Decent overview for Titanic tyros
Why the Titanic was Doomed, by Bryan Jackson
Books about the Titanic must now number in the thousands, yet still there is an appetite for more. This latest volume is a serviceable summary of how an unhappy confluence of events resulted in the 1912 tragedy, from a delayed maiden voyage to mistakes by individuals and of course the notorious shortage of lifeboats. The claim that Why the Titanic was Doomed offers 'a new and unique look' at these circumstances is pushing it, as readers of all those other Titanic books are unlikely to find anything fresh here. However, the book is well-researched, the information is clearly presented and there are some decent black-and-white images, so it would be a good read for someone new to the topic.
Why the Titanic was Doomed
By Bryan Jackson
Pen & Sword, £20
ISBN: 978 13990 97164
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Unexpected family fallout from the Titanic disaster
Titanic Legacy, by Dan E. ParkesDan Parkes, a filmmaker known for his 40 years of award-winning work on the Titanic, brings a different story to life in his first book, which explores the legacy of the disaster for the family of Captain Edward Smith – a member of the Nautilus predecessor union MMSA.
When the Merchant Navy goes to war
The QE2 in the Falklands War, by Commodore Ronald Warwick and David HumphreysWhen the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 became a STUFT (ship taken up from trade) in the 1982 Falklands War, the vessel's civilian crew were up for the challenge.
Crowning the latest Queen
Queen Anne: A Photographic Journey, by Chris Frame and Rachelle CrossThis glossy title celebrates the launch in May 2024 of the Queen Anne, Cunard's second largest ship, and the eighth 'Queen' in its fleet of luxury passenger vessels.
Passenger liners at their peak
The True Transatlantic Super-Liners, by David L. Williams and Richard P. De KerbrechThis captivating book transports the reader to a world before the advent of affordable air travel, when passenger liners ruled the Atlantic Ocean.