jacob Astor’s young, new, pregnant wife; Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and his wife, Lady Duff Gordon); also J. Bruce Ismay, a White Star official. Many of the stories were people I hadn’t heard about before. Probably the one I’ll remember best is Jack Thayer, 17 years old and was going down with the ship when he jumped, managed to clear the ship, and be rescued. Dorothy Gibson was a silent screen actress on the Titanic who made it out. There were two little boys who were on the ship with their father; he got them in a lifeboat and they never saw him again… turns out the father had kidnapped them from their mother in France!
Ismay, of course, was on trial after the Titanic sunk. The Duff Gordons were, as well, it being alleged that they bribed the rowers of their lifeboat to not go back to see if they could help anyone. Madeleine Astor married and divorced two more times (though remarrying caused her to lose all wealth left to her by John Jacob). A number of people committed suicide (not necessarily right away) and many just wouldn’t talk of the Titanic afterward.
This was a bit of a different look at the story of the Titanic. I quite liked it! Some of the stories were of first class passengers I knew a bit about or at least remember hearing their names (Madeleine Astor, John Jacob Astor’s young, new, pregnant wife; Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and his wife, Lady Duff Gordon); also J. Bruce Ismay, a White Star official. Many of the stories were people I hadn’t heard about before. Probably the one I’ll remember best is Jack Thayer, 17 years old and was going down with the ship when he jumped, managed to clear the ship, and be rescued. Dorothy Gibson was a silent screen actress on the Titanic who made it out. There were two little boys who were on the ship with their father; he got them in a lifeboat and they never saw him again… turns out the father had kidnapped them from their mother in France!
Ismay, of course, was on trial after the Titanic sunk. The Duff Gordons were, as well, it being alleged that they bribed the rowers of their lifeboat to not go back to see if they could help anyone. Madeleine Astor married and divorced two more times (though remarrying caused her to lose all wealth left to her by John Jacob). A number of people committed suicide (not necessarily right away) and many just wouldn’t talk of the Titanic afterward.
April 13, 2012
This is both a fascinating and emotional read.
Just the introduction alone had me crying I will confess.
The chapters after that follow the lives of several survivors, telling not only about the sinking and what came after, but also telling about the lives these people had before the Titanic.
It's amazing and sad to read about how the sinking of the Titanic changed the lives of these survivors (mostly for the worst although some found strength and even love) and how even years later they still can't shake lose from this one monumental moment.
What surprised me is how turbulent the lives of most of these survivors were. As if the sinking of the Titanic is some kind of catalyst that pushes the lives of these people from the mundane into tragedy. And then there are those who would have lived turbulent lives anyway, with or without the Titanic. It's clear with these people that their character and their view on life helped them to survive the sinking.
Although this is not a happy book, it's not all grim. I must say I even had to chuckle at times, especially when reading about the rivalry between the last couple of Titanic survivors.
I will confess I love this book. As emotional as it is, it is a fascinating and interesting read, an almost bizarre view into human behavior, and it will most certainly get a place on my reread shelves.
Just the introduction alone had me crying I will confess.
The chapters after that follow the lives of several survivors, telling not only about the sinking and what came after, but also telling about the lives these people had before the Titanic.
It's amazing and sad to read about how the sinking of the Titanic changed the lives of these survivors (mostly for the worst although some found strength and even love) and how even years later they still can't shake lose from this one monumental moment.
What surprised me is how turbulent the lives of most of these survivors were. As if the sinking of the Titanic is some kind of catalyst that pushes the lives of these people from the mundane into tragedy. And then there are those who would have lived turbulent lives anyway, with or without the Titanic. It's clear with these people that their character and their view on life helped them to survive the sinking.
Although this is not a happy book, it's not all grim. I must say I even had to chuckle at times, especially when reading about the rivalry between the last couple of Titanic survivors.
I will confess I love this book. As emotional as it is, it is a fascinating and interesting read, an almost bizarre view into human behavior, and it will most certainly get a place on my reread shelves.
July 21, 2012
I think this book suffers on two points. One, unfortunately, is the writing. It's soppy and overly romantic - at one point, Madeleine Astor's life is described as being "too far fetched for even fiction of the lowest kind." That sounded really dated to me - what exactly is "fiction of the lowest kind?" Quite frankly, this book could probably rightly be described as "nonfiction of the lowest kind." I understand the premise of the book - what happened after the Titanic sailed - but I think there in lies some of the problems with the writing - it has to be well written enough so that you cared about the "characters." That leads to the second point - that the point of reference for all of these people is their adventures on the Titanic, and the further you get away from that event, the more "normal" and less interesting their lives become - at least in this book. A better writer may have been able to weave a narrative that connects past present and future in a more interesting and profound way. But this seemed like the sea after the ship sank - a bunch of stuff all floating in the water. An opportunistic bunch of stuff as well, seeing that this is the 100th anniversary of the sinking. There is definitely some new stuff to learn here for Titanic buffs, but I'm not sure it's worth the trip.
November 29, 2011
I've said before that I read anyhting to do with the Titanic and this book was so good.
We all know that the Titanic sank on the 15th April 1912, we know that 1,500 men, women and children died that night, but what we don't really know is what happened to the survivors after the ship sank.
This is one thing I've always been interested in, peoples lives afterward and they're not really happy stories.
A tremendous amount of people refused to speak of the Titanic ever again, some people ended up killing themselves, others ended up in mental institutions and some who suffered mentally for the rest of their lives.
Some people lost all their possessions and were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, some wrote books about the sinking and some appeared in movies about the ship.
There were some people who used the tragedy as their turn to shine in the spotlight, but it wasn't all doom and gloom some people after losing their respective others found love with other survivors on the ship.
But it all comes down to this the Titanic was one of the biggest tragedies the world has ever seen, and a lot of survivors lives became tragedies as well after the sinking, but perhaps that's why the world is still so intrigued with the Titanic nearly one hundred years later.
We all know that the Titanic sank on the 15th April 1912, we know that 1,500 men, women and children died that night, but what we don't really know is what happened to the survivors after the ship sank.
This is one thing I've always been interested in, peoples lives afterward and they're not really happy stories.
A tremendous amount of people refused to speak of the Titanic ever again, some people ended up killing themselves, others ended up in mental institutions and some who suffered mentally for the rest of their lives.
Some people lost all their possessions and were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, some wrote books about the sinking and some appeared in movies about the ship.
There were some people who used the tragedy as their turn to shine in the spotlight, but it wasn't all doom and gloom some people after losing their respective others found love with other survivors on the ship.
But it all comes down to this the Titanic was one of the biggest tragedies the world has ever seen, and a lot of survivors lives became tragedies as well after the sinking, but perhaps that's why the world is still so intrigued with the Titanic nearly one hundred years later.
October 8, 2021
A well written book that puts the focus on the lives of the survivors of the Titanic. Some ended up ok, others had, what we call PTSD, today.
September 7, 2013
Oh, look, another Titanic book! But my attraction to this one was a little bit different than my usual fascination with the sinking of the Titanic - Shadows of the Titanic focuses far more on the aftermath of the sinking - what happened to the passengers, and how their experiences on the Titanic influenced the rest of their lives.
Each chapter focuses on one survivor - from the high profile Madeleine Astor and the controversial Duff-Gordon's through to lesser-known survivors - and examines their lives before and after the Titanic. There was a little touching base as to what happened during the sinking and in the immediate aftermath, but the majority of the focus was on their lives after the Titanic - whether happy, sad or even controversial.
Although there were several people that I didn't really feel much empathy with, there were other stories that I found incredibly heartbreaking, and Andrew Wilson brings their stories alive without resorting to a whole lot of dry facts which are the common danger in non-fiction.
Shadows of the Titanic also touches on the public reaction to the Titanic and the attention that the last survivors received in their public lives which really helped reiterate just how many people are fascinated by Titanic and the survivors themselves.
One thing that I found slightly lacking was the focus on the 'average' passengers, and that may be simply because their stories were either not as accessible, or not as glamorous, but I would have loved to know a little less about some of the more famous survivors, and more about the people that are rarely discussed - the people that lost everything and had to start again from scratch.
I'll probably never completely get over my fascination with Titanic, but Shadows of the Titanic left me feeling that I knew much more about the passengers and how the disaster changed their lives. If you have an interest in the passengers of the Titanic and how it affected them in the long term, Shadows of the Titanic is definitely a great choice.
Each chapter focuses on one survivor - from the high profile Madeleine Astor and the controversial Duff-Gordon's through to lesser-known survivors - and examines their lives before and after the Titanic. There was a little touching base as to what happened during the sinking and in the immediate aftermath, but the majority of the focus was on their lives after the Titanic - whether happy, sad or even controversial.
Although there were several people that I didn't really feel much empathy with, there were other stories that I found incredibly heartbreaking, and Andrew Wilson brings their stories alive without resorting to a whole lot of dry facts which are the common danger in non-fiction.
Shadows of the Titanic also touches on the public reaction to the Titanic and the attention that the last survivors received in their public lives which really helped reiterate just how many people are fascinated by Titanic and the survivors themselves.
One thing that I found slightly lacking was the focus on the 'average' passengers, and that may be simply because their stories were either not as accessible, or not as glamorous, but I would have loved to know a little less about some of the more famous survivors, and more about the people that are rarely discussed - the people that lost everything and had to start again from scratch.
I'll probably never completely get over my fascination with Titanic, but Shadows of the Titanic left me feeling that I knew much more about the passengers and how the disaster changed their lives. If you have an interest in the passengers of the Titanic and how it affected them in the long term, Shadows of the Titanic is definitely a great choice.
April 12, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
In memory of the 108th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and of those who perished and also survived, I decided to read Shadow of the Titanic in order to have some knowledge about those who survived the catastrophe and how the Titanic sinking changed their life forever and impacted the world for the years to come.
The first 50 pages told the story of the sinking, and I wouldn't be exaggerating when I tell you that my heart was beating very fast in my chest with anxiety and horror. The author's writing was astonishing, evocative, and atmospheric, as he gripped me with every chapter, page, and sentence by placing me there among the survivors on that fateful Sunday night, April 14 1912.
As for the later parts of the book, I found myself completely invested in the stories of each and every one of the survivors. The details and the insights that Andrew Wilson provided in his book gave me a growing understanding of how the same tragedy had a way of affecting each person differently, as we found out about the life that each had led after the sinking.
One thing was definite, the Titanic tragedy had left a constant impact for the rest of their lives; the Titanic defined their present and future and trembled their lives and had left nothing to be same.
In memory of the 108th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and of those who perished and also survived, I decided to read Shadow of the Titanic in order to have some knowledge about those who survived the catastrophe and how the Titanic sinking changed their life forever and impacted the world for the years to come.
The first 50 pages told the story of the sinking, and I wouldn't be exaggerating when I tell you that my heart was beating very fast in my chest with anxiety and horror. The author's writing was astonishing, evocative, and atmospheric, as he gripped me with every chapter, page, and sentence by placing me there among the survivors on that fateful Sunday night, April 14 1912.
As for the later parts of the book, I found myself completely invested in the stories of each and every one of the survivors. The details and the insights that Andrew Wilson provided in his book gave me a growing understanding of how the same tragedy had a way of affecting each person differently, as we found out about the life that each had led after the sinking.
One thing was definite, the Titanic tragedy had left a constant impact for the rest of their lives; the Titanic defined their present and future and trembled their lives and had left nothing to be same.
April 9, 2019
"Shadow of the Titanic" - written by Andrew Wilson and published in 2011 by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Wilson writes, "It's been said that the name Titanic is the third most widely recognized word in the world, after "God" and "Coca-Cola." I know I've always been fascinated with the sinking of the great ship and I was impressed with the details Wilson was able to assemble in this book. He briefly summarizes the tragedy which occurred 15 April 1912, but the main focus is stories of the survivors. "In the days following the arrival of the Carpathia in New York, it became obvious that one's chance of surviving the Titanic had depended largely on which class one came from." Women and children predominated among the survivors, and quite often men who lived were subject to much castigation. "His survival meant that he had most certainly sinned against the "natural" order of the Edwardian age." The stories vary, but all the survivors were greatly affected, many "were plagued by mental illness for the rest of their lives." Today they all would have been put into therapy sessions right away! Although the last survivor died in 2009, this horrible event has an essential place in history, and I appreciated Wilson's tales of those who lived to tell them.
January 12, 2023
3.5 This is a well-researched book, and the author has done an exceptional job knitting together various snippets of information to form a cohesive whole. The narratives of survivors’ lives before, during, and after the sinking are often very engaging. There are a couple of issues that didn’t always detract from the overall strength of the effort, but were nevertheless a bit irritating. Wilson has a tendency to lean into supposition at times when he’s trying to guess what people’s thoughts might have been. This is particularly noticeable when he states how one survivor felt while they were committing suicide years after the disaster. The whole chapter on Ismay is replete with this kind of speculative guesswork. Wilson also occasionally employs rhetorical questions, which always seem like a bit of a lazy way of exploring different explanations or possibilities. Finally, while I realise it’s much easier to track the lives of the rich and famous, it would have been nice to see a bit more recognition and exploration of peoples’ lives who were not first class passengers. Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating read and a worthy addition to the Titanic literature.
January 9, 2015
As a huge fan of the Titanic movie (James Cameron's), I snapped this book up when I found it in a University bookstore. Even knowing what was going to happen, knowing the fate of so many people and the aftermath, I was still caught up in the first part of this book as the 'unsinkable' ship hit that iceberg.
But what I didn't know were the things that happened that could have prevented this terrible tragedy (you'll have to read it to find out more) and the stories behind J Bruce Ismay, Renee Harris, Madeleine Force Astor and more survivors.
Shadow of the Titanic was very well written, and the research behind it-extraordinary. Well worth a read, if only to find some truths about the survivors. It left me with the question so many pondered after the sinking. Should J Bruce Ismay have stayed on the sinking ship or was he right to have taken an empty spot in a lifeboat after helping so many off the ship first. I think he tortured himself enough without anyone else's opinions.
But what I didn't know were the things that happened that could have prevented this terrible tragedy (you'll have to read it to find out more) and the stories behind J Bruce Ismay, Renee Harris, Madeleine Force Astor and more survivors.
Shadow of the Titanic was very well written, and the research behind it-extraordinary. Well worth a read, if only to find some truths about the survivors. It left me with the question so many pondered after the sinking. Should J Bruce Ismay have stayed on the sinking ship or was he right to have taken an empty spot in a lifeboat after helping so many off the ship first. I think he tortured himself enough without anyone else's opinions.
October 24, 2013
Although this book has been described as "riveting" its almost a little too much so. The author gets very excited at times and its not even over the history of the story. It's more in a tabloid trash sort of way. Its a brilliant piece of work on the information and factual side , lots of detail and stories of the survivors. It seems though its largely based on some (judgemental) opinions of his own. Some survivors he clearly admired some mere footnotes , some were "promiscuous" or "cowardly". Easy enough to judge when youre sat on dry land and not constricted by Edwardian society or facing certain death ! Great book for insights into what the survivors did next but I've taken it with a pinch of salt.
July 13, 2024
3.5. Appreciated this perspective on the Titanic survivors, and picked up details about a specific few that I had not known previously. Was saddened by Jack Thayer's death, as he was one of the survivors that greatly impressed me, from his actions as a 17 year old man during the sinking, then when aboard the RMS Carpathia, and establishing his life post-Titanic; I never knew of his tragic ending.
I would have given this a higher rating but for the liberties the author took in describing some of the survivors or their situations without footnoting why he believed those characteristics or thoughts to be so. A few examples:
At one point he even describes how one of the survivors would have enjoyed his cigar, inhaling deeply, enjoying the smell and taste of the smoke (p. 244). Ok. A bit too narrative for what is a nonfiction presentation of Titanic survivors.
While I read those sections with skepticism, I did derive much from Wilson's Shadow of the Titanic and will probably purchase a copy for my personal library.
I would have given this a higher rating but for the liberties the author took in describing some of the survivors or their situations without footnoting why he believed those characteristics or thoughts to be so. A few examples:
Bruce Ismay "As it was, it seems he made an unconscious decision to cast himself as an eager participant in the drama in which he played the role of the victim. In fact, the Titanic disaster and its brutal aftermath tapped into a deep-seated desire to be punished. Bruce Ismay was a masochist at heart and his thoroughly unpleasant treatment after the Titanic sank gave him the perfect opportunity to satisfy a clutch of previously unacknowledged impulses." p. 198
Dorothy Gibson "Although the couple married in February 1910, by the summer of the same year the union had disintegrated. Perhaps Battier had become confused by the mixed messages portrayed in Fisher's images of his sweetheart. Had he based his desire for Dorothy on her innocence or her sexuality? What did he want her to be - girl or woman? Was he shocked by her lack of experience in the bedroom or her rather too abundant knowledge?" p. 253
At one point he even describes how one of the survivors would have enjoyed his cigar, inhaling deeply, enjoying the smell and taste of the smoke (p. 244). Ok. A bit too narrative for what is a nonfiction presentation of Titanic survivors.
While I read those sections with skepticism, I did derive much from Wilson's Shadow of the Titanic and will probably purchase a copy for my personal library.
April 15, 2024
“Shadow of the Titanic” by Andrew Wilson, published by Atria Books.
Category – History/Maritime
The three most recognized words in the world at supposedly, God, Coca-Cola, and Titanic.
“Shadow of the Titanic” is not a story about the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship, but rather a study of those who survived. April 14, 2012 will be the 100th anniversary of the sinking and on May 31st, 2009 the last remaining survivor, Millvina Dean died. She was only 3 months old when she and her mother were rescued by the “Carpathia”.
There are many diverse and interesting stories in this book about the survivors. There is the story of Margaret “Molly” Brown, who became the subject of a Broadway musical, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”. There is the tragic story of J. Bruce Ismay who was haunted for the rest of his life for his actions on the night of the sinking.
The most interesting story was that of Madeleine Astor who at eighteen was married to millionaire John Jacob Astor. Madeleine, who in one year, was a bride, a widow, an heiress, and a mother. As if being on the Titanic was not enough, Madeleine found herself in a torrid romance with Italian boxer Enzo Fiermonte. The marriage became one of off and on affairs and abuse. She died a broken woman who was suspected of taking an overdose of sleeping pills.
This book will not only interest those who are students of the “Titanic” but those who would like to know how this tragedy affected the survivors. The stories are well told and are backed up by substantial notes and interviews by the author.
Category – History/Maritime
The three most recognized words in the world at supposedly, God, Coca-Cola, and Titanic.
“Shadow of the Titanic” is not a story about the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship, but rather a study of those who survived. April 14, 2012 will be the 100th anniversary of the sinking and on May 31st, 2009 the last remaining survivor, Millvina Dean died. She was only 3 months old when she and her mother were rescued by the “Carpathia”.
There are many diverse and interesting stories in this book about the survivors. There is the story of Margaret “Molly” Brown, who became the subject of a Broadway musical, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”. There is the tragic story of J. Bruce Ismay who was haunted for the rest of his life for his actions on the night of the sinking.
The most interesting story was that of Madeleine Astor who at eighteen was married to millionaire John Jacob Astor. Madeleine, who in one year, was a bride, a widow, an heiress, and a mother. As if being on the Titanic was not enough, Madeleine found herself in a torrid romance with Italian boxer Enzo Fiermonte. The marriage became one of off and on affairs and abuse. She died a broken woman who was suspected of taking an overdose of sleeping pills.
This book will not only interest those who are students of the “Titanic” but those who would like to know how this tragedy affected the survivors. The stories are well told and are backed up by substantial notes and interviews by the author.
Read
March 21, 2012Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived, by Andrew Wilson, Narrated by Bill Wallis, Produced by Audiogo ltd. Downloaded from audible.com.
This book takes us beyond the sinking of the Titanic itself. Here we see that night from the standpoint of the passengers who survived, and then we witness the aftermath for some of these passengers whose lives were changed. None of them ever forgot that night, the horrible yelling of 1,500 people drowning as the ship went down, the survivor guilt of those who lived or got into life boats while others could not do so and died. Also, there were people who benefited, who were able to be consultants on a film and indicate just what it was like the night they escaped. There were people too young to remember much about the night in question but who had unexplained psychological problems later. There was an incredible estate fight over whether the nightgown of a famous person who survived could be sold to a museum, and whether it really was the nightgown she wore into the sea and vomited on with sea sickness. The author interviewed anyone he could find who was still alive, but mostly he read interviews and journals and even books written by passengers who survived long enough to write their memories down. No oneis alive anymore who survived the Titanic, but we are still obsessed by that ship and by the tragedy.
This book takes us beyond the sinking of the Titanic itself. Here we see that night from the standpoint of the passengers who survived, and then we witness the aftermath for some of these passengers whose lives were changed. None of them ever forgot that night, the horrible yelling of 1,500 people drowning as the ship went down, the survivor guilt of those who lived or got into life boats while others could not do so and died. Also, there were people who benefited, who were able to be consultants on a film and indicate just what it was like the night they escaped. There were people too young to remember much about the night in question but who had unexplained psychological problems later. There was an incredible estate fight over whether the nightgown of a famous person who survived could be sold to a museum, and whether it really was the nightgown she wore into the sea and vomited on with sea sickness. The author interviewed anyone he could find who was still alive, but mostly he read interviews and journals and even books written by passengers who survived long enough to write their memories down. No oneis alive anymore who survived the Titanic, but we are still obsessed by that ship and by the tragedy.
June 4, 2021
From a very young age, I've been fascinated with the Titanic. I was 16 in 1997 when the James Cameron movie 'Titanic' was released, and I think I saw it around 12 times at the theater. I know so much about what happened on the night of the sinking and in the days leading up to it, but I realized when I saw this book pop up in my recommendations that I knew almost nothing about what happened to the survivors AFTER the sinking.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the author did a wonderful job of bringing some of these forgotten people and their stories to life. It was both fascinating and heartbreaking to read about how the sinking affected people differently, and how it managed to reshape the rest of their lives.
It was difficult to follow at times as there are SO many people mentioned, and sometimes I feel like the author would be talking about a person and an experience, then suddenly drift off onto another topic/story before circling back around, but aside from that, I thought this was really well done and organized.
This book was published in 2011, so I'm not sure how it managed to escape my notice for the past 10 years, but I'm glad I finally got around to it, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who has more than a passing interest in the sinking of the mighty ship Titanic.
I really enjoyed this book. I think the author did a wonderful job of bringing some of these forgotten people and their stories to life. It was both fascinating and heartbreaking to read about how the sinking affected people differently, and how it managed to reshape the rest of their lives.
It was difficult to follow at times as there are SO many people mentioned, and sometimes I feel like the author would be talking about a person and an experience, then suddenly drift off onto another topic/story before circling back around, but aside from that, I thought this was really well done and organized.
This book was published in 2011, so I'm not sure how it managed to escape my notice for the past 10 years, but I'm glad I finally got around to it, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who has more than a passing interest in the sinking of the mighty ship Titanic.
March 25, 2013
Excellent, moving and much needed account of those who survived and highlighting that for some their lives too ended when the boat went down, never understanably being able to shrug it off. The eternal mystery of the first class male passenger who entered the lifeboat dressed as a woman is tantalisingly touched upon but never resolved though it wrecked the lives of several men who were probably wrongly pin pointed as being the man....if he ever really existed ior was it one of the many myths to spring from there. Ismay casts a tragic figure, indeed he gets a balanced appraisal for once while the Duff Gordons justifiably merge sullied as ever over bribing the seven crewmen in a boat only carrying 12 not to return to pick up survivors One has to ask why were there seven crew members in one of the first boats to be cast off. Some shamelessly tried to turn loss into profit but there are many moving tales and perhaps for me the most moving of many quotes from the survivors comes from one of two French boys placed in the lifeboat by their ftaher who had taken them away from their mother effectively kidnapped them. The boy who became a professor of philosophy was moved to write later in his life: "I died at four. Since then I have been a fare-dodger of life. A gleaner of time."
June 7, 2012
Good overall. There's no "Unsinkable" Molly Brown here, but there's plenty of stories about other Titanic survivors.
And, not all of them "survived" as well as Molly Brown. Many widows went through multiple post-Titanic marriages. Some survivors went heavily into debt, perhaps as a coping mechanism. And, several survivors committed suicide. Indeed, one survivor who did not commit suicide nonetheless said she had "died" on April 14, 1912.
There's a bit of a depressing angle to this at times, to be honest.
At the same time, there's several other good takeaways from the book.
One, of course, is the hubris. If we want to start the "Edwardian Age" (from Britain's perspective) late in Victoria's reign, and run it past his 1910 death, the Titanic should be coupled with Aug. 4, 1914 and WWI as twin death knells for it.
Another is the class divisions, reflected among other things in the price divisions between first, second and third class seats, and also in the difference between female deaths in first and in third class. (It's worth noting today that income stratification is just about as bad again.)
And, not all of them "survived" as well as Molly Brown. Many widows went through multiple post-Titanic marriages. Some survivors went heavily into debt, perhaps as a coping mechanism. And, several survivors committed suicide. Indeed, one survivor who did not commit suicide nonetheless said she had "died" on April 14, 1912.
There's a bit of a depressing angle to this at times, to be honest.
At the same time, there's several other good takeaways from the book.
One, of course, is the hubris. If we want to start the "Edwardian Age" (from Britain's perspective) late in Victoria's reign, and run it past his 1910 death, the Titanic should be coupled with Aug. 4, 1914 and WWI as twin death knells for it.
Another is the class divisions, reflected among other things in the price divisions between first, second and third class seats, and also in the difference between female deaths in first and in third class. (It's worth noting today that income stratification is just about as bad again.)
February 23, 2015
Wow! What an engaging and fresh view of the Titanic! Many of the books I've read in the past focused on those who died, and if they mentioned the survivors, it was never beyond their voyage aboard the Carpathia. This was a fascinating look into their lives after the disaster, and how sad some of them were. So many people died on the Titanic, but the loss of life continued on long afterwards, with suicide and depression, as well as other mental illnesses, taking the survivors years later.
I think for me the saddest was reading of Jack Thayer, because I knew a little of his survival story beforehand. Also sad was J Bruce Ismay- so often depicted the villain, but shown in a non bias manner for the first time I've seen. His life after the sinking must have been terrible, if you could call it a life at all.
All in all, this was a sad, but enjoyable book. enjoyable in discovering new facts, and getting to know the Titanic survivors as people instead of statistics. A must for anyone interested in the Titanic, and in history. A great book for newcomers to the topic as well.
I think for me the saddest was reading of Jack Thayer, because I knew a little of his survival story beforehand. Also sad was J Bruce Ismay- so often depicted the villain, but shown in a non bias manner for the first time I've seen. His life after the sinking must have been terrible, if you could call it a life at all.
All in all, this was a sad, but enjoyable book. enjoyable in discovering new facts, and getting to know the Titanic survivors as people instead of statistics. A must for anyone interested in the Titanic, and in history. A great book for newcomers to the topic as well.
March 12, 2013
From chapter six, page 209-210:
Excerpts from a letter from a young girl named Elsie Stormont to Bruce Ismay.
It hurt me when I read you wished you had perished. God would never have let your life be spared had he not work for you to do. I have thought sometimes it would be easier to die & be with mother & daddy than live without their love but we haven't to wish for the easiest have we & your life is a useful one, not like mine where I am of no real use to anyone.
I often wonder at God's plan but he plans all that is the best comfort. I know that is better comfort than all the sympathy in the world.
Will you please take care of yourself & not tho' it may be harder at present to live than to have died God understands. There will be beautiful sunshine ahead for you.
Forgive my intruding but if I could lessen your pains I would. Tho' I have never seen or heard you I am grateful God spared you & if my love can comfort you I ask God to let it.
Your little friend,
Elsie Stormont
Excerpts from a letter from a young girl named Elsie Stormont to Bruce Ismay.
It hurt me when I read you wished you had perished. God would never have let your life be spared had he not work for you to do. I have thought sometimes it would be easier to die & be with mother & daddy than live without their love but we haven't to wish for the easiest have we & your life is a useful one, not like mine where I am of no real use to anyone.
I often wonder at God's plan but he plans all that is the best comfort. I know that is better comfort than all the sympathy in the world.
Will you please take care of yourself & not tho' it may be harder at present to live than to have died God understands. There will be beautiful sunshine ahead for you.
Forgive my intruding but if I could lessen your pains I would. Tho' I have never seen or heard you I am grateful God spared you & if my love can comfort you I ask God to let it.
Your little friend,
Elsie Stormont
January 12, 2013
Outstanding writing. Fascinating topic.
This book covers in detail what happened on that fateful night, as experienced by the survivors. The temperature in the air, the music, the attire, the events, the attitudes... this book makes you feel like you are on the ship amongst the passengers. That alone is a story, as we all know. What we don't know is what happened to those survivors. How did the sinking of the titanic affect them? What happened to them in the years afterwards? What lives did they lead before the sinking, and were they changed afterwards? How did many men survive the sinking when it was 'women and children first'?
This book also illustrates the different socio-economic classes of the day, and describes how, even after such a terrible tragedy, there was still a segregation of classes.
A unique and interesting book.
This book covers in detail what happened on that fateful night, as experienced by the survivors. The temperature in the air, the music, the attire, the events, the attitudes... this book makes you feel like you are on the ship amongst the passengers. That alone is a story, as we all know. What we don't know is what happened to those survivors. How did the sinking of the titanic affect them? What happened to them in the years afterwards? What lives did they lead before the sinking, and were they changed afterwards? How did many men survive the sinking when it was 'women and children first'?
This book also illustrates the different socio-economic classes of the day, and describes how, even after such a terrible tragedy, there was still a segregation of classes.
A unique and interesting book.
March 21, 2012
Andrew Wilson tracked some of the survivors of the Titanic and tells their story in this book.
As in any tragedy, there is a certain amount of survivor guilt. There are those who cannot stop talking about the wreck, others who cannot talk about it at all and others who find the trauma too much and take their own lives.
The story starts with the sinking and the experiences of some of the passengers in the lifeboats and continues to what happens on board the Carpathia rescue ship. After that, documents and interviews are used as survivors live out the rest of their lives. There is an uncanny story about one woman whose fate was predicted by a fortune teller she consulted in the middle east.
As in any tragedy, there is a certain amount of survivor guilt. There are those who cannot stop talking about the wreck, others who cannot talk about it at all and others who find the trauma too much and take their own lives.
The story starts with the sinking and the experiences of some of the passengers in the lifeboats and continues to what happens on board the Carpathia rescue ship. After that, documents and interviews are used as survivors live out the rest of their lives. There is an uncanny story about one woman whose fate was predicted by a fortune teller she consulted in the middle east.
April 6, 2013
Not all of the Titanic survivor stories in this book are what I would call extraordinary, but many of them are. Most of the survivors suffered great emotional pain and guilt all their lives just because they survived. Ten Titanic survivors ended up committing suicide. Many more struggled with everyday life and endless nightmares of that fateful night, but some also took advantage of their Titanic survivor status. Bruce Ismay, the much maligned director of the White Star Line, the owners of the Titanic, gets fair and balanced treatment here. He is such a tragic figure in his life after surviving the sinking of the ship that many people thought he should not have survived. If you have an interest in all things Titanic, you will enjoy this book.
July 23, 2014
This book was basically interesting, but the writer kept psychoanalyzing the survivors when his credits don't include a psychology degree. The book gives details the post-Titanic life of some survivors. Overall, the book has a negative tone. There is little mention of Margaret "Molly" Brown. One would expect anyone who survived such a traumatic event as the sinking of the Titanic to have psychological scars. In 1912, psychology and behavioral sciences weren't as progressive as they are now. Since the survivors weren't treated by mental health professionals, I don't see how we can accurately evaluate the effect of this tragedy on the survivors. Thankfully, there were survivors. These people provided us with information that helped prevent other such disasters.
May 21, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book -- there wasn't a bad or boring spot in the whole book!
It literally is the stories of those who survived this terrible ordeal. Also, there is a chapter about those who survived the initial disaster, only to die by suicide or other circumstances before their time.
It is amazing the number of people who survived the Titanic disaster who passed away in later years on the date that the ship hit the iceberg (April 14th) or actually sunk (April 15th).
I highly recommend this book to anyone to holds even a remote interest in stories and history surrounding the Titanic!
It literally is the stories of those who survived this terrible ordeal. Also, there is a chapter about those who survived the initial disaster, only to die by suicide or other circumstances before their time.
It is amazing the number of people who survived the Titanic disaster who passed away in later years on the date that the ship hit the iceberg (April 14th) or actually sunk (April 15th).
I highly recommend this book to anyone to holds even a remote interest in stories and history surrounding the Titanic!
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