Into the Darkness: The Harrowing True Story of the Titanic Disaster: Riveting First-Hand Accounts of Agony, Sacrifice and Survival

by Alan J. Rockwell

They are all gone now―the Titanic survivors. No human being who stood on her decks that fateful night was alive to commemorate the event on its 100th anniversary. Their stories are with us, however, and the lessons remain. From the moment the world learned the Titanic had sunk, we wanted to know, who had survived? Those answers didn’t come until the evening of Thursday, April 18, 1912―when the Cunard liner Carpathia finally reached New York with the 706 survivors who had been recovered from Titanic’s lifeboats. Harold Bride, “Titanic’s surviving wireless operator,” relayed the story of the ship’s band. “The way the band kept playing was a noble thing. I heard it first while still we were working wireless when there was a ragtime tune for us. The last I saw of the band, when I was floating out in the sea with my lifebelt on, it was still on deck playing ‘Autumn.’ How they ever did it I cannot imagine.” There were stories of heroism―such as that of Edith Evans, who was waiting to board collapsible Lifeboat D, the last boat to leave Titanic, when she turned to Caroline Brown and said, “You go first. You have children waiting at home.” The sacrifice cost Evans her life, but as Mrs. Brown said later, “It was a heroic sacrifice, and as long as I live I shall hold her memory dear as my preserver, who preferred to die so that I might live.” There was mystery. There was bravery. There was suspense. There was cowardice. Most men who survived found themselves trying to explain how they survived when women and children had died. But mostly, there was loss. On her return to New York after picking up Titanic’s survivors, Carpathia had become known as a ship of widows. Rene Harris, who lost her husband, Broadway producer Henry Harris, in the disaster, later spoke of her loss when she said, “It was not a night to remember. It was a night to forget.” Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished letters, memoirs, and diaries as well as interviews with survivors and family members, veteran author and writer Alan Rockwell brings to life the colorful voices and the harrowing experiences of many of those who lived to tell their story. More than 100 years after the RMS Titanic met its fatal end, the story of the tragic wreck continues to fascinate people worldwide. Though many survivors and their family members disappeared into obscurity or were hesitant to talk about what they went through, others were willing to share their experiences during the wreck and in its aftermath. This book recounts many of these first-hand accounts in graphic, compelling detail.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2017

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The accounts were interesting, but presented in a rather haphazard order. I found the direct quotes from the end to be the most engaging part.

The events of the Titanic fascinate me, but all I learned from this book is just how unreliable and contradictory eye-witness testimony can be.

The book does not attempt to investigate these discrepancies and simply has them co-existing without any further analysis. Overall, I think I would enjoy this book more if it was more in depth, rather than a collection of snippets stitched together.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unimaginable Horror

I have read many books about the Titanic,some fiction,but mostly non.
This is a book with actual accounts of folks who were there.
Although this happened over 100 yrs.ago and everyone that was on the ship has passed.
This is a tragedy that will never be forgotten and will be talked about long into the future.
A very well detailed book with many of the survivors remembering the way things occurred a little differently.
All in all a very enjoyable read.

[Patrick MacGuire · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very poor book on the Titanic

Though written recently this book is filled with facts and anecdotes which have been completely debunked in the decades following the discovery of the wreck. It dwells on exploding boilers and rampaging, cowardly mobs being shot down and dragged from lifeboats, whilst glossing over the cowardice of wealthy survivors. Rather than discussing the tragedy in any useful or logical way its more of a fond hagiography of a few wealthy families involved, whilst completely dismissing the importance or pain of any of the " poor" families involved.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what this book is, it’s a good read.
It gives you the basic but also lesser known semi-expanded bullet points, the unedited and un-commented survivor accounts, the thoughts and reactions from beyond the Titanic passengers and crew.

Jack Thayer swims to two lifeboats and is pushed away by both.
In the morning the area of the sinking can now be clearly seen, it is an ice field. A number of large icebergs are around.
The Capathia and crew implement a media communications blackout. News to the mainland is patchy at best.
Was there or was there not men shot to keep them out of the lifeboats?
Unless deciding to stay (such as Isadora Strauss), first and second class females were virtually guaranteed to survive. Third class females much much less so.

These are just some of the interesting things you’ll learn reading this book. Good read...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of survivor stories and accounts of the sinking of the Titanic. It is emotional and tragic, but hearing the voices of survivors is important to balance out the drama that pp culture has made of the Titanic. I would recommend this as a way of respecting the loss of life and the trauma the survivors faced.

[Priscilla Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad story

I have read and watched so much about the Titanic disaster. This book gave information from survivors I don't understand why the ship California didn't come to help since according to information they were pretty close. I recommend this book.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a read

I have read many books on the Titanic. This one does not hold anything new.
All of the eyewitness accounts are contradictory due to the horrors of the situation.
This is a short book that is worth a read.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book- worth reading. You can't get any closer to what happened than to hear it from the survivors! It does go to show though, how fickle human memory is when it comes to (especially) catastrophic events.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast Read

Interesting to hear survivors accounts of th e Titanic tragedy. Quick reading but we'll never know what truly happened that night. Sad!

[Teresa Guzzo moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survivors

Beautiful accounts of Survivors and the ones who were lost.pi have read plenty on Titanic and this taught me alot.

[janet a. perryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sad Tale!!

This book is very well written and better than other books on this subject that I have read!! It is totally engrossing!!

[Babs Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting, but I also found it rather boring. I suggest you read it if you need a book after a super intense read. Otherwise, skip it.

[Erin Keyser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of quotes

[Katrina Seldenright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book was AI narrated it was a great book about such a tragic day in history. Many different accounts of the survivors of the Titanic was very heartfelt.

[Paul Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book,

If you are a Titanic historian this is a very good book. It lacks engineering credibility as it shares first hand subjective accounts and many of the details have been clarified in the 100+ years of research into the wreck. That being said, it is that authenticity that gives this book its value. From numerous vantage points we see the tragedy and understand the experiences of that lonely frightening event where 1500 souls took flight and 800 (approx) found safety and carried on. A unique and significant fraternity in this great tragedy.

[coli james campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

a1 great book

Very good history lesson I learnt a lot I did not know very good read the information he has provided you think you was on the ship so sad thank you