Customer Reviews:
Heavy On Investigation, Light On Conspiracies.......2005-03-14
Bob Ballard's string of investigations into famous shipwrecks, while doing solid science continues in this exploration of the Lusitania.
The famous Cunard liner was torpedoed off the Irish coast in 1915, and was one of the pivotal events that dragged an isolationist America into the First World War.
Ballard's work at laying the groundwork for his book is again exceptional. Cunard's need to battle the White Star and other cruise lines for the transatlantic business is examined, and the method was indeed an interesting one. Cunard entered into an arrangement with the British government to build the Lusitania and her sister ship, Mauretania. In exchange for a loan, the government got the right to call the ships up for wartime service, and the builders set up placements for deck guns on the vessels.
This was before it was found that using cruise liners as "armed merchant cruisers" was just not practical.
In any case, the setting of the scene as the Lusitania headed east is well done--the German government has given fair warning to anyone sailing on British or Allied vessel that they're fair game. A German U-boat is known to be off the coast, the Lusitania is traveling at less than full power, her captain chooses not to zigzag, then waste time taking an involved bearing on the land...and the end is known.
Question: Did Winston Churchill stake out the Lusitania and let her be sunk as an effort to get the US into the war? It wouldn't be out of his mindset, but there appears to be little in the way of proof that he did such a thing. Of greater interest is the secret correspondence between Admiral Tirpitz and Admiral Jacky Fisher, in which the latter tells his German counterpart that he'd have done the same thing in going after the Lusitania if the roles were reversed.
The examination of the wreck is sad; there's not much left of her, as the ship has been used for depth charge practice. There was not much of an effort to get inside her as was done on other ships. Perhaps there's little point.
Once again, Ken Marschall's paintings are stellar and the book is well worth reading...and looking at.
Beautiful Book.......2004-11-19
The illustrations and photographs alone make this book worth owning. It is very direct and to the point for the most part.
Also of interest is the contrast between Lusitania, a shallow water wreck, and vessels such as Titanic and Bismarck which are under miles of water.
Another outstanding record of a famous ship........2004-09-21
Of course, Dr Robert Ballard will forever remain the man who found the Titanic, but in this book he also provides the reader with an extremely well documented account of the loss of the Lusitania.
Mysteries are mysteries and whilst there are those experts which insist such and such happened, there will also be those who assert the opposite. I shouldn't say this I know, but it the way in which Bob Ballard takes such a thorough approach to his subject, it leaves one feeling that the only book you need to read on the entire subject of the loss of the Lusitania is this one.
Exploring the Lusitania - yet another four-funnelled passenger liner built before WW1, is a large coffee-table book approx. A4 size. Just a glance at the pictures throughout the richly illustrated pages (227 altogether) reveals the extent of the research to which the author has gone on behalf of the reader. There are many historic pictures of the ship itself - including when she was no more than a keel. Others include paintings of the day, newspaper cuttings and postcards showing internal and external views. Then there are the photographs of the tragedy itself and the effect it had upon the people of Ireland. Photographs of seemingly unimportant people at the booking office and individuals such as the Captain. Dr Ballard has been equally thorough when it comes to detailing the U-Boat which sank the Lusitania and we are treated to almost the same level of coverage of vessel and individuals and their trade of war.
Once again, however, the author has put together the most outstanding collection of artwork created by Ken Marschall. From thousands of photographic images taken from the wreckage itself, Bob Ballard created a complete montage (i.e. a big photograph made up of thousands of little photographs) of the various sections of the wreck so that Mr Marschall was able to provide us with the most accurate paintings of various sections and even the entire wreck. The one painting I had to look at again and again was the painting of the sinking across pages 96/97. For a moment there I thought the world's greatest photographer had been on hand to capture the event.
I congratulate Dr Ballard on another excellent and professional job of work. Another outstanding book and yet again 5 stars are not enough.
NM
Dr. Ballard is master of the seas!.......2004-02-25
This handsome companion to the excellent National Geographic documentary is the best overview and photographic record of the Lusitania disaster I have seen. If you only own or read one book on the Lusitania, let it be this one! It covers the key issues surrounding the tragedy: Why did the powerful, double bottom ship go down so quickly (only 18 minutes compared to over 2 hours for the less robust Titanic)?; What caused the second explosion?; Was the Lusitania carrying arms? Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic and explored the Bismarck, uses advanced equipment to go down into the ocean's depths to answer these questions and to give us a glimpse of how the Lusitania looks today through remarkable photographs and the masterpieces of maritime artist Ken Marschall.
The text of the book is very well-written. It does not go into as much of depth as longer books as it explains the sinking through accounts of select survivors, some alive at the time of the book's publication. Still, it reveals many lesser known points. First Sea Lord Winston Churchill, in France at the time of the tragedy, might have ordered a naval escort for the famed passenger liner (pg. 78). It notes that the U.S. tanker Gunflight was torpedoed the week before (pg. 124). Unlike the documentary, readers learn that nurse Alice Lines--who was still alive when the documentary was made--actually missed the lifeboat when she made her desperate leap with baby Audrey (pg. 102). The book takes a fair look at the sinking. There is much empathy for the German side (Lusitania was, after all, an auxiliary cruiser in a war zone) and is quite critical of Captain Turner who ignored the Admiralty's instructions on steering a zigzag course away from the shore in areas where subs lurked. The most valuable part of this book on a informational level is that it solves the mystery of the second explosion some witnesses believed was a second torpedo or the explosion of arms in the ships magazine.
As interesting as the text is, the illustrations make this book the best on the subject. Photos and startlingly accurate period postcards give the reader a look at Lusitania's interior in first, second, and steerage classes. Posters and memorabilia illustrate the propaganda war which followed. Finally, pages 144-89 explore the Lusitania and compares the ship then & now in remarkable photos. The highlight is a well preserved first class tub and shower found just outside the ship compared with a period illustration (pp. 172-3). A fold-out shows the sunken giant in full length thanks to the excellent work of artist Marschall. His realistic paintings look like photographs!
The book is very thorough. It includes a critical look at the inquiries into the sinking, the fates of some of the major players including U Boat commander Schwieger, a brief look at Lusitania's sister ship Mauretania, and a chronology of the two Cunard sisters. The only inconsistency I found was that Schwieger reported that he did not know he had torpedoed the Lusitania until he saw her name on her bow; however, the Lusitania name was covered up at the time to trick the enemy during the war (pg. 203). Still, this book is an excellent introduction to the Lusitania story and a more than sufficient and revealing account if one chooses not to read further.
A definitive book on the ill-fated Lusitania.......2002-09-30
Not only are all the facts, both past and present, contained here...but the sensitive, intelligent narrative of Robert Ballard and artwork of Ken Marschall make this a delightful book to read, peruse or simply decorate your coffee table. Works like these could make even the most jittery of sailors want to apply to the Woods Hole Institute!
Book Description
RMS Lusitania sank in May 1915 as the result of a torpedo from the U-20. 1,198 people died that day as she sank in less than twenty minutes off the coast of Ireland. Built in 1907, she had a successful career of nearly 8 years before that fateful day. Famous for her sinking, she was the fastest ship in the world when built, and was the first of the superliners. For the first time, Eric Sauder looks at her as a ship, and not just at her sinking. She was the first true "Ship of State." Subsidized by the British Government, she had luxurious interiors, double deck restaurants, glorious public rooms, and sumptuous cabins. The cream of the world’s high society travelled aboard her. She was more than just the cause of America entering World War One.
Customer Reviews:
A fascinating look at the complete career of a great ship.......2005-11-10
Most of us know the Lusitania for the outrage that her sinking provoked, both at home in England and in the United States. With the role her sinking played in drawing the US into WWI, it's easy to forget that she was also once the holder of the Blue Ribband as the fastest ship on the North Atlantic, a luxuriously appointed superliner that connected the Old World with the New a half century before transcontinental jet flight made such travel routine. At the dawn of the twentieth century, crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner was an event, and Eric Sauder's book does an amazing job of transporting us back to this bygone era.
He follows the Lusitania's story from her conception and construction, through her service life to her tragic end and beyond. Among the book's highlights: An excellent overview of the salvage operations that have been conducted since the rediscovery of her wreck in 1935, appendices that include a list of all Cunard liners lost in WWI and a complete list of first class passengers on the ship's final voyage.
As wonderful as Sauder's well researched text is, however, what will draw most people to this book is the enormous number of photographs, many never before published and others not seen since prior to WWI. There are many rarely seen photos of the ship's interior, pictures of recovered artifacts, color photos of the wreck, and reproductions of Lusitania-related artwork from the author's personal collection.
If you have even a passing interest in ocean liners, this book is a must-read. The watercolor painting on the front cover alone is worth the price of admission if you enjoy maritime art!
Book Description
Prepare to take a journey back in time. step aboard the decks of one of the world's largest, fastest, and most beloved ocean liners, and experience the LUSITANIA in all her splendor.
Average customer rating:
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Rules of Encounter
William P. Kennedy
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
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Book Description
MURDER TRAVELS FIRST CLASS....In 1907, the world applauds as the Cunard Line launches a history-making ship. The magnificent Lusitania, hoping to capture the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing from Liverpool to New York, attracts both the beautiful and the damned for its maiden voyage.Among its privileged passengers strolls the debonair American George Porter Dillman, a shipbuilder's son--and a detective secretly hired to find the con artists, gigolos, and thieves who prey on the rich and unwary.But the robbery of the ship's blueprints and a shocking murder take Dillman by surprise. Now, attracted to a lady who may not be what she seems, Dillman plunges into a drama of love and intrigue set in the glittering salons of this floating palace. And perhaps plays right into a killer's hands......AUTHORBIO: CONRAD ALLEN has written several other mysteries under a pseudonym.He lives in England.
Customer Reviews:
Very good mystery with a fantastic setting.......2006-09-04
I picked up Conrad Allen's Murder on the Lusitania on a whim and I was not disappointed. The setting is fantastic with Allen's descriptions of life aboard the maiden voyage of the Lusitania, and the characters are just as fascinating. Following a large contingent of first class passengers we meet The Rymers, the Tolley's and a pushy journalist Bancroft; we learn what the good life aboard a luxury liner is all about.
Following the Ship's detective, George Porter Dillman, who is posing as a first class passenger, we first meet all of the relevant parties, and learn about them prior to the crime of (as the title states) murder. There are so many red herrings and twists that this one will keep you guessing until the end.
I'm glad I picked up this book and I am sure that you will enjoy it as well.
Classy mystery with snappy dialogue.......2006-06-21
Murder on the Lusitania by Conrad Allen is the first book in the Shipboard Mystery series starring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield. Dillman is hired as security by the owners of the Lusitania to make sure that her maiden voyage goes smoothly. His job is to fit in and keep any crimes to a minimum, but when some blueprints show up missing, an annoying reporter turns up dead, and a Stradivarius is stolen, everyone's secrets start coming out and Dillman has more than he bargained for. This book is full of lots of great detail about the real luxury liner as well as bits about etiquette from Edwardian times. The dialogue is very clever, especially the repartee between Dillman and Masefield. I was a bit disappointed in the revelation of the bad guys, especially because their motivation was glossed over without real thought, and some of the dialogue during the climax from the villains seemed horribly clichéd, of the `let me tell you my whole horrible scheme while I have you tied up' variety. Surprisingly, Allen allows some subplots to be carried through without touching the main story, which on a huge passenger ship makes perfect sense. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Just barely misses the mark.........2004-10-06
Conrad Allen's first book of the George Porter Dillman series, is an OK historical mystery. It's set in 1907 on the maiden voyage of the Lusitiana, the pride of the Cunard Line. There is some international intrigue abroad, as Germany moves closer to war with Great Britain, and then there is our hero, George P. Dillman, an American private detective that is undercover. On baord, he mets Violet Rymer, who is under the thumb of her overbearing, control-freak father, and he meets the mysterious Genevieve Mansfield, who is running from her shady past. Allen manages to disappoint us with Violet's would-be suitor, and we don't really ever get to really understand a few of the characters. That, and the uber-obnoxious Barcroft character really turned me off of what could have been a great read.
Sleuthing, Shipboard Society, Ship's Details and Romance.......2003-09-11
Murder on the Lusitania is much different from the other three novels in this series. As a reader, I found myself caught up in the excitement of the launching of the then world's largest liner in 1907, a ship whose subsequent history would play a large role in the U.S. entering World War I. Having been on today's huge liners, I was interested in how the Lusitania was different, especially in how its power was supplied (lots of backbreaking work with coal being loaded into the steam engines). Having watched a lot of Masterpiece Theater, I was inevitably interested in how the upper-class English people would act on the ship. So the book had a lot of potential going for it. Those elements worked well for me.
The story itself turned out to be based on a motive that seems very lame and unlikely. That caused me to grade the book down.
For those who like romance with their sleuthing, you will probably enjoy the process by which Cunard detective, George Porter Dillman, becomes acquainted with the beautiful and mysterious Englishwoman, Ms. Genevieve Masefield. She spurns him at first, and only unpleasant circumstances for Ms. Masefield cause that situation to change.
If you just want to read the best book to date in the series, I suggest you read Murder on the Minnesota instead. It's quite fun, and much better done than Murder on the Lusitania. If you do decide to read Murder on the Lusitania, the next book in the series is Murder on the Mauretania. If you like Murder on the Lusitania, you'll be sure to love Murder on the Mauretania.
After you finish this book, think about when you may have drawn a conclusion about someone based on a single glance or quick encounter. Did you later take the time to be sure you were right in your assessment? If not, take that time now. You may be missing someone wonderful!
Entertaining Mystery.......2002-08-13
This is a light and entertaining read perfect for a day at the beach. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. The two main characters, George and Genevieve, remind me of the leads in the Lord Peter Whimsey series. It is so nice to read a mystery that doesn't depend on shock and gore to get its point across.
Amazon.com
Historical mysteries grounded in fact and embellished with fiction are Collins's forte, and here he takes the World War I sinking of a great Cunard liner as the canvas for a rollicking story of murder, espionage, and mayhem. Willard Wright, a critic, journalist and mystery writer (under the pseudonym of S.S. Van Dine), is supposed to be interviewing the rich and famous who are making the journey to England on the luxurious ship. But what he's really doing is investigating the sub rosa shipment of munitions by a government supposedly neutral in the European conflict. Aided by a female version of Philo Vance, Van Dine's series hero, Wright unmasks a couple of spies and a murderer and finds the munitions in plenty of time to carry on a decidedly modern affair with the beautiful and sexy Pinkerton agent, but, alas, too late to save the Lusitania from a German U-boat. A skillfully told story with all the verisimilitude and historical accuracy of earlier books in this captivating series, which gave the Titanic, Hindenburg, and Pearl Harbor disasters the same lively treatment. --Jane Adams
Book Description
On May 7, 1915, the luxury liner Lusitania was struck by a German torpedo. On board was an under-cover journalist using the pen name S.S. Van Dine. And hours before the tragic sinking changed the course of history, there was a mystery-of treason, sabotage, and murder.
Customer Reviews:
Good Mystery.......2006-07-06
The author William Huntington Wright, traveling under his alias S.S.Van Dine (Wright and Van Dine are real people as are most of the characers in this book), is undercover for the British as a journalist on the last voyage of the Lusitania to discover if it is carrying munition for the enemy.
Along the way, he interviews the likes of Alfred Vanderbilt, Charles Forham and Elbert Hubbard. As expected, murders and espionage soon become all too common occurrences and Van Dine with the help of a female Pinkerton agent is rapidly engaged in the investigation.
The Lusitania Murders, judging by its author's notes (def. worth reading) is well-researched but lacking a tightness and suspense that keeps the reader flipping pages.
Book Description
The 1915 sinking of the Cunard liner Lusitania by German submarines sparked a firestorm of demand for U.S. intervention in World War I. Attacked without warning, the ship went down in twenty minutes with more than 1,100 passengers lost including 124 Americans. This riveting account, written by leading members of the Lusitania Historical Society in cooperation with the owner of the ship's wreckage, provides a concise history of the Lusitania's construction, operational record, and new theories on how and why it sank so quickly. The authors capture the mystique of the famous liner--from her great achievements and groundbreaking technical advances to the rumors of a treasure cargo and consequences of fate. Illustrated with contemporary images of the wreck today, this well-researched volume will be enjoyed by those steeped in the Lusitania story and those exploring this pivotal event for the first time. 192 pages. 20 illustrations. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.
Customer Reviews:
Inside Secrets of the Lusitania.......2007-04-12
This book contains vital answers to some questions that have been missed, and others that still trouble us regarding the fate of the torpedoed ocean liner.
Why didn't she run faster? Why no escort? What was in the hold, and why did Lusitania sink so fast? All are answered here, and quite credibly in the light of other historical accounts I've studied. Even a superb, dramatic account like "Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy" by Diane Preston can still leave formidable uncertainties.
For instance: the biggest military secret, which was only obscured by the court inquest, is asked: what were the Lusitania's final orders from the British Admiralty? Whether or not you accept the authors' conclusion on this matter, it is an intriguing possibility that must be considered.
To anyone who has caught the Lusitania bug, this volume ia a good fast read, and the comprehensive passenger-and-crew list is a useful resource.
This fine historical volume suggests to me that the co-authors, as London taxi drivers, may have had access to some rare "scuttlebutt" from historians or members of the Admiralty.
Leonard Carpenter
What a waste!.......2005-01-20
The torpedo hit the forward magazine? I don't think so. Schweiger saw his missle hit the ship clearly; the torpedo hit right under the bridge as he stated; at the farthest forward, the torpedo hit just in front of the bridge, which was still a good distance away from the magazine. And port-side lifeboats slamming across the boat deck? Only one of them broke free, but the rest of the boats just swung into the superstructure and then back into their positions again. In any case, none of the lifeboats that were lowered safely came from the port side.
And explosives in the magazine? No, what the Lusi carried was little more than fuses, bullets and shrapnel, all of which were in separate cases and therefore could not have ignited even if the torpedo did hit that far forward. Besides, if the explosives did go off, wouldn't it have destroyed the magazine? The pictures of the wreck show clearly that the bow is intact, save for some damage that was probably just part of the impact at the bottom. Conclusion? Nothing in the magazine exploded.
"he realized that his shot had struck the ship further forward of where he had first thought (he was aiming for a hit in the Lusitania's forward boiler room)," How would Schwieger know the layout of the ship?
The "complete story"? Ha! There seems to be very little focus on the sinking itself and of the people. This is more about what could have happened to cause the sinking. Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy, by Diana Preston, describes the human side much more and gives many more possible causes of what might have happened to cause the sinking without supporting any particular point.
I'm not sure what I was expecting... but I wasted my money and time on this book. And boring? Let's not get started on that. Do not waste anything on this book. Oi!
Poorly written attempt at history.......2004-12-21
The jacket claims this book is "authoritative" and the "complete story". To the contrary, it is far from it. The book is riddled with errors from the passenger list down to spurious claims about lifeboats careening down the deck,smashing into people. The latter was introduced in the Hickey/Smith book. There was no evidence other than a misinterpretation of surviving officer Albert Bestic's account. Had they checked his original testimony, testimony they said they used, he never said anything of the kind. No one on the port side made this claim or that they had to duck out of the way of lifeboats sliding down the deck. Including Isaac Lehmann who said the boat that swung inboard ( whose account they partially use ), but swung back into its original position- not down the deck. The authors also do not site the original source, 'Seven Days to Disaster.' They claim the last piece of music was 'Blue Danube'. Incorrect- many survivors from the dining room said it was 'Tipperary'. They again, misinterpreted the account of survivor Oliver Bernard. Some things seem almost serialized, not straight reporting of history. Like sequences detailing Captain Turner's day to day actions. The cause of the sinking is examined and readers will note it is similar to Colin Simpson's claim. With todays resources, the authors could have actually turned up new and interesting information, but, sadly, there is nothing new in this book and what is in this book is generally wrong.
Amazon.com
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sank the British passenger ship Lusitania on the high seas, killing some 1,200 people, among them the magnate Alfred Vanderbilt and the renowned author Elbert Hubbard. In this swiftly paced reconstruction, Diana Preston examines the events of that day and its aftermath--and hints at some tantalizing secrets. Among other things, the sinking of the Lusitania and the death of scores of American passengers helped draw the United States into World War I. Yet, Preston observes, it was no sneak attack; the German government had gone out of its way to warn prospective passengers that the English ship, as a military reserve vessel, was a fair target. And for good reason, though the Germans may not have known it; Preston suggests that it may well have been carrying armaments, which does much to explain why the British government suppressed a fact-finding inquest following the sinking. Whatever the truth, the destruction of the Lusitania had far-reaching effects--not least of them the Kaiser's ordering a stop to unrestricted submarine warfare. Preston's richly detailed, highly readable history sheds new light on the incident and the conduct of modern war. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
A brilliantly sunny day, and then the explosion; on what had been an ordinary weekday, there is suddenly fire, smoke, confusion, bodies, panic...
On May 7, 1915, the ocean liner Lusitania was struck by a terrifying new weapon-and became a casualty of a terrible new kind of war. This is a vivid account of the event that shocked the world; of the heyday of the luxury liner and the first days of the modern submarine; a critical chapter in the progress of World War I; and a remarkable human drama. With first-person survivor accounts and a cast of characters ranging from Winston Churchill and Alfred Vanderbilt to the crew of the German U-boat that torpedoed a ship full of civilians, this is a true tale of terror and tragedy, of heroism and miraculous survival.
Customer Reviews:
A Titanic Enthusiast.......2006-08-13
This book was a great one about the stricken liner. She writes a wonderful coffeetable type book on the RMS Lusitania. The story of the Lusitania is always one of mystery. The likes of which Bob Ballard had to investigate. Some say it was our base to rally the United States into World War I. Afterall 120 American's were on the liner heading for England.
Captain Turner did all known to try to prevent the torpedo from hitting the Cunarder by the zig-zag pattern of sailing. It also proved that mans technology cannot always save us from ourselves. Even with plenty of lifeboats for crew, & passengers with the list of the liner half of the lifeboats were rendered unuseable.
She bring up the idea that the German Embassy in Washington D. C., and the advertisement in the New York papers did warn that ANY ship cruising to Great Britain could be in grave danger of her fate. We were not at war anyone at said time. To me the torpedoing of the RMS Lusitania was an old act of terrorism.
However being used a pawn in any matter is ashame for Great Britain, Germany, and the not so innocent United States.
Get this quality book on the liner --- even if your strickly a Titaniac.
Quite Informative.......2006-06-23
Lusitania: An epic tragedy encompasses the many tragic details that arose when an attack on non- combatant civilians was initiated during the First world war. The elaborate touches on the impact of the Lusitania's sinking and aftermath are thoroughly described and well defined. Preston knows her Lusitania from inside and out. Her ample research is beyond obvious, and her knowledge of the history is unprecedented. The author has an excellent sense of putting one and one together, and drawing sophisticated and relevant conclusions utilizing a broad array of information, that really gets one thinking. The more intriguing aspects of the book is the sense of wonder and possibility, because many theories are contradicted by the same facts that support them. And this justifies the fact that as outspoken as history truly is, often times it still is one big mystery.
The most respectable characteristic of Preston's "Lusitania" is the fact that the author recognizes all references to actions and thoughts must be approached with an understanding of and mindset similar to that of the era - 1915. She explains the need to view the attack on the Lusitania from two perspectives, the horrors or war, and the breeching of international law and the humane details of an advanced civilization. Preston addresses the questions left deliberately unanswered, such as the nature of the second explosion aboard the Lusitania, and whether or not it was due to illegal ammunition.
*Why did the Lusitania travel so slowly (being one of the swiftest liners) on a straight path in a danger zone?
* Was she a pawn to bring the United States into the war?
* Was the charge of "willful murder" proper? - Against whom was it justified?
* Why did the ship sink in 18 minutes?
The birth of the vessel, length of the transatlantic run, and Lusitania's influence on World War one are present within the book. How, by the words of Winston Churchill, "the poor babies who perished in the ocean struck a blow at German power more deadly than could have been achieved by the sacrifice of a hundred thousand fighting men."
Diana is well prepared to shine light on the many conflicting theories regarding the tragedy, and how the image of women drowning with drifting long hair and children cradled in their harms provided the Allies with a huge propaganda advantage. The outrage of the world press is vividly expressed, and the idea that the Lusitania's sinking was much more of a disaster for Germany than Britain was supported and explained. Her use of true logic and hard evidence and facts provide her with sensible conclusions that finally tie together the loose threads of a story left untold.
In all reality, I credit Preston with recognizing how the first world war was something in the way of a first step for our own world, towards the devastation of the middle ages and the compelling power of the repetition of history itself. How, the German's use of a chemical war, the unrestricted submarine warfare system, and the murder of 1,198 civilians lead to a new age of barbarism and total war. How times will soon shift to reflect events like Hiroshima, and secure victory despite the once abundant sense of moral. Each high power will follow this prompted path, Preston explains, while the days of clean and noble war have given way to the darkness of our current world, where any such shade of gray is absent in war to come, from 1915, and on.
I have given this book a 4/5 simply because parts of it can seem to have more in common with a research paper than a book or story. On the other hand, Preston's thinking is easy to follow, and anyone interested in a world engulfed in war and the outbreak of one tragic event that alters the era itself, is advised to read this book. It'll get you thinking, and change your perspective immediately.
avoidable tragedy.......2006-02-10
Well written retelling of the avoidable sinking and great loss of life on the Lusitania which eventually led to US entry into WW1 It reads like a novel but like life is stranger than any fiction.
Length, breadth and depth.......2006-01-09
This is a great read that plays at many levels. First, it is a level-headed analysis of the sinking of the Lusitania--just how did this happen? Second, the narrative includes many fascinating details of the individual passengers and crew so the reader follows the unfolding drama with an almost personal interest for who gets the last life vest. Lastly, Diana Preston gives a wonderful overview of how the European powers stumbled into war, and how they lost track of what they were fighting for. She gives an understanding of the ambivilence of the American position: Clearly interested in staying out of the war, and yet foreseeing the inevitable participation.
The writing style is crisp and well-edited so this is a real "page turner" that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The sinking of the Lusitania.......2005-10-31
Controversy has surrounded the sinking of the Lusitania ever since it went down off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915, torpedoed by a German U-boat (U-20), killing almost 1,200 people, including 124 Americans. Germany had warned that British ocean-going ships would be fair targets for submarines, and issued specific warnings to Americans not to travel aboard the Lusitania. Apparently U-20 had no initial intention of firing upon the ship, but only did so at the last moment when it thought it was going to be rammed.
Conspiracy theorists love to ponder why the British captain took no defensive maneuvers while sailing through enemy-infested waters, and just how much wartime munitions were aboard, and why did the ship sink in only 18 minutes. Was it a ploy to get America involved in the war? Although other ships with additional American loss of life were subsequently sunk, the Lusitania struck a chord and was remembered more than the others as a direct link to pushing Woodrow Wilson into the war camp.
Preston's account of the sinking is highly detailed (perhaps too much so when it comes to telling about the passengers and their ordeal) and interesting. She wonders why the British acted so sure the liner wouldn't be attacked, which seems in hindsight to be reckless behavior. The book is a good account of a pivotal event of WW I. Recommended.
Customer Reviews:
A Solid Account About a Sordid Tragedy.......2007-08-25
The late James Burnham remarked that among Great Britian's major exports, hypocricy was the formost of their exports. Colin Simpson's book titled THE LUSITANIA is yet one more classic example of such hypocricy. This is a well written and thoroughly documented account of the actual status of THE LUSITANIA and the background to the attack with took place in 1915.
Simpson gave his readers a solid background of the behind-the-scenes efforts of what some call The Eastern Establishment to prod Americans into war with the Germans during World War I. The Hate Germany rhetoric in this country was incited by Eastern Establishment Anglophiles in their efforts to elicit support for the British while creating lies and distortions about alleged German atrocities which never took place. As an aside Posonby's book undermines these myths and folklore nonsense.
Simpson documented how bankers and the plutocratic rich used every means fair or foul to arm the British during the early phases of World War I. While the Americans were supposedly neutral, these men used their financial connections to support the British when the supposedly easy victory of the "allies" over their German rivals proved to be anything but easy. While President Wilson and some in his administration preached neutrality in 1914 and 1915, Wilson and some of his advisers were actively planning to enlist U.S. support and military intervention against the Germans as early as 1915 in violation of both U.S. law and international law.
Simson was very comprehensive and clear about the status of THE LUSITANIA and other British vessels operated by the Cunard line. Under international law, merchant ships ( civilian vessels) were not to armed. If a civilian vessel were armed, that ship was subject to attack by enemy naval commanders as though the ship was a naval military vessel. THE LUSITANIA and many other British civilian vessels were indeed armed. Simpson is clear that THE LUSITANIA was not only armed, the ship was registered in the British navy as an auxillary battle cruiser which made the ship a legal military target under international law. When the British lied about THE LUSITANIA being armed, British officials were embarrassed when Cunard officials who owned the vessel boasted about THE LUSITANIA's restructuring for armament. Simpson detailed the construction of the ship to contain gun placements, and THE LUSITANIA's crew ordered passangers away from where the guns were.
Readers will discover that British sea captains who were in charge of ships such as THE LUSITANIA often hoisted the American flag on the high seas. When German U Boat commanders would surface to warn what they thought was an American ship of possible danger, the British commanders would order the shooting of the German submarine or ramming the subermarine.
An interesting anecdote is the fact that THE LUSITANIA would have been attacked sooner had some of the German U Boat commanders had a current manual indentifying THE LUSITANIA as resistered as a naval vessel and not a civilian vessel. However, the Germans did indeed get current manuals and gave warning in New York City newspapers of the danger that U.S. passangers assumed if they travelled on this ship. In fact, President was derelect in his duty as President when he failed to enforce a U.S. law forbidding U.S. civilians from travelling on ships and trains carrying munitions and explosives. THE LUSITANIA was carrying such cargo in addition to being armed.
The conditions leading to the attack are criminal. The British were aware of a German submarine in the area of THE LUSITIANIA's. THE LUSITANIA had a naval escort that was inexplicably withdrawn when the vessel approached the coast of Ireland exposing the vessel to attack. After the attack, British naval captains threatened civilian boaters with attack if these civilians tried to rescue the passangers. The British government was trying to increase the casuality rate to inflame American opinion.
British hypocricy was further exposed in this book in subsequent hearing about the sinking of THE LUSITIANIA. The deceit and lying of British government officials was witheld from the hearings in an attempt to blame the Captain of THE LUSITANIA as solely responsible for the tragedy. This did not work very well, and the matter was obscured from the press and other interested parties.
Some of this reviewer's college students surprised him when these students showed journalistic accounts of THE LUSITANIA tragedy. Some of the reporters actually reported on the actual status of THE LUSITANIA as an armed battle auxillary cruiser and the British deceit. Yet, textbook writers and publishers avoid the actual truth of the sinking of THE LUSITANIA like the plague. It is about time for these cowards to write honest history about the event almost a hundred years later.
There is little criticism of this book. There are an overwhelming amount of documents and sources which makes the book useful and thorough. Anyone who wants a dispassionate view of history would do well to read and absorb this book.
A very interesting book........1999-05-11
I've read this title several times, and it's one of those few that get better each time. This is NOT a human interest type of book for the casual reader. It also challenges the "East Coast Establishment" view, which has dominated our history books for so long. Simpson examines many topics in detail, including the political and naval background as well as cargo, manifesting and port clearance procedures, and comes up with a most fascinating and documented tale. Although I can't agree with all his arguments and inferences, I think his conclusions in the main are correct. I would recommend this book highly to any serious student of the event.
Frankie Says "Do a Speech on the Titanic".......1999-02-20
I read this book to make a speech for my AP European History class, and while I was reading it, I slept through a lot of it. Since I did not understand too much of the book, I sunk just like how the Lusitania did. In my opinion, the names of the people were too long (i.e. Wind"shaft"ston Church"n'priest"hill"n'mountain") got me all confused. But on the other hand, Simpson had some pretty good ideas and he seemed like he was a German spy, but he also had British views too. The Titanic is a much easier speech and Kate Winslet gets naked in the movie.
Average customer rating:
- Lusitania: An Epic Trajedy by Diane Preston
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Rembember the Lusitania!
Diana Preston
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
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Binding: Hardcover
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Ghost Liners: Exploring the World's Greatest Lost Ships (64pp)
ASIN: 0802788467 |
Book Description
Three years after the tragic sinking of the Titanic, another luxury liner went to a watery grave beneath the icy depths of the North Atlantic. The sinking of the Lusitania, torpedoed by a German U-boat in a sneak attack off the coast of Ireland, was one of the most pivotal and universally condemned acts of World War I.
Diana Preston chronicles the shipboard experiences of three children who were on that fateful voyage. Eleven-year-old Frank Hook, a third-class passenger, was moving to England with his father and older sister. Twelve-year-old Avis Dolphin, a second-class passenger, was being sent to an English boarding school with a chaperone. And five-month-old Audrey Pearl was traveling in luxurious first class with her parents, three siblings, and two nannies.
From different walks of life and varied circumstances, these three children shared a common bond-they all survived one of the most disastrous shipwrecks in history. Their stories, taken from firsthand accounts, personal interviews, and historical documents, provide a riveting look at one of the most tragic and significant events of World War I.
Customer Reviews:
Lusitania: An Epic Trajedy by Diane Preston.......2005-06-08
Don't take the age range given here on Amazon (9-12) seriously; this is an adult book. I am immensely impressed with the depth and breadth of Ms Preston's research. I have read other books on the Lusitania and none compare to hers, not only for the quality of the research, but for the beautifully flowing writing that makes it a true pleasure to read. I have already ordered her book on the Boxer Rebellion and others based on the impression I got from the Lusitania Book. If you think you have read all about the disaster, think again and get this book; I'm glad I did!
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