Story of the Titanic: As Told by Its Survivors

by Jack Winocour, Archibald Gracie, Lawrence Beesley

Book Overview

Why does the sinking of the Titanic hold such fascination for us? Many reasons have been advanced for the continuing fascination of this epic tragedy, but none, we think, can contribute as much to an understanding of it as the four accounts collected in this volume.
All four authors were survivors, and each presents the catastrophe from his own viewpoint; the icy waters, the cries of the drowning, the confusion, and the heroism, are given...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486206106
• ISBN13: 9780486206103
• Release Date: June 1960
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Three Not To Be Missed Survivor Stories Of The Titanic

Three very DIFFERENT men who faced the greatest challenge of their lives and succeeded tell in their own words how they did it. Anyone who has any interest in the Titanic should NOT miss reading this gripping book. We, the readers, are fortunate to be able to see, through their own words, their harrowing experience and pass it along to us who are safely at home. There are many other books of survivor stories, but this one is very definitely well worth it.

A very thrilling book either real testimonies!

I was very curious about knowing what the only officer surviving said about what happened! It is also important to read the testimonies of people who were there!

Incredible

How amazing it is to read the stories of these survivors and of the courage everyone had aboard the Titanic to remain calm. this truly is a book that need to be put on anybody shelf whose fascinated by the Titanic. Each account is unique and gives a different angle on the ships sinking and a sober reminder that greed can make people careless.

unsurpassed

"That cold green water, crawling its ghostly way up the staircase, was a sight that stamped itself indelibly in my memory. Step, by step, it made its way up, covering the electric lights, which for a short time shone under the suface with a horribly weird effect." This, tetsimony from an officer of the ship, named Lightoller, matches any description for effect that any fiction writer could create. It is the fact that this book is taken from the testimony of four of Titanic's survivors that makes this book so excellent. One gets a real sense of the times---Edwardian England---where duty was paramount and the supposed superiorty of the English race, which colors the survivor's accounts, hints at the very pride that contributed to the disaster---a fascinating paradox. Not only do you get the testimoney from four survivors--each several chapters---but also a boat by boat testimonial from the survivors of those boats. Another reviewer here found this testimony mundane, but I found it fascinating and objectively complete. It seems that the most famous account of the disaster in book form, A Night to Remember, took much of its information from this book, and what makes this book so much more appealing is that the accounts are unfiltered. Captain Lightoller's account is particularly illuminating in that it shines a critical light on the Titanic hearings before the U.S. and English governments, which he calls a "farce." Another fascinating thing about this book is that despite the differing experiences related here by the survivors you begin to pick up bits and pieces of testimony that weave a common thread of experience among all---like a great puzzle.

Shows the Value of Eyewitness Accounts

This Titanic book is different from most others in being told entirely from the perspective of survivors. Two of the surviving passengers and crew tell of the ship's last hours. The first story is told by passenger Lawrence Beesley, a science prof. on his way to America. His account details the trip from Southhampton to New York. Beesley was a level headed individual who tells the story in an almost detached fashion, without fear or hysteria. His detail and objectivity make this my favorite eyewitness account. The writings of Lightoller and Bride are excellent as well. They do a good job of conveying the approaching terror people must have felt as the ship went down. One realizes that they knew what would happen, while many passengers did not. Archibald Gracie's chapter was less good. It begins alright, but he ends up giving us a detailed review of the lowering of each lifeboat, something any later researcher could have done. And unless Gracie was taking notes at the time, I find it hard to believe this was his experience! But all in all, this book is a must for Titanic buffs. It gives us a look into the tragedy that few other books can.

Excellent book you can't put down once you start reading it!

This is truly a must for all who want to read more about the REAL story of the night the Titanic went down, as told by several who were there, and survived. Once you start reading this it's impossible to put down. The book is a compilation of other books, and newspaper stories printed at the time this happened, and there has been no editing or other changes made to make it more for this era. It is as it should be....with the true feelings and experiences of the survivors, as well some exerpts from the official hearings that were held to determine who or where the responsibility for this tragedy should fall upon. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more of the actual events that occured this very tragic night that so many lives were lost.

Stunning - Brings the Tragedy Into Perspective

I was not prepared for the poignancy and vivid details that the survivors provided. I, too, am convinced that James Cameron did a thorough job in researching his topic before the movie. Every book I read, while it repeats some of the known details provides new insights from new perspectives. The compilation of the four survivors has had me on the edge of my seat in realizing how utterly calm the passengers were and how much times have changed. Anyone interested in continuing their reading on the many faces of Titanic should not skip this one.

An unforgettable voyage with acutal Titanic passengers

The Story of the Titanic as told by its survivors is a beautifully written and accurate account of the foundering of the Titanic. The book is a compilation of four previously pubished books by actual survivors. The four authors will transport the reader to a different time and place. Lawrence Beesley's 'The Loss of the SS. Titanic' provides terrific insight into the life and attititudes aboard the Titanic. Archibald Garcies's 'The Truth About the Titanic' offers an incredible story of survival since he actually went down with the ship and was able to swim to safety, only to die a few months later. Finally, Commander Lightoller, one of the only surviving officers, provides a more technical assessment of this epic disaster. Though the story is repeated in each volume I never got bored because each perspective gives the reader greater insights into the people, the ship, and the ensuing disaster. The details in each volume are fascinating. I'm convinced that James Cameron read this book prior to filming the movie since so many of the details in the movie are found in these pages. The writing, reflecting the earlier part of this century, is formal, but beautifully clear. Overall, this is one of the best shipwreck books that I've read. A Must Read.