Titanic. Der Mythos des unsinkbaren Luxusliners

by Geoff Tibballs

More than eight decades after the most famou s sinking of all time, interest in the Titanic tragedy remai ns strong. This book will tell the story of the ship, from i ts inception to its sinking, continuing the story to the pre sent day. '

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Omaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una lectura que sirve para hacerse una buena idea de cómo fue la construcción del Titanic, su trágico viaje inaugural y el legado que dejó. El libro tiene un tono muy profesional y explica de forma detallada datos técnicos del transatlántico, historias de personas claves de la época que estuvieron vinculadas de alguna forma al Titanic, protocolos de la época de cara a evacuar o rescatar un barco… No negaré que proporciona información muy completa, pero tiene partes que son un poco densas de leer. Aunque mi impresión general es positiva, me hubiera gustado que contuviera más material gráfico y que se ahondara mejor en determinados aspectos que para mí quedaron deslucidos.

Creo que para darle una oportunidad a esta obra hay que sentir verdadero interés por el Titanic, ya que la curiosidad por saber cosas sobre él es lo que ayuda a que a seguir avanzando cuando los textos se centran en temas de construcción o en describir a algunos pasajeros. Y que no os engañe su aparente brevedad (128 páginas): las hojas son tamaño folio y la letra es pequeña, así que en una edición de tamaño normal su extensión hubiera sido el doble. Además, el texto cubre completamente todo aquel espacio en el que no hay fotos. Por tanto, no es una lectura ligera y hay partes que hay que digerir poco a poco. A mí se me atragantó ligeramente el apartado sobre la situación de la industria naval en los años previos a la construcción del Titanic, pero vi realmente interesante lo que se contó sobre los acontecimientos inmediatamente posteriores al naufragio, los juicios, las investigaciones y las misiones para encontrar los restos del navío. Ahí considero que se aligeró la narración y el libro adquirió un tono de novela a pesar de estar explicando hechos reales. Ese capítulo se me pasó volando y hasta quedé con ganas de profundizar más en eso.

Hay fotos reales, pero también muchas ilustraciones. Del interior del barco me hubiera gustado ver más fotos auténticas y no tantas reproducciones. En vez de ocupar una página con una sola imagen, tal vez hubiera sido mejor poner varias para transmitir mejor lo que debió ser viajar allí. Las ilustraciones que sí que me gustaron fueron las que detallaban los daños que provocaron el hundimiento y una que mostraba claramente en qué secciones se dividía el barco interiormente.

La puntuación real sería un 3,5/5. He decidido no redondear al alza porque creo que se le podría haber dado un tono más ameno a varias explicaciones y porque en ocasiones noté cierto caos para hablar de pasajeros o miembros de la tripulación. Sea como sea, admito que sí que logró sorprenderme con algunas informaciones y que mi fascinación por todo lo que rodeó y rodea al Titanic no ha disminuido.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully produced Readers Digest book of 'the extraordinary story of the unsinkable ship.' Although perhaps more facts have come to light in the almost 20 years since this book was published, it is still a highly interesting account, with an attractive, easy-to-read layout.
The lack of organization and familiarity with life-boat evacuation, both on the part of crew and passe
ngers, is a terrible part of the ordeal recounted here.
The bandmaster Wallace Hartley and bandmen who all played on, even when at last permitted to try to save themselves, are part of the Titantic folklore of extreme courage, but this book also tells that Hartley was given a hero's farewell funeral in his home town of Colne, and that a dying Scottish girl predicted Hartley's death and the sinking of a 'big ship' on her own deathbed, to a Salvation Army captain, on the fateful night.
Anything about the Titanic is always very sad and sobering reading, but this tragedy propelled maritime safety and occupational health and safety into the modern era.

[Bill38silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a magnificent short book, well researched, crammed with detail and beautifully illustrated throughout. Easy to read and fast- paced it is a delight. The story is well structured, starting with the building of the ship and progressing smoothly through the tragedy of the maiden and only voyage. It is interspersed with poignant quotes from some survivors and snippets of info on furniture, what cargo the ship carried, the luxuries of main rooms and accommodation. It has some nuggets of information such as how empty the ship was when it sailed ( if full another 1000 or so people would probably have perished in the icy waters).

I have a few more books to read on the Titanic. Can they better this account published in 1997?

[Nine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Für einen Vortrag in der Schule gelesen.

[Rachael Hewison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read a number of books on the Titanic, over the past few years, I would say I feel confident in picking the good from the bad. Tibball’s book leans towards the former. Although short, it’s crammed full of interesting facts.
Tibball’s successfully overcomes the temptation of many writers to concentrate solely on Titanic’s fatal voyage. Instead he begins by giving an explanation as to the founding and evolution of the White Star Line, the strong rivalry with the Cunard Line and why the Titanic was so important in the battle for the Atlantic shipping route. He then goes into great detail with regards to the Titanic herself and her voyage. Throughout he includes wonderful pictures and illustrations, as well as additional facts, such as the pantry list and maps. During the chapter regarding the sinking, he scatters eyewitness accounts and a useful timeline. He concludes by summarising the impact that Titanic is still having on the world in modern times. Although it is slightly out-dated, even suggesting that Titanic could be raised, it nevertheless is still a suitable conclusion.
The main downside to the book however was how repetitive it could be at times. Tibball often stated a fact and then elaborated on it a couple of paragraphs later. For instance he remarked on the fact that after Captain Smith had handed Bruce Ismay an ice warning, Ismay had kept it in his pocket for five hours until Smith requested to have it back. Only three paragraphs later Smith again acquires the message back. This briefly interrupts the flow of the story and can at times be frustrating.
Overall Tibball’s book is a brief summary of the incredible story of the Titanic but packed full of surprising facts, some of which I was unaware of until now. The books simplicity would also make it ideal for a first time reader of the lore of Titanic.

[Erika Schoeps · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I'm pretty biased because I've been obsessed with the Titanic since I was little, but this was still an amazing book. This book was fast paced while staying informative, and threw in tons of information while having the comfy format and pictures of a children's book. I learned lots of new things about the Titanic, but also got an entertaining run-through of the original story. Some of the pictures were the classic ones, but some were new. I don't know what else to say, except that this book made me melancholy, scared, and still envious of the passengers.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very, very good book for Titanic enthusiasts.

One of the better books on this interesting subject.