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The Night Lives On: The Untold Stories and Secrets Behind the Sinking of the "Unsinkable" Ship—Titanic
In this New York Times bestseller, the author of A Night to Remember and The Miracle of Dunkirk revisits the Titanic disaster.
Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember was a landmark work that recounted the harrowing events of April 14, 1912, when the British ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in the North Atlantic Ocean, a book that inspired a classic movie of the same name. In The Night Lives On, Lord takes the exploration further, revealing information about the ship’s last hours that emerged in the decades that followed, and separating myths from facts.
Was the ship really christened before setting sail on its maiden voyage? What song did the band play as water spilled over the bow? How did the ship’s wireless operators fail so badly, and why did the nearby Californian, just ten miles away when the Titanic struck the iceberg, not come to the rescue? Lord answers these questions and more, in a gripping investigation of the night when approximately 1,500 victims were lost to the sea.
Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember was a landmark work that recounted the harrowing events of April 14, 1912, when the British ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in the North Atlantic Ocean, a book that inspired a classic movie of the same name. In The Night Lives On, Lord takes the exploration further, revealing information about the ship’s last hours that emerged in the decades that followed, and separating myths from facts.
Was the ship really christened before setting sail on its maiden voyage? What song did the band play as water spilled over the bow? How did the ship’s wireless operators fail so badly, and why did the nearby Californian, just ten miles away when the Titanic struck the iceberg, not come to the rescue? Lord answers these questions and more, in a gripping investigation of the night when approximately 1,500 victims were lost to the sea.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1986
457 people are currently reading
2851 people want to read
About the author
Walter Lord
65 books208 followersWalter Lord was an American author, best known for his documentary-style non-fiction account, A Night to Remember, about the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
In 2009, Jenny Lawrence edited and published The Way It Was: Walter Lord on His Life and Books.
In 2009, Jenny Lawrence edited and published The Way It Was: Walter Lord on His Life and Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
October 23, 2021
Having finally got around to reading, and loving, "A Night to Remember," I was keen to read the author's second book on Titanic. This was published after the discovery of Titanic in 1985 revived press excitement - although, as Lord states in the book, public interest had never diminished.
"A Night to Remember," set out to tell the story of the disaster and, as such, was a much more gripping read. This looks at various myths and stories around the ship and the aftermath of the sinking. Why was Titanic described as unsinkable and how far was that true? Safety features were sacrificed for competitive reasons. However, even though there were not enough lifeboats, why were the ones launched often not even half full? Why did so many people in third class die and why were ice warnings not heeded, are some of the questions asked.
What was most fascinating to me was the way that decisions had life long effects on those involved. Ismay's stepping into a lifeboat saw him retreat into becoming virtually a recluse. The Captain of the Carpathia, who immediately steamed to the aid of the stricken Titanic, was seen as a hero and his career was aided by the tragic events of that night. The Captain of the Californian, who neglected to investigate the rockets clearly visible to the much nearer ship, 'crept without heroic fanfare into Boston Harbour,' and were later investigated for their failure to respond. So, although this book could not have the drama of the previous volume, it was still a very good read indeed.
"A Night to Remember," set out to tell the story of the disaster and, as such, was a much more gripping read. This looks at various myths and stories around the ship and the aftermath of the sinking. Why was Titanic described as unsinkable and how far was that true? Safety features were sacrificed for competitive reasons. However, even though there were not enough lifeboats, why were the ones launched often not even half full? Why did so many people in third class die and why were ice warnings not heeded, are some of the questions asked.
What was most fascinating to me was the way that decisions had life long effects on those involved. Ismay's stepping into a lifeboat saw him retreat into becoming virtually a recluse. The Captain of the Carpathia, who immediately steamed to the aid of the stricken Titanic, was seen as a hero and his career was aided by the tragic events of that night. The Captain of the Californian, who neglected to investigate the rockets clearly visible to the much nearer ship, 'crept without heroic fanfare into Boston Harbour,' and were later investigated for their failure to respond. So, although this book could not have the drama of the previous volume, it was still a very good read indeed.
June 20, 2013
When James Cameron's Titanic was released in 1997 I was 15 years old, and after seeing the movie I became completely obsessed with reading every single book about Titanic that I could get my hands on. Yes, it was probably helped by the fact that I loved Leonardo di Caprio, but more than that I was infinitely fascinated by the glamour of the ship and the way that so many people died on that dark, freezing night.
Although I read a lot of books about it at that time, it was only last year that I read A Night to Remember, probably one of the most famous books ever written about the Titanic. Walter Lord won me over with A Night to Remember - it felt like sitting down with someone to talk about it over tea and biscuits rather than being lectured at with cold, hard facts, so when I came across The Night Lives On a few months ago I grabbed a copy.
In The Night Lives On, Lord focuses more on the causes and aftermath of the disaster. The information gathering was obviously painstaking and thorough, and he works hard to ensure that all potential sides of a story are told without bias - from the explanation on why ship safety was so lax (a lot of ship owners had their fingers in that pie), the actual damage caused by the iceberg, the actions and reactions of the Carpathia and the Californian, through to the salvage attempts from right after the sinking up until the first sightings of the ship in the 1980's.
Although it was published more than 30 years after A Night to Remember, Walter Lord's writing style is still the same - it's not stuffy or dry and in fact it's almost conversational, like someone telling you a story rather than reciting a whole bunch of old facts and figures.
If you have (or had!) an interest in the Titanic, The Night Lives On certainly covers a whole bunch of subjects that aren't often touched on in other Titanic books, and does so in an interesting, readable way.
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
Although I read a lot of books about it at that time, it was only last year that I read A Night to Remember, probably one of the most famous books ever written about the Titanic. Walter Lord won me over with A Night to Remember - it felt like sitting down with someone to talk about it over tea and biscuits rather than being lectured at with cold, hard facts, so when I came across The Night Lives On a few months ago I grabbed a copy.
In The Night Lives On, Lord focuses more on the causes and aftermath of the disaster. The information gathering was obviously painstaking and thorough, and he works hard to ensure that all potential sides of a story are told without bias - from the explanation on why ship safety was so lax (a lot of ship owners had their fingers in that pie), the actual damage caused by the iceberg, the actions and reactions of the Carpathia and the Californian, through to the salvage attempts from right after the sinking up until the first sightings of the ship in the 1980's.
Although it was published more than 30 years after A Night to Remember, Walter Lord's writing style is still the same - it's not stuffy or dry and in fact it's almost conversational, like someone telling you a story rather than reciting a whole bunch of old facts and figures.
If you have (or had!) an interest in the Titanic, The Night Lives On certainly covers a whole bunch of subjects that aren't often touched on in other Titanic books, and does so in an interesting, readable way.
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
April 17, 2024
5+ stars (9/10 hearts). This is a great companion book to
A Night to Remember
and I highly recommend reading them back to back. This book focusses on the myths or questions about the Titanic—was she really unsinkable? What did the band play? What about the Californian , or the ice messages? It was a phenomenal book, very well written and absolutely fascinating.
I’ve been a Titanic nerd ever since I first heard of the Titanic as a child, and I’ve read every bit of information I could get my hands on about her. This book taught me SO much. Aside from the practical side, it taught me a lot about responsibility/duty, prudence, initiative, order, and confidence.
The Titanic was a product of years of mounting confidence & ignorance. Over 1,500 souls paid the price. Could the Californian saved most or all of them if she had displayed alertness, responsibility, & initiative? Could the Titanic have been built better? Could the commander have practised more? Could the crew have prepared for any disaster? Could the launching of the boats be done better? Could the officers have been much more responsible and careful?
We will never know for sure. There are too many events and possibilities surrounding each item. But the answer to all these questions, in my opinion, and based upon what I have learned, is, “Very likely,” and the following question is, “How am I displaying these failings or virtues in my life?” This is a book to make you think and reevaluate your life. I highly recommend it to everyone. And I think these two books would be great reading material for teens/young adults.
A final note: the band—whatever they played—fully deserved the glory and remembrance they are given. And I like to think that some of them might have been playing Nearer, my God, to Thee on another part of the ship.
In my review of A Night to Remember, I said Second Officer Lightoller was the hero. In this book, Captain Rostron is the hero. What a brave, upright man. I’d like to be a Captain Rostorn in my own life.
Content: 1-2 instances of language; a mention of a couple living together.
Favourite Quote: Whatever they played, [the band] achieved immortality. The bravery of these men, trying to bring hope and comfort to others without a thought to their own safety, captured the public’s imagination all over the world.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: Clearly those scientists experimenting with models weren’t just playing with bathtub toys ‘in pleasant remembrance of younger days,’ as Nautical Magazine unkindly put it.
I’ve been a Titanic nerd ever since I first heard of the Titanic as a child, and I’ve read every bit of information I could get my hands on about her. This book taught me SO much. Aside from the practical side, it taught me a lot about responsibility/duty, prudence, initiative, order, and confidence.
The Titanic was a product of years of mounting confidence & ignorance. Over 1,500 souls paid the price. Could the Californian saved most or all of them if she had displayed alertness, responsibility, & initiative? Could the Titanic have been built better? Could the commander have practised more? Could the crew have prepared for any disaster? Could the launching of the boats be done better? Could the officers have been much more responsible and careful?
We will never know for sure. There are too many events and possibilities surrounding each item. But the answer to all these questions, in my opinion, and based upon what I have learned, is, “Very likely,” and the following question is, “How am I displaying these failings or virtues in my life?” This is a book to make you think and reevaluate your life. I highly recommend it to everyone. And I think these two books would be great reading material for teens/young adults.
A final note: the band—whatever they played—fully deserved the glory and remembrance they are given. And I like to think that some of them might have been playing Nearer, my God, to Thee on another part of the ship.
In my review of A Night to Remember, I said Second Officer Lightoller was the hero. In this book, Captain Rostron is the hero. What a brave, upright man. I’d like to be a Captain Rostorn in my own life.
Content: 1-2 instances of language; a mention of a couple living together.
Favourite Quote: Whatever they played, [the band] achieved immortality. The bravery of these men, trying to bring hope and comfort to others without a thought to their own safety, captured the public’s imagination all over the world.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: Clearly those scientists experimenting with models weren’t just playing with bathtub toys ‘in pleasant remembrance of younger days,’ as Nautical Magazine unkindly put it.
December 30, 2018
Loved, loved, loved this book! After all these years one of the most misunderstood and mishandled tragedies. A definite must read.
April 30, 2016
Good companion to Lord's other book about the Titanic. Lord tackles some of the questions raised by various people. The topics include the building of the ship as well as the ships discovery. Each chapter is a mini-story and the writing has vigor.
January 17, 2024
Absolutely fantastic! Loved every single part of this well-researched book.
July 25, 2011
In 1955, Walter Lord's A Night To Remember was published and instantly became the definitive book on the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic in April 1912. Just over thirty years later and following the discovery of the Titanic two and a half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, Lord's follow-up to it was published. The Night Lives On goes beyond that "night to remember" to look at the events that came before, during and after it.
To do this Lord brings a lot of focus to the book. While A Night To Remember focused very much on the sinking itself by wandering from person to person and place to place, The Night Lives On uses each of its seventeen chapters to focus on any single particular aspect of the Titanic story. The opening chapters of the book look at what led up to the sinking ranging from the ship's legacy, its launching in 1911, a look at Captain Smith's record prior to taking command of the Titanic and the actions of the crew leading up to the collision with the iceberg. This is of course prelude to the main event: the sinking.
Chapters seven through twelve focus on the sinking itself. Topics range from the collision with the iceberg, the reasons for the lack of lifeboats and the question of why so many third class passengers died in relation to others on the Titanic (including the entire Goodwin family for whom the chapter is named for) and why some passengers saw the ship sink intact while others saw it break in two (a long held belief shattered when the wreck was found in 1985). The highlights of this section, and perhaps the entire book itself, are the chapters that cover two of the biggest ongoing controversies of the sinking: did an officer shoot at passengers before committing suicide himself and what song did the band play before the Titanic began its final plunge? Those two chapters, indeed all of the chapters in this section, are not only fantastic and informative reading but they show Lord at his best: well researched yet highly accessible.
Chapters thirteen and fourteen compare and contrast two ships that were nearby when the Titanic sank: the Carpathia and the Californian. Both ships played supporting roles in the drama of A Night To Remember, the Californian featuring at the end of almost every chapter of that earlier book, but in these two chapters each ship takes center stage. Lord looks at how the Carpathia and her captain Arthur Rostron covered around fifty miles of dark, ice filled ocean to rescue the Titanic's passengers in approximately four hours, Rostron and the crew becoming heroes in doing so. The Californian and her captain Stanley Lord sat somewhere near the Titanic (within visual range according to Lord's research) and became the infamous ship that stood still. Lord examines what occurred aboard the Californian during those pivotal hours and tries to answer why that happened. While the chapter obviously doesn't take into account the findings of the British Government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch about the Californian a few years later, the chapter raises some intriguing and lingering questions nevertheless.
The final three chapters cover the aftermath of the sinking. Chapter fifteen gives a brief overview of both the American Senate and British Board Of Trade inquiries into the sinking plus how those inquiries effected the attempts to claim damages from the White Star Line. Chapter sixteen follows up on the fates of some of those who had their footsteps on the Titanic retraced by Lord in both books. The final chapter goes through the various attempts (and schemes) to find, if not raise, the Titanic before her eventual discovery in 1985. The paperback edition of the book contains follow-up information about the 1986 expedition that first explored the wreck site and corrects a goof made in the original hardcover edition as well. With these chapters Lord brings the Titanic story full circle, or as much as was possible at the time.
While it might not contain the drama of A Night To Remember, The Night Lives On is an indispensable companion to it. With its ability to focus on a particular topic at a time rather then floating from person to person or place to place, this book helps to illuminate many aspects that the original book was only able to touch upon. As a result it is every bit as well researched and accessible as its predecessor and perhaps even more useful for those exploring the sinking of the Titanic.
To do this Lord brings a lot of focus to the book. While A Night To Remember focused very much on the sinking itself by wandering from person to person and place to place, The Night Lives On uses each of its seventeen chapters to focus on any single particular aspect of the Titanic story. The opening chapters of the book look at what led up to the sinking ranging from the ship's legacy, its launching in 1911, a look at Captain Smith's record prior to taking command of the Titanic and the actions of the crew leading up to the collision with the iceberg. This is of course prelude to the main event: the sinking.
Chapters seven through twelve focus on the sinking itself. Topics range from the collision with the iceberg, the reasons for the lack of lifeboats and the question of why so many third class passengers died in relation to others on the Titanic (including the entire Goodwin family for whom the chapter is named for) and why some passengers saw the ship sink intact while others saw it break in two (a long held belief shattered when the wreck was found in 1985). The highlights of this section, and perhaps the entire book itself, are the chapters that cover two of the biggest ongoing controversies of the sinking: did an officer shoot at passengers before committing suicide himself and what song did the band play before the Titanic began its final plunge? Those two chapters, indeed all of the chapters in this section, are not only fantastic and informative reading but they show Lord at his best: well researched yet highly accessible.
Chapters thirteen and fourteen compare and contrast two ships that were nearby when the Titanic sank: the Carpathia and the Californian. Both ships played supporting roles in the drama of A Night To Remember, the Californian featuring at the end of almost every chapter of that earlier book, but in these two chapters each ship takes center stage. Lord looks at how the Carpathia and her captain Arthur Rostron covered around fifty miles of dark, ice filled ocean to rescue the Titanic's passengers in approximately four hours, Rostron and the crew becoming heroes in doing so. The Californian and her captain Stanley Lord sat somewhere near the Titanic (within visual range according to Lord's research) and became the infamous ship that stood still. Lord examines what occurred aboard the Californian during those pivotal hours and tries to answer why that happened. While the chapter obviously doesn't take into account the findings of the British Government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch about the Californian a few years later, the chapter raises some intriguing and lingering questions nevertheless.
The final three chapters cover the aftermath of the sinking. Chapter fifteen gives a brief overview of both the American Senate and British Board Of Trade inquiries into the sinking plus how those inquiries effected the attempts to claim damages from the White Star Line. Chapter sixteen follows up on the fates of some of those who had their footsteps on the Titanic retraced by Lord in both books. The final chapter goes through the various attempts (and schemes) to find, if not raise, the Titanic before her eventual discovery in 1985. The paperback edition of the book contains follow-up information about the 1986 expedition that first explored the wreck site and corrects a goof made in the original hardcover edition as well. With these chapters Lord brings the Titanic story full circle, or as much as was possible at the time.
While it might not contain the drama of A Night To Remember, The Night Lives On is an indispensable companion to it. With its ability to focus on a particular topic at a time rather then floating from person to person or place to place, this book helps to illuminate many aspects that the original book was only able to touch upon. As a result it is every bit as well researched and accessible as its predecessor and perhaps even more useful for those exploring the sinking of the Titanic.
August 6, 2023
I don't know why I never read this follow up before, but I'm glad I finally did. Stylistically, it's very different from A Night to Remember, but it's still quite effective. Lord examines some of the major myths and unanswered questions surrounding the sinking and does his best to answer them to the extent possible or point out what can't be answered definitively but can't be entirely discounted either. Two things really come through here. The first is that it's evident just how much he did to interview survivors, or descendants of survivors, and how many avenues he went down in terms of reviewing the available documentary evidence. The second is that despite all that, Lord is quick to point out the limitations of his (or anyone's) knowledge and the fact that many of these questions simply can't be answered definitively. I think that's what makes this work so well.
April 15, 2021
The Night Lives On examined many myths about the infamous ill fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. I am fascinated by this perfect storm of decorum, social limitations, arrogance, ego, and ingenuity that took the lives of so many. This biography focused on many aspects of the ship, the builders, crew, and passengers to examine all of the events that led to that tragic night.
I liked that each chapter examined a different part of that night, from knowledge and reaction to the iceberg, reality of water entering the ship, to the number and loading of lifeboats. The information was presented in a way that made this easy to read, informative, and also interesting. The author relied on survivors’ personal letters and testimony to piece together what really happened. Even with eye witness testimony, there is still so much confusions that many of the events are still a mystery and the truth lies at the bottom of the Atlantic with the skeleton of the grandest ship to set sail in 1912.
To me one of the most bizarre aspects of this event is the fact that the band played music during the sinking. The most disgusting being that White Star Line asked decedents’ family members to pay for uniforms that were lost when their loved ones perished in the sea. I enjoyed hearing about the passengers, from a family in steerage to prominent women of first class, and how they thrived after the sinking. This was the first book that listed all the things the Captain of the Carpathia did to prepare for for picking up the survivors, which was very interesting.
This was a great book for Titanic fans interested in learning some lesser known facts about the sinking.
I liked that each chapter examined a different part of that night, from knowledge and reaction to the iceberg, reality of water entering the ship, to the number and loading of lifeboats. The information was presented in a way that made this easy to read, informative, and also interesting. The author relied on survivors’ personal letters and testimony to piece together what really happened. Even with eye witness testimony, there is still so much confusions that many of the events are still a mystery and the truth lies at the bottom of the Atlantic with the skeleton of the grandest ship to set sail in 1912.
To me one of the most bizarre aspects of this event is the fact that the band played music during the sinking. The most disgusting being that White Star Line asked decedents’ family members to pay for uniforms that were lost when their loved ones perished in the sea. I enjoyed hearing about the passengers, from a family in steerage to prominent women of first class, and how they thrived after the sinking. This was the first book that listed all the things the Captain of the Carpathia did to prepare for for picking up the survivors, which was very interesting.
This was a great book for Titanic fans interested in learning some lesser known facts about the sinking.
August 29, 2025
The sequel to A Night to Remember, brought on by Ballard's discovery of Titanic in 1985, is better than the first book. The other one was a recounting of the sinking from several personal angles. I liked it, but the book never quite grabbed me. This volume is slightly more technical, bursting myths and discussing aspects of the sinking and controversies, back with solid prose. The book is a delight to read.
February 25, 2023
i knew i'd be able to knock this out quickly - i loved every minute of it. books like this make me feel like choosing history as a major was the right decision 💘
April 5, 2020
In 1955 Walter Lord published A Night to Remember, reigniting the Titanic craze. The book was a best seller and led to a truly excellent movie. It reminded the world of a shipwreck that seemed to signify the closing of the Edwardian era, and the introduction of a terrifying new age.
In 1986,after Robert Ballard located the wreck, Lord cannily recognizing a resurging interest in the story, published the Night Lives On a further exploration of the ship and the aftermath. A Night to Remember is definitive and amazing, and in no way would I categorize The Night Lives On in that category. However, it is interesting to see how Lord’s thinking and exploration of the ship evolved over several decades.
The chapters are organized episodically and explore topics such as the final song played by the band, what precisely occurred on the California the night and morning after the sinking, and contrasts the U.S. and British investigations into the disaster. Lord is clearly a detailed and rigorous observer. His skill is being able to wade through the minutiae of details that surround the events surrounding the disaster.
Comparing the two works it becomes clear that the passage of years has caused Lord to recognize the shipwreck was not the result of sheer chance or divine intervention, but was instead a consequence of slackness by Smith, White Star and others. In the chapters A Certain Slackness and the chapter on the California he notes the behavior of Smith and his officers, and the fear of Lord and his officers led many to an undeserved fate.
If you want to learn some basic info about the Titanic, go read A Night to Remember, but if you know the basics and your interest is ongoing then The Night Lives On is well worth your time.
In 1986,after Robert Ballard located the wreck, Lord cannily recognizing a resurging interest in the story, published the Night Lives On a further exploration of the ship and the aftermath. A Night to Remember is definitive and amazing, and in no way would I categorize The Night Lives On in that category. However, it is interesting to see how Lord’s thinking and exploration of the ship evolved over several decades.
The chapters are organized episodically and explore topics such as the final song played by the band, what precisely occurred on the California the night and morning after the sinking, and contrasts the U.S. and British investigations into the disaster. Lord is clearly a detailed and rigorous observer. His skill is being able to wade through the minutiae of details that surround the events surrounding the disaster.
Comparing the two works it becomes clear that the passage of years has caused Lord to recognize the shipwreck was not the result of sheer chance or divine intervention, but was instead a consequence of slackness by Smith, White Star and others. In the chapters A Certain Slackness and the chapter on the California he notes the behavior of Smith and his officers, and the fear of Lord and his officers led many to an undeserved fate.
If you want to learn some basic info about the Titanic, go read A Night to Remember, but if you know the basics and your interest is ongoing then The Night Lives On is well worth your time.
May 18, 2020
A Night To Remember is one of my favorite books, which is an exhaustive, easy to read, account of the Titanic. It was published in the 1950s by Walter Lord and helped reignite public interest in the greatest maritime tragedy of all time.
The Night Lives On is a sequel, if you will, that was published in the 1980s by Lord, largely in part to the initial book’s popularity.
I have been fascinated with the Titanic since I was young, and this book is not for the casual person interested in the subject. While the first book was a great overview, the sequel went into the details of the tragedy, including much of the aftermath.
Parts of this book were very good, like what happened to prominent survivors and the discovery of the wreck in the 1980s. Other parts were dry, such as the US/British inquiries into the disaster and what song the band was playing while the ship went down.
Many questions will never be answered, such as how much damage did the iceberg do and did the ship break up before it sunk, which eyewitness accounts contradict one another.
Good read for Titanic fans overall.
The Night Lives On is a sequel, if you will, that was published in the 1980s by Lord, largely in part to the initial book’s popularity.
I have been fascinated with the Titanic since I was young, and this book is not for the casual person interested in the subject. While the first book was a great overview, the sequel went into the details of the tragedy, including much of the aftermath.
Parts of this book were very good, like what happened to prominent survivors and the discovery of the wreck in the 1980s. Other parts were dry, such as the US/British inquiries into the disaster and what song the band was playing while the ship went down.
Many questions will never be answered, such as how much damage did the iceberg do and did the ship break up before it sunk, which eyewitness accounts contradict one another.
Good read for Titanic fans overall.
March 17, 2017
How would you behave if you knew your death was imminent but there was no way you could save yourself? Would you have a drink in the elegant lounge? Become hysterical? Retreat to your stateroom with your spouse? Sacrifice honor to try to steal rescue from someone else?
Walter Lord continued his investigation of this tragedy from 1955, when his original research "A Night to Remember" was published, through this 1985 publication, "The Night Lives On." Lacking the literary vibrance of "A Night to Remember," this second title was published after the discovery of the wreckage of the ship in 1985, but before research of the liner's remains became available.
I recommend reading "A Night to Remember" first, and then, if you are captivated, explore this title as well.
Also, due to the popularity of "A Night to Remember" over this second book, I have included information about additional information that become available on that review.
A Night to Remember, Lord, 1955
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Walter Lord continued his investigation of this tragedy from 1955, when his original research "A Night to Remember" was published, through this 1985 publication, "The Night Lives On." Lacking the literary vibrance of "A Night to Remember," this second title was published after the discovery of the wreckage of the ship in 1985, but before research of the liner's remains became available.
I recommend reading "A Night to Remember" first, and then, if you are captivated, explore this title as well.
Also, due to the popularity of "A Night to Remember" over this second book, I have included information about additional information that become available on that review.
A Night to Remember, Lord, 1955
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 27, 2016
Walter Lord wrote what was for quite some time the definitive book about the Titanic disaster back in the 1950's, "A Night to Remember". This is the sequel, written in 1985. It is not as entertaining as the "Night" book was, and is mostly filled with a lot of statistics and a lot of dry facts about the building and mechanics of the ship and details about the various inquiries and lawsuits arising out of the sinking. The release of the book was literally on the edge of Bob Ballard's 1986 locating the site of Titanic and getting all those amazing photos and films of the crash site. I sure Mr. Lord wished he could have included all that information in the book. So overall, some of the info added to my store of knowledge, but it was not that compelling a read.
November 25, 2016
I chose this book because I thought it would actually be really interesting to read about what actually happened on the titanic and why it happened. This book is about all the facts about the Titanic. It ties up all the loose ends you had about the Titanic. They speak about the warnings the ship got and what it could’ve done, they talk about why the other ship didn’t see the sos signs and flares, and why the water bulkheads weren’t a level higher. This story really made it more clear on what happened and why it happened on the Titanic. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it greatly to whoever is interested in different interesting stories or different scary theories.
July 10, 2019
Titanic. The myths, the movies, the mystery all swirl swirl together when this famous disaster is mentioned. Walter Lord explores the sinking of the Titanic in an approachable journalistic manner that distinguishes his book from just another factoid compilation. He inserts his own questions and conjectures while presenting documented facts about the ship’s history, sinking, and post-disaster aspects.
An interesting, fascinating read that provides new insights on a topic that continues to fascinate readers.
An interesting, fascinating read that provides new insights on a topic that continues to fascinate readers.
November 5, 2017
Even after all the other books about Titanic, Lord's 'A Night to Remember' remains IT for me in terms of the definitive accounts of the sinking. He interviewed so many survivors and presented the facts, the stories, the human element. While this follow-up will not necessarily provide a lot of new insight or information about the sinking of the greatest ship ever built, it is certainly another must-read for those who are still enthralled by the tragedy over 100 years later.
November 28, 2007
Somewhat less satisfying than A Night to Remember, Walter Lord's sequel is still worth the time it takes to read. Putting in the stories that he didn't know or couldn't use at the time of the first book, this is a nice summation of the Titanic saga, and fine reading for anyone who continues to be fascinated, as I am, by the story.
April 11, 2012
The Night Lives On brings the story of the ship of dreams out of the mist and into reality--it was written after the wreckage of the Titanic was found (the paperback I have shows a copyright of 1986, 1987).
Walter Lord gives us the facts here, not the romance, and he does an excellent job.
Walter Lord gives us the facts here, not the romance, and he does an excellent job.
November 2, 2017
An interesting, reliable insight into this disaster - a follow up to his earlier book (which I am still yet to read!)
Covering everything from eyewitness accounts, the American and British inquiries into the disaster and detailing most of what went wrong - warnings being ignored, third class passengers given less of a chance and nearby ships not coming to help.
Covering everything from eyewitness accounts, the American and British inquiries into the disaster and detailing most of what went wrong - warnings being ignored, third class passengers given less of a chance and nearby ships not coming to help.
August 26, 2023
A worthy follow-up to A Night to Remember. Lord explores the lingering questions that persist to this day and he does so with the humility and curiosity necessary. The chapters on the life boats and Californian were the most engaging and enraging to me and the close felt eerily prescient given the recent news of the Titan submersible.
April 24, 2024
Great "sequel" to Lord's classic "A Night to Remember". It was nice to see his musings on the tragedy after the ship was discovered in 1985. A lot of interesting details and insight, and some stories I had forgotten about. Lord delves into certain aspects with great detail, in some cases deeper than I have seen before, which made for an interesting read.
February 18, 2025
While this was much more what I was expecting when I read the first book in the series, I still had a hard time deciphering the jargon used throughout. However, it still has good information & provides insight into one of the worlds biggest events, despite the fact that no one alive will ever truly know what happened that night.
June 19, 2025
8/10
While not as informative or as detailed as many other accounts of the Titanic, including Lord's own first book on the subject, this book does a fantastic job of adding what news there was to share after 80 years underwater. It is all the more interesting reading this after reading some even more recent books that study the actual events and contradict this narrative at some points.
While not as informative or as detailed as many other accounts of the Titanic, including Lord's own first book on the subject, this book does a fantastic job of adding what news there was to share after 80 years underwater. It is all the more interesting reading this after reading some even more recent books that study the actual events and contradict this narrative at some points.
May 14, 2012
Sequel to his definitive version of the Titanic sinking, A Night to Remember. Lord re-visits some of the material from the first book, and adds some more survivor stories and political fallout from the sinking. Good follow-up. Again, easy, clear prose style and nicely detailed.
July 13, 2018
Thanks to Josh B. for the recommendation. Solid companion to A Night to Remember. Written 30 years later as a follow-up to answer a bunch of lingering questions and misconceptions.
Still not sure if I'm going to watch the movie.
Still not sure if I'm going to watch the movie.
May 19, 2019
Well Written
This book is extremely well written. Walter Lord is extremely thorough in his research. The book keeps your interest all the way through. My reason for only two stars is that in this edition, none of the illustrations are included.
This book is extremely well written. Walter Lord is extremely thorough in his research. The book keeps your interest all the way through. My reason for only two stars is that in this edition, none of the illustrations are included.
September 10, 2014
Not as compelling as "A Night to Remember," but an important update all the same.
February 20, 2018
"A Night To Remember" (1955) was a "tour de force" and, thirty years later, Walter Lord wrote this very good sequel to that wonderful book. First-rate.
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