What do you think?
Rate this book
A Night to Remember
First published in 1955, A Night to Remember remains the definitive, classic tale of the sinking of the Titanic. Walter Lord interviewed more than sixty survivors before committing their searingly vivid recollections to his minute-by-minute account of the Titanic's fatal collision and the experiences of both passengers and crew under pressure of the unthinkable: the swift plummet into icy waters of the ship promised never to sink.
With a new introduction by Nathaniel Philbrick, bestselling author of In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory, this fiftieth-anniversary edition of Walter Lord's classic brings the drama of that night back to life. As Philbrick concludes in his introduction: "From first to last, A Night to Remember is about the people who briefly inhabited the Titanic, and never again will an author have the opportunity to speak to so many of them. In this most essential way, Lord's book can never be outdone, making A Night to Remember the ultimate survivors' tale."
With a new introduction by Nathaniel Philbrick, bestselling author of In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory, this fiftieth-anniversary edition of Walter Lord's classic brings the drama of that night back to life. As Philbrick concludes in his introduction: "From first to last, A Night to Remember is about the people who briefly inhabited the Titanic, and never again will an author have the opportunity to speak to so many of them. In this most essential way, Lord's book can never be outdone, making A Night to Remember the ultimate survivors' tale."
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
2639 people are currently reading
26765 people want to read
About the author
Walter Lord
62 books201 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,508 reviews
April 19, 2025
EDIT: Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't meet your heroes"? Well, I have a variation: "Don't re-read your books."
I rarely rewrite my reviews, but this time I felt it was necessary. The only reason I'm not lowering my rating is because of the teenage newlyweds, Daniel and Mary, who, despite their parents forbidding them to marry due to their young age, eloped and got married in secret, and whose farewell was the most touching part of the book.
Since I’ve learned so much more about the Titanic than I did when I first read this book and have taken on the role of a highly qualified Titanic expert (just roll with it), I've noticed things that previously didn't bother me now do. I understand this was written in 1955 and reflects its time, but the casual sexism frustrated me. A Night to Remember is considered the best non-fiction book about the Titanic, and while I understand the reasoning behind this, certain aspects of the book did not sit well with me.
For example, there are lines like this: 'Women were never more unpredictable.'
But was it women who ignored seven iceberg warnings from other ships? Was it a woman who forgot to hand over the key to a crow's nest locker that contained binoculars, which could have helped spot the iceberg earlier? Was it women who launched some of the lifeboats half full?
If I had read that the gender of the iceberg was female, I wouldn't have been remotely surprised.
SPOILERS (yes, I know it's historical non-fiction, but just in case someone hasn't heard of the Titanic, here's a warning.)
The author repeatedly points out that the women in the lifeboats were unwilling to return and assist the survivors in the water. This is despite the actions of the famous Margaret Brown, also known as "The Unsinkable Mrs. Brown," who urged the crewmen in her lifeboat to go back and save more passengers. When her repeated requests were denied by a crewman, she even threatened to throw him overboard.
This is a controversial subject that, as I matured, I have changed my stance on. As terrible as it is, I no longer blame the men and women who chose not to return to save more people. I used to have a self-righteous and romantic view of the lifeboat dilemma and was certain I would have gone back to help if given the chance. But would I have? The lifeboats would have been overturned by the panicked and traumatized people in the water, resulting in the death of everyone, including those in the lifeboats. That’s why they didn’t go back.
We often view that decision as cold and immoral, but I can’t blame them. It was an impossible choice: go back and risk being capsized, or stay away and listen to the screams of dying men, women, and children without doing anything to help. I feel for the survivors. Many were haunted by those screams for the rest of their lives. During that time, survivor's guilt and PTSD were not recognized, and none of the survivors received adequate mental health support. This is why both women and men who survived the Titanic struggled later in life, often due to alcoholism or multiple unsuccessful marriages. Only lifeboat No. 14, commanded by Fifth Officer Lowe, returned to the scene and rescued four people from the water, one of whom died shortly after.
I used to despise Quartermaster Robert Hichens for refusing to listen to Molly Brown and help, but now I feel sorry for him and his family, who continue to be demonized by the media to this day.
“I heard a graphic account of how the Titanic up-ended herself and remained poised like some colossal nightmare of a fish, her tail high in the air, her nose deep in the water, until she dived finally from human sight.”
Approximately 123 of the 324 first-class passengers perished in the disaster. 173 of the 284 second-class passengers died. The crew and third-class passengers suffered the most casualties. Out of 710 third-class passengers, only 174 survived. Among the fatalities were 700 crew members. An estimated 53 children lost their lives. Only 337 bodies were recovered.
While the book is well-written and has touching moments, some parts feel dry and emotionless. This isn't inherently negative; I simply prefer more emotional depth in disaster stories, which is the same issue I had with the 1958 film *A Night to Remember*, adapted from the book. I know my opinion may be controversial due to the film's esteemed reputation, but I found it boring and passionless. It didn't stir any feelings within me; however, similar to the book, the film has a considerable fan base that likely disagrees with my perspective, and that's completely fine.
I've also noticed that fans of this book and the 1958 movie tend to dislike James Cameron's 1997 *Titanic*, arguing that the 1958 version is more accurate. I disagree with that perspective. While I acknowledge there are aspects of the 1997 film to criticize—and I've addressed some of these in my other reviews, such as the portrayal of third-class passengers being intentionally confined behind gates by the crew during the sinking, which prevented them from reaching the lifeboats, as well as the creative liberties taken in the depiction of Scottish First Officer Murdoch - Cameron's representation of the sinking itself was nearly accurate.
Additionally, names were changed in the 1958 film, and some characters did things they never did in real life. Therefore, I don't understand how some people can claim the movie is 100% accurate, as it is not. The 1958 version also omitted crucial details, such as the ship breaking in two, which was a significant aspect of the disaster. It's important to note that witness accounts of the ship breaking apart were dismissed during the US Senate and British Board of Trade inquiries and were deemed false. It wasn't until Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic in 1985 that it was confirmed that the ship did indeed break in two.
Furthermore, some officers received all the recognition, while the contributions of others were minimized. I will refrain from naming anyone out of respect, as it seems all officers did their utmost. However, it is worth noting that certain officers prevented any men from boarding the lifeboats - a choice that ultimately led to the loss of lives that could have been saved. In contrast, First Officer Murdoch, who permitted men to board the lifeboats when no women and children were nearby, has been unfairly demonized in both films.
Despite my criticisms, the 1958 movie is far superior to the 1953 version, which I consider an atrocity. The passengers stand motionless before suddenly breaking into song, even as the ship falls apart around them. My only question is... why? There were no reports of any passengers singing on board because, in real life, people don’t spontaneously break into song when facing the terrifying prospect of being thrown into the frigid, dark ocean.
The 1953 version:
Then again, look at what happened with the Titan submersible. If such a scenario occurred in a film, viewers would likely dismiss it as implausible, claiming that no one would behave that way in real life.
1912: Let's ignore the seven iceberg warnings we've received and navigate through the icy waters at night at nearly full speed. This ship is unsinkable. We'll be fine.
2023: Let's take rich people 12,500 feet underwater to explore the Titanic in a tin can made from carbon fiber, operated by an Xbox game controller. This submersible is unimplodable. We'll be fine.
“There will never be another like her.” In 43 years on the Atlantic run he has seen them all—Olympic … Majestic … Mauretania … and so on. Today, as carver in the kitchen of the Queen Elizabeth, Burgess is probably the last Titanic crewman on active service. “They can make them bigger and faster, but it was the care and effort that went into her. She was a beautiful, wonderful ship.”
The part that resonated with me the most was when the married couples said goodbye to each other.
It's all right, little girl,” called Daniel Marvin to his new bride; “you go and I’ll stay a while.” He blew her a kiss as she entered the lifeboat. (Daniel was only 18 when he died; his body, like most of those that were recovered, was never identified. His wife, Mary, gave birth to their daughter a few months after the tragedy.)
“I’ll see you later,” Adolf Dyker smiled as he helped Mrs. Dyker across the gunwale. (Adolf was 23 when he died, and his body was never identified.)
Mr. Turrell Cavendish said nothing to Mrs. Cavendish. Just a kiss … a long look … another kiss … and he disappeared into the crowd. (Turrell was 36 when he died; his body was never identified.)
Mark Fortune took his wife’s valuables, as he and his son Charles saw off Mrs. Fortune and their three daughters. “I’ll take care of them; we’re going in the next boat,” he explained. “Charles, take care of Father,” one of the girls called back to her brother. (Mark, 64, and Charles, 19, died, and their bodies were never found.)
Ida Straus refused to leave her husband, Isidor, and told him, 'We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go.' (Both Isidor and Ida died. Only Isidor's body was found.)
Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Smith were having the same kind of argument. Turning to his wife, he spoke very slowly: “I never expected to ask you to obey, but this is one time you must. It is only a matter of form to have women and children first. The ship is thoroughly equipped and everyone on her will be saved.” Mrs. Smith asked him if he was being completely truthful. Mr. Smith gave a firm, decisive, “Yes.” So they kissed goodbye, and as the boat dropped to the sea, he called from the deck, “Keep your hands in your pockets; it is very cold weather.” (Lucien was 24 when he died, and his body was never identified.)
I rarely rewrite my reviews, but this time I felt it was necessary. The only reason I'm not lowering my rating is because of the teenage newlyweds, Daniel and Mary, who, despite their parents forbidding them to marry due to their young age, eloped and got married in secret, and whose farewell was the most touching part of the book.
Since I’ve learned so much more about the Titanic than I did when I first read this book and have taken on the role of a highly qualified Titanic expert (just roll with it), I've noticed things that previously didn't bother me now do. I understand this was written in 1955 and reflects its time, but the casual sexism frustrated me. A Night to Remember is considered the best non-fiction book about the Titanic, and while I understand the reasoning behind this, certain aspects of the book did not sit well with me.
For example, there are lines like this: 'Women were never more unpredictable.'
But was it women who ignored seven iceberg warnings from other ships? Was it a woman who forgot to hand over the key to a crow's nest locker that contained binoculars, which could have helped spot the iceberg earlier? Was it women who launched some of the lifeboats half full?
If I had read that the gender of the iceberg was female, I wouldn't have been remotely surprised.
SPOILERS (yes, I know it's historical non-fiction, but just in case someone hasn't heard of the Titanic, here's a warning.)
The author repeatedly points out that the women in the lifeboats were unwilling to return and assist the survivors in the water. This is despite the actions of the famous Margaret Brown, also known as "The Unsinkable Mrs. Brown," who urged the crewmen in her lifeboat to go back and save more passengers. When her repeated requests were denied by a crewman, she even threatened to throw him overboard.
This is a controversial subject that, as I matured, I have changed my stance on. As terrible as it is, I no longer blame the men and women who chose not to return to save more people. I used to have a self-righteous and romantic view of the lifeboat dilemma and was certain I would have gone back to help if given the chance. But would I have? The lifeboats would have been overturned by the panicked and traumatized people in the water, resulting in the death of everyone, including those in the lifeboats. That’s why they didn’t go back.
We often view that decision as cold and immoral, but I can’t blame them. It was an impossible choice: go back and risk being capsized, or stay away and listen to the screams of dying men, women, and children without doing anything to help. I feel for the survivors. Many were haunted by those screams for the rest of their lives. During that time, survivor's guilt and PTSD were not recognized, and none of the survivors received adequate mental health support. This is why both women and men who survived the Titanic struggled later in life, often due to alcoholism or multiple unsuccessful marriages. Only lifeboat No. 14, commanded by Fifth Officer Lowe, returned to the scene and rescued four people from the water, one of whom died shortly after.
I used to despise Quartermaster Robert Hichens for refusing to listen to Molly Brown and help, but now I feel sorry for him and his family, who continue to be demonized by the media to this day.
“I heard a graphic account of how the Titanic up-ended herself and remained poised like some colossal nightmare of a fish, her tail high in the air, her nose deep in the water, until she dived finally from human sight.”
Approximately 123 of the 324 first-class passengers perished in the disaster. 173 of the 284 second-class passengers died. The crew and third-class passengers suffered the most casualties. Out of 710 third-class passengers, only 174 survived. Among the fatalities were 700 crew members. An estimated 53 children lost their lives. Only 337 bodies were recovered.
While the book is well-written and has touching moments, some parts feel dry and emotionless. This isn't inherently negative; I simply prefer more emotional depth in disaster stories, which is the same issue I had with the 1958 film *A Night to Remember*, adapted from the book. I know my opinion may be controversial due to the film's esteemed reputation, but I found it boring and passionless. It didn't stir any feelings within me; however, similar to the book, the film has a considerable fan base that likely disagrees with my perspective, and that's completely fine.
I've also noticed that fans of this book and the 1958 movie tend to dislike James Cameron's 1997 *Titanic*, arguing that the 1958 version is more accurate. I disagree with that perspective. While I acknowledge there are aspects of the 1997 film to criticize—and I've addressed some of these in my other reviews, such as the portrayal of third-class passengers being intentionally confined behind gates by the crew during the sinking, which prevented them from reaching the lifeboats, as well as the creative liberties taken in the depiction of Scottish First Officer Murdoch - Cameron's representation of the sinking itself was nearly accurate.
Additionally, names were changed in the 1958 film, and some characters did things they never did in real life. Therefore, I don't understand how some people can claim the movie is 100% accurate, as it is not. The 1958 version also omitted crucial details, such as the ship breaking in two, which was a significant aspect of the disaster. It's important to note that witness accounts of the ship breaking apart were dismissed during the US Senate and British Board of Trade inquiries and were deemed false. It wasn't until Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic in 1985 that it was confirmed that the ship did indeed break in two.
Furthermore, some officers received all the recognition, while the contributions of others were minimized. I will refrain from naming anyone out of respect, as it seems all officers did their utmost. However, it is worth noting that certain officers prevented any men from boarding the lifeboats - a choice that ultimately led to the loss of lives that could have been saved. In contrast, First Officer Murdoch, who permitted men to board the lifeboats when no women and children were nearby, has been unfairly demonized in both films.
Despite my criticisms, the 1958 movie is far superior to the 1953 version, which I consider an atrocity. The passengers stand motionless before suddenly breaking into song, even as the ship falls apart around them. My only question is... why? There were no reports of any passengers singing on board because, in real life, people don’t spontaneously break into song when facing the terrifying prospect of being thrown into the frigid, dark ocean.
The 1953 version:
Then again, look at what happened with the Titan submersible. If such a scenario occurred in a film, viewers would likely dismiss it as implausible, claiming that no one would behave that way in real life.
1912: Let's ignore the seven iceberg warnings we've received and navigate through the icy waters at night at nearly full speed. This ship is unsinkable. We'll be fine.
2023: Let's take rich people 12,500 feet underwater to explore the Titanic in a tin can made from carbon fiber, operated by an Xbox game controller. This submersible is unimplodable. We'll be fine.
“There will never be another like her.” In 43 years on the Atlantic run he has seen them all—Olympic … Majestic … Mauretania … and so on. Today, as carver in the kitchen of the Queen Elizabeth, Burgess is probably the last Titanic crewman on active service. “They can make them bigger and faster, but it was the care and effort that went into her. She was a beautiful, wonderful ship.”
The part that resonated with me the most was when the married couples said goodbye to each other.
It's all right, little girl,” called Daniel Marvin to his new bride; “you go and I’ll stay a while.” He blew her a kiss as she entered the lifeboat. (Daniel was only 18 when he died; his body, like most of those that were recovered, was never identified. His wife, Mary, gave birth to their daughter a few months after the tragedy.)
“I’ll see you later,” Adolf Dyker smiled as he helped Mrs. Dyker across the gunwale. (Adolf was 23 when he died, and his body was never identified.)
Mr. Turrell Cavendish said nothing to Mrs. Cavendish. Just a kiss … a long look … another kiss … and he disappeared into the crowd. (Turrell was 36 when he died; his body was never identified.)
Mark Fortune took his wife’s valuables, as he and his son Charles saw off Mrs. Fortune and their three daughters. “I’ll take care of them; we’re going in the next boat,” he explained. “Charles, take care of Father,” one of the girls called back to her brother. (Mark, 64, and Charles, 19, died, and their bodies were never found.)
Ida Straus refused to leave her husband, Isidor, and told him, 'We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go.' (Both Isidor and Ida died. Only Isidor's body was found.)
Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Smith were having the same kind of argument. Turning to his wife, he spoke very slowly: “I never expected to ask you to obey, but this is one time you must. It is only a matter of form to have women and children first. The ship is thoroughly equipped and everyone on her will be saved.” Mrs. Smith asked him if he was being completely truthful. Mr. Smith gave a firm, decisive, “Yes.” So they kissed goodbye, and as the boat dropped to the sea, he called from the deck, “Keep your hands in your pockets; it is very cold weather.” (Lucien was 24 when he died, and his body was never identified.)
May 7, 2020
“All the [lifeboats] together could carry 1178 people. On this Sunday night there were 2207 on board the Titanic. This mathematical discrepancy was known by none of the passengers and few of the crew, but most of them wouldn’t have cared anyhow. The Titanic was unsinkable. Everybody said so. When Mrs. Albert Caldwell was watching the deck hands carry up luggage at Southampton, she asked one of them, ‘Is this ship really unsinkable?’ ‘Yes, lady,’ he answered. ‘God himself could not sink this ship.’”
- Walter Lord, A Night to Remember
James Cameron ruined the Titanic.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a near-great movie that – leaving aside the tired, mismatched love-story, and the atrocious dialogue – has one of the five-best set-piece action sequences in the long history of Hollywood.
Still, the movie ruined Titanic, at least for those who already loved her.
Sure, it was nice having the beautiful liner, with her sleek lines and awesome symmetry, once again dominating the world. The downside, though, was steep. Now, anyone who's ever been interested in the subject must contend with sideways glances from people who assume your curiosity was piqued by the teenage-catnip pairing of a young Kate Winslet and a young Leonardo DiCaprio “flying” on Titanic’s prow.
Cameron’s Titanic ruled cinemas in 1997-98, breaking records and hoarding awards and filling the airwaves with Celine Dion. This came as a surprise to a lot of folks, but not those who had already been on the bandwagon, who recognized that the sinking of the Titanic is a near-perfect story of an incredibly imperfect voyage.
Certainly, Walter Lord would not have been surprised.
Back in 1955, when A Night to Remember was first published, Titanic’s fame had ebbed a bit. This tends to happen after a world war, a depression, and a second, bigger world war has killed, wounded, or dislocated tens of millions of people. Indeed, when Lord started corresponding with Titanic survivors, many of them expressed skepticism that anyone still cared.
People did. People cared a great deal.
Lord described himself in his own words as a writer of “living history.” He was an anecdotal historian who approached great big sweeping events through the perspectives of the individuals who lived them. Lord used the memories, experiences, and words of various eyewitnesses to tell his story. During his career, he effectively utilized this technique across a variety of subjects, including Pearl Harbor, the battle of Midway, and the siege of the Alamo, but never so effectively as in his certifiably-classic telling of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic.
Lord's style is encompassed in the first two paragraphs:
Right away, you can see the amazing storytelling structure that Lord employs. He starts in the crow's nest, moments before the collision with the iceberg. He identifies one of his main characters, Fred Fleet, and then segues into a short riff on First Class pets. In a subsequent paragraph, Lord circles back to Fleet spotting the iceberg. Fleet warns the bridge and a tense 37 seconds elapse before the ship strikes the berg on its port side. At this point, Lord's tale starts to flower and expand. He leaves Fleet and the crow's nest to tell the stories of other people on different parts of the ship: a quartermaster on the aft docking bridge; a steward in First Class; a night baker baking rolls; passengers from all three classes.
Lord doesn't employ a straight, linear narrative. Rather, A Night to Remember resembles a mosaic. An overarching picture of the tragedy is created out of dozens of individual accounts. Lord's genius is in weaving all these strands into a cohesive whole. He has a keen eye for dramatic moments and telling quotes. When he describes the ship's break-up, he does so by listing and contrasting all the different items breaking loose and crashing together, from the 29 boilers to a jeweled copy of the Rubaiyat, from 30,000 eggs to “a little mantel clock in B-38.”
Lord is also a strong writer, which allows him to maintain the integrity of the personal observations of the survivors, while still delivering an exciting narrative. (It should be noted that Lord interviewed 63 survivors for A Night to Remember, and his letters with these men and women have become an important source for later Titanic historians).
A Night to Remember is novelistic in its presentation, eschewing analysis and debate. For instance, rather than engage in a discussion about the band's final song, Lord simply chooses the Episcopal hymn Autumn, instead of Nearer My God To Thee. If you desire to know why Lord made that choice, you can read his follow up The Night Lives On, which is an in-depth treatment of a number of fascinating (if ultimately meaningless) questions (including First Officer William Murdoch's alleged suicide, an event blithely passed off as gospel in Cameron's Titanic, much to the chagrin of Murdoch's surviving relatives).
I was five years old when Titanic was discovered, and probably ten when I read this book for the first time. Back then, the story of Titanic had real magic. Yes, it is human tragedy first and foremost; but it is also tragedy in the dramatic sense: the noblesse oblige of “women and children first;” Guggenheim dressing in his best to “die as a gentleman;” Ida Strauss refusing to leave her husband, who was not allowed in a lifeboat; the death of a titan set to music, and rockets, and finally the screams of fifteen-hundred people dropped into a freezing sea.
Today, the only time Titanic is mentioned is when some new book or documentary tries to use cutting edge science to highlight some trivial new piece of evidence that is then blown out of all proportion. That is to be expected, I suppose. Even as the Titanic’s hulk rusts away on the Atlantic seabed, there are those looking to squeeze a few more bucks from her memory. Still, the endless slicing and dicing, the extreme forensic examinations, the listing of minutiae, cause me to forget why I gravitated towards the Titanic in the first place.
Lord tells the Titanic story the way I hope it happened, and the way that the survivors remembered it. Knowing what we do about witness perception, and the tendency to embellish, Lord might have been a bit more critical of his interviewees. I mean, did Guggenheim really take the time to change into his dinner jacket before drowning? Did Captain Smith really step off the plunging bow and swim off into the night? No one can say for certain, yet some of these stories just sound too good to be true. They sound like bad fiction, rather than good history
On the other hand, a lot of the witnesses turned out to be pretty darn perceptive. The great mystery that Ballard solved in 1985 was that Titanic had broken in two. Of course, young Jack Thayer had already said that, seventy-three years earlier, because it had happened fifty-yards from his seventeen year-old eyes.
While the story of the Titanic has moved on, it has not entirely left A Night to Remember behind. It is, despite its minor flaws, still the best single book on the Titanic. Based on Lord's closeness to the actual participants – as well as his enormous talent – it will likely always retain that position.
- Walter Lord, A Night to Remember
James Cameron ruined the Titanic.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a near-great movie that – leaving aside the tired, mismatched love-story, and the atrocious dialogue – has one of the five-best set-piece action sequences in the long history of Hollywood.
Still, the movie ruined Titanic, at least for those who already loved her.
Sure, it was nice having the beautiful liner, with her sleek lines and awesome symmetry, once again dominating the world. The downside, though, was steep. Now, anyone who's ever been interested in the subject must contend with sideways glances from people who assume your curiosity was piqued by the teenage-catnip pairing of a young Kate Winslet and a young Leonardo DiCaprio “flying” on Titanic’s prow.
Cameron’s Titanic ruled cinemas in 1997-98, breaking records and hoarding awards and filling the airwaves with Celine Dion. This came as a surprise to a lot of folks, but not those who had already been on the bandwagon, who recognized that the sinking of the Titanic is a near-perfect story of an incredibly imperfect voyage.
Certainly, Walter Lord would not have been surprised.
Back in 1955, when A Night to Remember was first published, Titanic’s fame had ebbed a bit. This tends to happen after a world war, a depression, and a second, bigger world war has killed, wounded, or dislocated tens of millions of people. Indeed, when Lord started corresponding with Titanic survivors, many of them expressed skepticism that anyone still cared.
People did. People cared a great deal.
Lord described himself in his own words as a writer of “living history.” He was an anecdotal historian who approached great big sweeping events through the perspectives of the individuals who lived them. Lord used the memories, experiences, and words of various eyewitnesses to tell his story. During his career, he effectively utilized this technique across a variety of subjects, including Pearl Harbor, the battle of Midway, and the siege of the Alamo, but never so effectively as in his certifiably-classic telling of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic.
Lord's style is encompassed in the first two paragraphs:
High in the crow's nest of the New White Star Liner Titanic, Lookout Frederick Fleet peered into a dazzling night. It was calm, clear and bitterly cold. There was no moon, but the cloudless sky blazed with stars. The Atlantic was like polished plate glass; people later said they had never seen it so smooth.
This was the fifth night of the Titanic's maiden voyage to New York, and it was already clear that she was not only the largest but also the most glamorous ship in the world. Even the passengers' dogs were glamorous. John Jacob Astor had along his Airedale Kitty. Henry Sleeper Harper, of the publishing family, had his prize Pekingese Sun Yat-sen...
Right away, you can see the amazing storytelling structure that Lord employs. He starts in the crow's nest, moments before the collision with the iceberg. He identifies one of his main characters, Fred Fleet, and then segues into a short riff on First Class pets. In a subsequent paragraph, Lord circles back to Fleet spotting the iceberg. Fleet warns the bridge and a tense 37 seconds elapse before the ship strikes the berg on its port side. At this point, Lord's tale starts to flower and expand. He leaves Fleet and the crow's nest to tell the stories of other people on different parts of the ship: a quartermaster on the aft docking bridge; a steward in First Class; a night baker baking rolls; passengers from all three classes.
Lord doesn't employ a straight, linear narrative. Rather, A Night to Remember resembles a mosaic. An overarching picture of the tragedy is created out of dozens of individual accounts. Lord's genius is in weaving all these strands into a cohesive whole. He has a keen eye for dramatic moments and telling quotes. When he describes the ship's break-up, he does so by listing and contrasting all the different items breaking loose and crashing together, from the 29 boilers to a jeweled copy of the Rubaiyat, from 30,000 eggs to “a little mantel clock in B-38.”
Lord is also a strong writer, which allows him to maintain the integrity of the personal observations of the survivors, while still delivering an exciting narrative. (It should be noted that Lord interviewed 63 survivors for A Night to Remember, and his letters with these men and women have become an important source for later Titanic historians).
Down, down dipped the Titanic's bow, and her stern swung slowly up. She seemed to be moving forward too. It was this motion which generated the wave that hit Daly, Brown, and dozens of others as it rolled aft...Lightoller watched the wave from the roof of the officer's quarters. He saw the crowds retreating up the deck ahead of it. He saw the nimbler ones keep clear, the slower ones overtaken and engulfed. He knew this kind of retreat just prolonged the agony. He turned and, facing the bow, dived in...
A Night to Remember is novelistic in its presentation, eschewing analysis and debate. For instance, rather than engage in a discussion about the band's final song, Lord simply chooses the Episcopal hymn Autumn, instead of Nearer My God To Thee. If you desire to know why Lord made that choice, you can read his follow up The Night Lives On, which is an in-depth treatment of a number of fascinating (if ultimately meaningless) questions (including First Officer William Murdoch's alleged suicide, an event blithely passed off as gospel in Cameron's Titanic, much to the chagrin of Murdoch's surviving relatives).
I was five years old when Titanic was discovered, and probably ten when I read this book for the first time. Back then, the story of Titanic had real magic. Yes, it is human tragedy first and foremost; but it is also tragedy in the dramatic sense: the noblesse oblige of “women and children first;” Guggenheim dressing in his best to “die as a gentleman;” Ida Strauss refusing to leave her husband, who was not allowed in a lifeboat; the death of a titan set to music, and rockets, and finally the screams of fifteen-hundred people dropped into a freezing sea.
Today, the only time Titanic is mentioned is when some new book or documentary tries to use cutting edge science to highlight some trivial new piece of evidence that is then blown out of all proportion. That is to be expected, I suppose. Even as the Titanic’s hulk rusts away on the Atlantic seabed, there are those looking to squeeze a few more bucks from her memory. Still, the endless slicing and dicing, the extreme forensic examinations, the listing of minutiae, cause me to forget why I gravitated towards the Titanic in the first place.
Lord tells the Titanic story the way I hope it happened, and the way that the survivors remembered it. Knowing what we do about witness perception, and the tendency to embellish, Lord might have been a bit more critical of his interviewees. I mean, did Guggenheim really take the time to change into his dinner jacket before drowning? Did Captain Smith really step off the plunging bow and swim off into the night? No one can say for certain, yet some of these stories just sound too good to be true. They sound like bad fiction, rather than good history
On the other hand, a lot of the witnesses turned out to be pretty darn perceptive. The great mystery that Ballard solved in 1985 was that Titanic had broken in two. Of course, young Jack Thayer had already said that, seventy-three years earlier, because it had happened fifty-yards from his seventeen year-old eyes.
While the story of the Titanic has moved on, it has not entirely left A Night to Remember behind. It is, despite its minor flaws, still the best single book on the Titanic. Based on Lord's closeness to the actual participants – as well as his enormous talent – it will likely always retain that position.
June 13, 2025
I think this is the last book I read before the onset of puberty.
I was 12.
It’s for sure it came from my Mom’s library, too…
You see, back in 1962 the Township employed me as a Page there (do I hear muted whispers backstage, of Nepotism?) That was a fact of life in the big fat Police Village of City View, guys - but who loves y’a, baby?
Anyway, this book of course is now eclipsed by Céline Dion singing My Heart Will Go On while standing bravely on the Titanic’s prow in our Collective Unconscious.
Cause that’s the subject of the book - Titanic.
Well, Heaven knows how many bold ‘n brave corrections to Lord’s summary our recent history has now washed up on the Beach of Historicism!
For a while there, I thought I would actually OD on them…
Or even lose my Lunch over Some of them.
Oh, that garish overkill of Hollywood media!
Who loves y’a, baby? Not us.
Not me, anyway… No, I’ll stick with my books.
“Is this the real life - is it just fantasy? Lost in a landslide, no escape from Reality!”
Queen was right.
Just like nepotism, Hollywood rules.
I was 12.
It’s for sure it came from my Mom’s library, too…
You see, back in 1962 the Township employed me as a Page there (do I hear muted whispers backstage, of Nepotism?) That was a fact of life in the big fat Police Village of City View, guys - but who loves y’a, baby?
Anyway, this book of course is now eclipsed by Céline Dion singing My Heart Will Go On while standing bravely on the Titanic’s prow in our Collective Unconscious.
Cause that’s the subject of the book - Titanic.
Well, Heaven knows how many bold ‘n brave corrections to Lord’s summary our recent history has now washed up on the Beach of Historicism!
For a while there, I thought I would actually OD on them…
Or even lose my Lunch over Some of them.
Oh, that garish overkill of Hollywood media!
Who loves y’a, baby? Not us.
Not me, anyway… No, I’ll stick with my books.
“Is this the real life - is it just fantasy? Lost in a landslide, no escape from Reality!”
Queen was right.
Just like nepotism, Hollywood rules.
June 13, 2016
Wow, I can see why this book is considered a classic in narrative nonfiction. In fact, I picked up this book because Nathaniel Philbrick, himself a master writer, told the New York Times that this was one of his favorite books of the genre. (The other nonfiction book he mentioned was Alfred Lansing's Endurance, which I also agree was excellent.)
A Night to Remember gives a gripping, detailed account of what happened the night the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean, killing more than 1,500 people. Originally published in 1955, Walter Lord had interviewed survivors and reviewed documents to create this incredible narrative of the events surrounding April 15, 1912. I also liked the context Lord gave to the tragedy:
*I think Mr. Lord has overlooked a few dozen wars in this eloquent-and-yet-untrue sentence, including the American Civil War, the Napoleonic wars, and innumerable conflicts involving the British Empire. Other than that, this passage is great.
I listened to this book on audio and was so engrossed I finished it in one session. Highly recommended.
Favorite Quote
"What troubled people especially was not just the tragedy — or even its needlessness — but the element of fate in it all. If the Titanic had heeded any of the six ice messages on Sunday ... if ice conditions had been normal ... if the night had been rough or moonlit ... if she had seen the berg 15 seconds sooner — or 15 seconds later ... if she had hit the ice any other way ... if her watertight bulkheads had been one deck higher ... if she had carried enough boats ... if the Californian had only come ... Had any one of those 'ifs' turned out right, every life might have been saved. But they all went against her — a classic Greek tragedy."
A Night to Remember gives a gripping, detailed account of what happened the night the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean, killing more than 1,500 people. Originally published in 1955, Walter Lord had interviewed survivors and reviewed documents to create this incredible narrative of the events surrounding April 15, 1912. I also liked the context Lord gave to the tragedy:
Overriding everything else, the Titanic also marked the end of a general feeling of confidence. Until then men felt they had found the answer to a steady, orderly, civilized life. For 100 years the Western world had been at peace.* For 100 years technology had steadily improved. For 100 years the benefits of peace and industry seemed to be filtering satisfactorily through society. In retrospect, there may seem less grounds for confidence, but at the time most articulate people felt life was all right.
The Titanic woke them up. Never again would they be quite so sure of themselves. In technology especially, the disaster was a terrible blow. Here was the "unsinkable ship" — perhaps man's greatest engineering achievement — going down the first time it sailed.
But it went beyond that. If this supreme achievement was so terribly fragile, what about everything else? If wealth meant so little on this cold April night, did it mean so much the rest of the year? Scores of ministers preached that the Titanic was a heaven-sent lesson to awaken people from their complacency, to punish them for a top-heavy faith in material progress. If it was a lesson, it worked — people have never been sure of anything since.
*I think Mr. Lord has overlooked a few dozen wars in this eloquent-and-yet-untrue sentence, including the American Civil War, the Napoleonic wars, and innumerable conflicts involving the British Empire. Other than that, this passage is great.
I listened to this book on audio and was so engrossed I finished it in one session. Highly recommended.
Favorite Quote
"What troubled people especially was not just the tragedy — or even its needlessness — but the element of fate in it all. If the Titanic had heeded any of the six ice messages on Sunday ... if ice conditions had been normal ... if the night had been rough or moonlit ... if she had seen the berg 15 seconds sooner — or 15 seconds later ... if she had hit the ice any other way ... if her watertight bulkheads had been one deck higher ... if she had carried enough boats ... if the Californian had only come ... Had any one of those 'ifs' turned out right, every life might have been saved. But they all went against her — a classic Greek tragedy."
April 14, 2023
A taut, tight retelling of the Titanic disaster. Well written and therefore horrific.
December 21, 2024
This is quite a detailed account of the sinking of the Titanic…
The author stuck to the set time frame, focused on all the classes of people and their experience, the people who were in the lifeboats.. and what happened while waiting for the Carpathia.
information taken from survivor’s accounts and notes that were taken.
Quite riveting!
The author stuck to the set time frame, focused on all the classes of people and their experience, the people who were in the lifeboats.. and what happened while waiting for the Carpathia.
information taken from survivor’s accounts and notes that were taken.
Quite riveting!
July 28, 2023
This book was published in 1955 when it received rave reviews. I can see why. The writing is masterful and the narrative is completely gripping. Most of us know the essential story of the Titanic but this book provides an inside look at some of passengers (first class) and crew.
The book is filled with details I had never known. It seems that the tragedy might have been prevented if just one of several events had played out differently:
“What troubled people especially was not just the tragedy--or even the needlessness--but the element of fate in it all. If the Titanic had heeded any of the six ice messages on Sunday . . . if ice conditions had been normal . . . if the night had been rough or moonlit . . . if she had seen the berg 15 second sooner--or 15 seconds later . . . if she had hit the ice any other way . . . if her watertight bulkheads had been one deck higher . . . if she had carried enough boats . . . if the Californian had only come. Had any one of these "ifs" turned out right, every life might have been save. But they all went against her--a classic Greek tragedy.”
The story is ultimately about how people respond in the face of tragedy. There were some who ran for the lifeboats but the author focused on those who risked their lives helping others. Then there were the wives who refused to board a lifeboat and leave their husbands in order to save themselves. One woman is quoted as having said, "We've been through everything together over the years, why should that change now?"
The audiobook is free from Amazon. Only about 5 hours long so not a huge commitment. The narrator could not have been better.
The book is filled with details I had never known. It seems that the tragedy might have been prevented if just one of several events had played out differently:
“What troubled people especially was not just the tragedy--or even the needlessness--but the element of fate in it all. If the Titanic had heeded any of the six ice messages on Sunday . . . if ice conditions had been normal . . . if the night had been rough or moonlit . . . if she had seen the berg 15 second sooner--or 15 seconds later . . . if she had hit the ice any other way . . . if her watertight bulkheads had been one deck higher . . . if she had carried enough boats . . . if the Californian had only come. Had any one of these "ifs" turned out right, every life might have been save. But they all went against her--a classic Greek tragedy.”
The story is ultimately about how people respond in the face of tragedy. There were some who ran for the lifeboats but the author focused on those who risked their lives helping others. Then there were the wives who refused to board a lifeboat and leave their husbands in order to save themselves. One woman is quoted as having said, "We've been through everything together over the years, why should that change now?"
The audiobook is free from Amazon. Only about 5 hours long so not a huge commitment. The narrator could not have been better.
May 27, 2021
It is difficult to exist without knowing at least something about the Titanic. From just general fascination about a famous historical tragedy to pop culture interest around the late 90s film, you will be hard pressed to find someone who does not least have enough knowledge about the Titanic disaster to carry on a discussion about the topic. Despite what I know already, I wanted to take the time to go back and read the first (and maybe most famous) non-fiction account of the tragedy. It was 100% worth my time!
I have had this book on my list for a while but was recently inspired to read it after reading The Wreck of the Titan. Titan was a book written several years before the Titanic and has the reputation of being eerily predictive of the real-life event. In my opinion, I found it lacking and wanted to cleanse my palate with an account of the true story.
Lord does a great job of concisely describing the events of that fateful night. It was easy to follow and stay interested in. Sometimes non-fiction can get long winded and repetitive, but this account gets to the point with the details and brings the suspense of the real event to the page. Also found here in more detail than I have seen in other accounts (fiction and non-fiction) is the human response of the people; from heroes to cowards, split second decisions that both saved lives and cost lives, all of it extremely fascinating!
If you have any interest in the event surrounding the Titanic, I highly recommend this title. I also recommend it to fans of maritime stories and important historical events in general.
I have had this book on my list for a while but was recently inspired to read it after reading The Wreck of the Titan. Titan was a book written several years before the Titanic and has the reputation of being eerily predictive of the real-life event. In my opinion, I found it lacking and wanted to cleanse my palate with an account of the true story.
Lord does a great job of concisely describing the events of that fateful night. It was easy to follow and stay interested in. Sometimes non-fiction can get long winded and repetitive, but this account gets to the point with the details and brings the suspense of the real event to the page. Also found here in more detail than I have seen in other accounts (fiction and non-fiction) is the human response of the people; from heroes to cowards, split second decisions that both saved lives and cost lives, all of it extremely fascinating!
If you have any interest in the event surrounding the Titanic, I highly recommend this title. I also recommend it to fans of maritime stories and important historical events in general.
September 29, 2025
This book was first released in 1955 and has been recognized as the best history of the Titanic disaster. The author re-released it in 1976 with photographs and illustrations and this is the edition that I found in my local library.
He wrote a preface that explained that he was not changing any of the narrative of the 1955 book except for some minor corrections but felt that the addition of the photos/illustrations would give a clearer picture of the situation of the fateful night of April 14, 1912. Mr. Lord had access to survivors of the sinking who shared their thoughts and written material to support the verity of his book. He did not fall into the trap that most authors do when "quoting" conversations that they could not possibly know. He did, however, include statements made by passengers and crew as verified by the survivors who made them.
Since the wreck of the ship was not found until the 1980's, the author did not mention the fact that the ship broke in half as it sank but this is not an error. None of the survivors mentioned it and there was no way that he would have known that fact.
This is an amazing, fact based book that should be on everyone's reading list. It will hold you spellbound even though you know what is going to happen. I would also recommend Mr. Lord's other histories which are equally as well done.
He wrote a preface that explained that he was not changing any of the narrative of the 1955 book except for some minor corrections but felt that the addition of the photos/illustrations would give a clearer picture of the situation of the fateful night of April 14, 1912. Mr. Lord had access to survivors of the sinking who shared their thoughts and written material to support the verity of his book. He did not fall into the trap that most authors do when "quoting" conversations that they could not possibly know. He did, however, include statements made by passengers and crew as verified by the survivors who made them.
Since the wreck of the ship was not found until the 1980's, the author did not mention the fact that the ship broke in half as it sank but this is not an error. None of the survivors mentioned it and there was no way that he would have known that fact.
This is an amazing, fact based book that should be on everyone's reading list. It will hold you spellbound even though you know what is going to happen. I would also recommend Mr. Lord's other histories which are equally as well done.
January 16, 2022
Great little quickie history book. Smooth sailing, unlike ...
🚢🚫👀🧊🗻🌊🆘
🚢🚫👀🧊🗻🌊🆘
May 30, 2010
James Cameron's vision of the Titanic decided that the most compelling and lucrative story would focus on two young lovers who had just met. Looking at the passenger manifest, where survivors are listed in italics and the dead are not, suggests how blandly offensive this vision is. It's hard to argue with the chivalry of "women and children first," but for family after family, particularly among first class passengers, fathers and husbands went down with the ship while mothers, wives, and kiddies (and often the female servants of the very wealthy) rowed away in lifeboats. Arthur Ryerson, scion of the steel and iron family, took off his lifebelt when he saw that his wife's maid, Victorine, didn't have one. Ryerson, his wife, and three of their children were returning from France to the U.S. for the funeral of his son, who had been thrown from a car the week before. Ryerson Senior perished. John Jacob Astor asked if he could accompany his wife, who was pregnant, into a boat; request denied. She and her maid survived; Astor and his manservant died. A strange calm descended over the doomed elite: Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet changed into their evening clothes so they could "go down like gentlemen." Mrs. Isador Straus refused to leave her husband (the founder of Macy's) and they watched the hubbub, arms entwined, as in another part of the ship steerage passengers, many of whom didn't speak English, clutched rosaries and prayed. But character was not uniformly spread amongst the nobility. As the ship disappeared beneath the waves, Lady Cosmo Duff Gordon in Lifeboat 1 remarked to her secretary: "There is your beautiful nightdress gone."
Lord engagingly writes of these swells:
The sinking of the Titanic marked the end of an era in many ways, Lord argues, fairly convincingly. The American aristocracy ceased being noble and became merely wealthy. The sense of noblesse oblige went. People continued to make fortunes, but the war and the income tax bit into the unrelieved joyousness of being obscenely moneyed. "Men would go on being brave, but never again would they be brave in quite the same way."
Lord engagingly writes of these swells:
There was a wonderful intimacy about this little world of the Edwardian rich. There was no flicker of surprise when they bumped into each other, whether at the Pyramids (a great favorite), the Cowes regatta, or the springs at Baden-Baden. They seemed to get the same ideas at the same time, and one of these ideas was to make the maiden voyage of the largest ship in the world.
The sinking of the Titanic marked the end of an era in many ways, Lord argues, fairly convincingly. The American aristocracy ceased being noble and became merely wealthy. The sense of noblesse oblige went. People continued to make fortunes, but the war and the income tax bit into the unrelieved joyousness of being obscenely moneyed. "Men would go on being brave, but never again would they be brave in quite the same way."
December 20, 2021
This is a surprisingly short audiobook, about five hours but it's utterly compelling listening. Lord keeps it taut and clear as we switch through various povs to experience that night when the 'unsinkable' Titanic went down.
Issues of class are lightly touched upon and I was somewhat startled to find that Lord himself buys into the gendered values of 1912: that women and children should be saved first, that men should be stoic and self-sacrificing with a stiff upper lip, and that any man who shows fear is somehow a 'coward' and failing in masculinity. It's hard reading/listening to this now not to have more sympathy for people showing fear and desperation in the face of almost certain and terrifying death by drowning.
Alongside this, the sheer hubris surrounding the Titanic is extraordinary - not just the asking-for-trouble 'unsinkable' label but the way in which it was blithely accepted that crossing the Atlantic without adequate life-belts and life rafts was totally fine - we might all joke about the burdens of Health & Safety in the workplace but there's clearly a reason for it!
I was also taken aback at the way trained seamen reacted so differently once the ship had sunk - most steered their lifeboats away from possible survivors in the sea, only a few went searching for swimmers who were still alive. Some of this was down to the Society women who urged the lifeboats away so that they wouldn't be overcome by desperate survivors - but that seamen should subscribe to this seems extraordinary.
And, finally, it's incredible that ships' systems seemed unable to pick up icebergs - not just in the case of the Titanic, but also from one of the rescue ships which navigates a field of icebergs through pure luck - now, it seems, icebergs are mapped.
So a gripping and eye-opening read/listen with haunting evocations of separations and loss - very well read by Martin Jarvis with great clarity and without over-emoting.
Issues of class are lightly touched upon and I was somewhat startled to find that Lord himself buys into the gendered values of 1912: that women and children should be saved first, that men should be stoic and self-sacrificing with a stiff upper lip, and that any man who shows fear is somehow a 'coward' and failing in masculinity. It's hard reading/listening to this now not to have more sympathy for people showing fear and desperation in the face of almost certain and terrifying death by drowning.
Alongside this, the sheer hubris surrounding the Titanic is extraordinary - not just the asking-for-trouble 'unsinkable' label but the way in which it was blithely accepted that crossing the Atlantic without adequate life-belts and life rafts was totally fine - we might all joke about the burdens of Health & Safety in the workplace but there's clearly a reason for it!
I was also taken aback at the way trained seamen reacted so differently once the ship had sunk - most steered their lifeboats away from possible survivors in the sea, only a few went searching for swimmers who were still alive. Some of this was down to the Society women who urged the lifeboats away so that they wouldn't be overcome by desperate survivors - but that seamen should subscribe to this seems extraordinary.
And, finally, it's incredible that ships' systems seemed unable to pick up icebergs - not just in the case of the Titanic, but also from one of the rescue ships which navigates a field of icebergs through pure luck - now, it seems, icebergs are mapped.
So a gripping and eye-opening read/listen with haunting evocations of separations and loss - very well read by Martin Jarvis with great clarity and without over-emoting.
May 12, 2022
“Brilliantly lit from stem to stern, she looked like a sagging birthday cake.”
With all due respect to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, my infatuation with RMS Titanic begins and ends with Walter Lord. Written some forty three years after the infamous disaster, Lord’s accounting is thorough and (no pun intended) deeply engaging.
I was struck by the appalling level of class favoritism when it came time for Titanic’s compliment of 2,229 to abandon ship. The chivalrous cry of “Women and children first!” held true only if you were rich and affluent. Of the 54 children that perished, 53 were steerage passengers. Lord points out that, statistically speaking, a man with a first or second class ticket had a better chance of survival than an infant with a third class berth.
As heartbreaking as this book was, I found I couldn’t put it down. I even read all the endnotes and acknowledgments—something I very rarely do. I just didn’t want to let it go. 5 stars.
With all due respect to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, my infatuation with RMS Titanic begins and ends with Walter Lord. Written some forty three years after the infamous disaster, Lord’s accounting is thorough and (no pun intended) deeply engaging.
I was struck by the appalling level of class favoritism when it came time for Titanic’s compliment of 2,229 to abandon ship. The chivalrous cry of “Women and children first!” held true only if you were rich and affluent. Of the 54 children that perished, 53 were steerage passengers. Lord points out that, statistically speaking, a man with a first or second class ticket had a better chance of survival than an infant with a third class berth.
As heartbreaking as this book was, I found I couldn’t put it down. I even read all the endnotes and acknowledgments—something I very rarely do. I just didn’t want to let it go. 5 stars.
June 14, 2025
There have been three man-made disasters that haunt the American conciousness; Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and the sinking of the Titanic. We watched in horror as the Twin Towers were attacked and crumbled and seen grainy black-and-white footage of battleships at anchor in Pearl Harbor listing to starboard and billowing smoke after a Japanese sneak attack. But no such footage exists for the sinking of the Titanic so we romanticize based on the memories of survivors of the disaster of 113 years ago. Fortunately we do have “A Night to Remember” by Walter Lord, a minute-by-minute account of the disaster from the Titanic’s collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic to lowering away of all lifeboats and the rescue of the survivors.
Lord uses a device later utilized by Cornelius Ryan for his novel about D-Day, “The Longest Day” whereby he calls on the recollections of survivors to tell his story. Forty years after the disaster Lord interviews scores of survivors about what was happening at various stages of the disaster. When did they discover the ship hit an iceberg; what did it feel like; what was the reaction on-board by the other passengers? When it became apparent that the ship was sinking how was the boarding process; How did thepassengers get into life boats; waas there a pecking order; how did passengers react when it was discovered there weren’t enough life boats? How did people in the lifeboats act? Were they content to row away from the scene or did they remain close to the site to pick up survivors who weren’t able to secure a spot in lifeboat?
Like Pearl Harbor and 9/11 the sinking of the Titanic had repercussions. Pearl Harbor ushered in the US entry into World War II; 9/11 brought about an emphasis on homeland security. The Titanic disaster coupled with the Great War had more subtle repercussions. Little did the survivors who landed on the Carpathia realize that a change in society had begun. Immediately passenger liners were required to have lifeboats enough to save all passengers and not just those in first class. But stories of the arrogance of such wealthy passengers as those who filled a lifeboat designed for about 60 with only 12 passengers and other such abuses hastened the democratization of the classes. This movement gained steam from the Great War and the years before World War II. The movement actually led to revolutions in Russia and parts of Europe as the lower and middle classes rose up against the wealthy.
Stories will continue to be written about the Titanic because footage of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor are horrific enough. But the sinking of the Titanic will always be a blank slate where stories about Jack and Rose can seem plausible. But truth is always be stranger than fiction. That’s why “A Night to Remember” is unforgettable.
Lord uses a device later utilized by Cornelius Ryan for his novel about D-Day, “The Longest Day” whereby he calls on the recollections of survivors to tell his story. Forty years after the disaster Lord interviews scores of survivors about what was happening at various stages of the disaster. When did they discover the ship hit an iceberg; what did it feel like; what was the reaction on-board by the other passengers? When it became apparent that the ship was sinking how was the boarding process; How did thepassengers get into life boats; waas there a pecking order; how did passengers react when it was discovered there weren’t enough life boats? How did people in the lifeboats act? Were they content to row away from the scene or did they remain close to the site to pick up survivors who weren’t able to secure a spot in lifeboat?
Like Pearl Harbor and 9/11 the sinking of the Titanic had repercussions. Pearl Harbor ushered in the US entry into World War II; 9/11 brought about an emphasis on homeland security. The Titanic disaster coupled with the Great War had more subtle repercussions. Little did the survivors who landed on the Carpathia realize that a change in society had begun. Immediately passenger liners were required to have lifeboats enough to save all passengers and not just those in first class. But stories of the arrogance of such wealthy passengers as those who filled a lifeboat designed for about 60 with only 12 passengers and other such abuses hastened the democratization of the classes. This movement gained steam from the Great War and the years before World War II. The movement actually led to revolutions in Russia and parts of Europe as the lower and middle classes rose up against the wealthy.
Stories will continue to be written about the Titanic because footage of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor are horrific enough. But the sinking of the Titanic will always be a blank slate where stories about Jack and Rose can seem plausible. But truth is always be stranger than fiction. That’s why “A Night to Remember” is unforgettable.
September 1, 2020
Today's cruise ships are basically floating cities. Able to carry more than 6000 people, the Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Line) is 5 times the size of the Titanic. But back in its day, more than 100 years ago, the Titanic was a wonder. It took thousands of men more than 2 years to build her. Titanic was 4 city blocks long and could carry more than 2,400 people. She was new....she was massive....and she was doomed. 2 years to build.....and the largest ship afloat in April 1912 took just under 3 hours to sink.
Walter Lord tells the story of one of the most famous ocean disasters from before the ship struck an iceberg to the aftermath of the sinking. Walter Lord interviewed more than 60 survivors of the disaster to write the book. A Night to Remember was an instant bestseller in 1955. A film version was released in 1958. Lord even consulted on the filming of the 1997 movie Titanic.
I'm not sure why the fate of the Titanic is such a compelling story. It might be the huge loss of lives, the loss of such a grand ship on its first voyage, passengers with such disparate lives all doomed to the same fate....or a combination of all of it. First Class passenger John Jacob Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the world in 1912, drowned in the Atlantic alongside poor immigrants from steerage. It hits home when you compare ticket prices in today's money....those who paid the equivalent of $50,000 for a first class passage died alongside those who struggled to raise the $460 for a steerage ticket. Lord hits home with the difference in treatment of the classes on board when he points out that only one first class child died....but 52 children from steerage perished. Some passengers in steerage never even made it up to the boat deck for a chance of a seat in a lifeboat.
I'm sure it's his interviews with so many survivors that makes this book so realistic. His descriptions are vivid and made me feel like I was almost there. I listened to the audio version of this book. A combination of Lord's story-telling and Fred Williams excellent narration kept me engrossed in the story from start to finish. I have read many many books on the Titanic, watched movies, listened to podcasts....for me, it's a story I just seem obsessed with. It's horrific...and mesmerizing at the same time. Lord makes the story about the people....not just the event. He tells the story of an Italian woman crying for her children on board the Carpathia, only to be reunited with them both; the first class passenger who refused to leave her Great Dane on board the ship so perished with her dog; and the stunned silence of the women in the lifeboats as they realized they had just witnessed more than 1000 people drown. It's about more than a luxurious boat that didn't survive its first Atlantic crossing.....it's about the loss of more than 1,500 people and the story of the last 3 hours of their lives.
Great book! The audio (Blackstone) is just shy of 5 1/2 hours long. Fred Williams does a great job of narrating. He reads at a steady pace and has a nice voice. Very entertaining listening experience.
Walter Lord also wrote books about Dunkirk and the attack on Pearl Harbor. I've got both on my TBR list now!
Walter Lord tells the story of one of the most famous ocean disasters from before the ship struck an iceberg to the aftermath of the sinking. Walter Lord interviewed more than 60 survivors of the disaster to write the book. A Night to Remember was an instant bestseller in 1955. A film version was released in 1958. Lord even consulted on the filming of the 1997 movie Titanic.
I'm not sure why the fate of the Titanic is such a compelling story. It might be the huge loss of lives, the loss of such a grand ship on its first voyage, passengers with such disparate lives all doomed to the same fate....or a combination of all of it. First Class passenger John Jacob Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the world in 1912, drowned in the Atlantic alongside poor immigrants from steerage. It hits home when you compare ticket prices in today's money....those who paid the equivalent of $50,000 for a first class passage died alongside those who struggled to raise the $460 for a steerage ticket. Lord hits home with the difference in treatment of the classes on board when he points out that only one first class child died....but 52 children from steerage perished. Some passengers in steerage never even made it up to the boat deck for a chance of a seat in a lifeboat.
I'm sure it's his interviews with so many survivors that makes this book so realistic. His descriptions are vivid and made me feel like I was almost there. I listened to the audio version of this book. A combination of Lord's story-telling and Fred Williams excellent narration kept me engrossed in the story from start to finish. I have read many many books on the Titanic, watched movies, listened to podcasts....for me, it's a story I just seem obsessed with. It's horrific...and mesmerizing at the same time. Lord makes the story about the people....not just the event. He tells the story of an Italian woman crying for her children on board the Carpathia, only to be reunited with them both; the first class passenger who refused to leave her Great Dane on board the ship so perished with her dog; and the stunned silence of the women in the lifeboats as they realized they had just witnessed more than 1000 people drown. It's about more than a luxurious boat that didn't survive its first Atlantic crossing.....it's about the loss of more than 1,500 people and the story of the last 3 hours of their lives.
Great book! The audio (Blackstone) is just shy of 5 1/2 hours long. Fred Williams does a great job of narrating. He reads at a steady pace and has a nice voice. Very entertaining listening experience.
Walter Lord also wrote books about Dunkirk and the attack on Pearl Harbor. I've got both on my TBR list now!
May 22, 2025
When you’re good, 146 pages is enough.
I also don’t think we need to even rehash the plot here.
Walter Lord wrote a masterpiece by doing something more authors should do. Let the story tell itself.
Lord runs through characters with little or no background. He pulls from eyewitness accounts whenever possible, but he also points out when they may not be reliable. His prose is effortless. He wrote this in 1955, but you would never know it.
In the time it takes most authors to just set up the characters and the plot, this book is already over. It’s a good thing because you feel every chaotic second of the sinking.
I won’t belabor the point. Read this book.
I also don’t think we need to even rehash the plot here.
Walter Lord wrote a masterpiece by doing something more authors should do. Let the story tell itself.
Lord runs through characters with little or no background. He pulls from eyewitness accounts whenever possible, but he also points out when they may not be reliable. His prose is effortless. He wrote this in 1955, but you would never know it.
In the time it takes most authors to just set up the characters and the plot, this book is already over. It’s a good thing because you feel every chaotic second of the sinking.
I won’t belabor the point. Read this book.
May 19, 2008
this is a very good book about the sinking of the titanic, probably the best and most accurate of the books written about the titanic disaster, a movie(a night to remember) was made from it, and it tells you what really happened instead of exaggerations, and lies, so it is without a doubt among the best of the books written about the titanic disaster, and I would recommend it to anyone would is interested in the titanic and wants to read a true account
August 25, 2023
This is an excellent minute-by-minute account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 14 & 15, 1912. The story is told through numerous interviews with passengers and crew members who survived. There were even interviews with the crew of the Carpathia, the ship that picked up the survivors who were waiting in the 28 lifeboats. This story tells us of many acts of heroism by the passengers and crew. There were also some conflicting accounts of what happened in the ship's final hours.
I've always found stories of the Titanic fascinating so when I saw this book offered at Audible, I wanted to listen to it. This is a classic story originally published in 1955. The audio is narrated by Martin Jarvis who does an excellent job. My rating: 5 Stars.
I've always found stories of the Titanic fascinating so when I saw this book offered at Audible, I wanted to listen to it. This is a classic story originally published in 1955. The audio is narrated by Martin Jarvis who does an excellent job. My rating: 5 Stars.
October 17, 2021
The 1958 movie adaption of this book is imo the best movie about the Titanic. I’d never read the book until now and it’s really good. Written in 1955, Walter Lord, interviewed many of the survivors and pieced together a minute by minute re-telling of what happened that fateful night.
Read the book and watch the wonderful movie, it’s much better than the modern telling where Rose murders Jack because she wouldn’t scooch over and let him climb up on the big door and float to safety. 😏
Read the book and watch the wonderful movie, it’s much better than the modern telling where Rose murders Jack because she wouldn’t scooch over and let him climb up on the big door and float to safety. 😏
November 27, 2016
A truely matter of fact account of the sinking of the Titanic, brilliantly told. It's interesting that although first published only about 40 years after the disaster people still had differnt memories of the events that happened. This version is an excellent unabridged audio CD, read by the ever reliable Martin Jarvis.
April 11, 2016
This is sort of the primary, classic book on the Titanic disaster. Published in 1955, it's short and smoothly written -- covering the viewpoints of a large cast and changing centers of perspective with ease. There have been four movies made about the Titanic in the sound era (there were several silent movies about or loosely based on it). I've seen three of the four and have the other one on VHS to watch. The first was a 1943 German, Nazi-produced spectacle that mainly was made, it seemed, as an anti-British propaganda piece. The special effects were so good that the ship sinking model shots were re-used in the 1958 Brit version, based on this book: "A Night to Remember." In the interim, Hollywood made an attempt in 1953, called simply "Titanic," starring Barbara Stanwyck. For some reason, I've never found the time to watch it, even though I own it (*see 2016 addendum, bottom of review). I find it hard to imagine that it could surpass the 1958 British film: a soberly compelling version that remains my favorite. It seems most in spirit of the book.
James Cameron's 1997 version is for little girls. Blah.
Reading on...rating soon to come.
This is a breeze to read. Very vivid, full of detail. The only thing that causes a slight slowdown is the sheer number of characters. To Lord's credit, he reminds us frequently of the positions and titles of the characters, so we don't have to go back or jog our memories trying to remember who these people are. I love when authors do that. I'm for easy. As I'm reading this I'm realizing how well the 1958 film captured this account and how badly the hokey 1997 film did.
FINAL:
Enjoyed this greatly. I especially enjoyed Lord's analysis of the class snobbery and attitudes of the time that led to a higher percentage of deaths among the third-class passengers vs. the first and second classes, and the media's disinterest at the time to hearing the stories of the common people in preference to the Astors and the other robber-baron types. On the other hand, he is fair, and gives credit to almost everyone for having class and dignity. I hesitate to call Lord's treatment of the issues "socially conscious," I just think he was trying to be more "fair and balanced" as a historian than other writers had been previously.
There are probably other books that go into greater detail on certain aspects of this story, but I can't imagine there being a better entire book on the Titanic than this.
--------
* Addendum: 2016:
In the intervening years since I wrote this review, I did end up seeing the 1953 Titanic movie, and it is an entertaining potboiler vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck, all gussied up in high-gloss duds and 20th-Century Fox production values and familial bad blood. Kind of Stella Dallas on the high seas. Barbara can suffer in mink just as well on a cruise liner as in a mansion. It's grand entertainment, but not a very good Titanic movie.
James Cameron's 1997 version is for little girls. Blah.
Reading on...rating soon to come.
This is a breeze to read. Very vivid, full of detail. The only thing that causes a slight slowdown is the sheer number of characters. To Lord's credit, he reminds us frequently of the positions and titles of the characters, so we don't have to go back or jog our memories trying to remember who these people are. I love when authors do that. I'm for easy. As I'm reading this I'm realizing how well the 1958 film captured this account and how badly the hokey 1997 film did.
FINAL:
Enjoyed this greatly. I especially enjoyed Lord's analysis of the class snobbery and attitudes of the time that led to a higher percentage of deaths among the third-class passengers vs. the first and second classes, and the media's disinterest at the time to hearing the stories of the common people in preference to the Astors and the other robber-baron types. On the other hand, he is fair, and gives credit to almost everyone for having class and dignity. I hesitate to call Lord's treatment of the issues "socially conscious," I just think he was trying to be more "fair and balanced" as a historian than other writers had been previously.
There are probably other books that go into greater detail on certain aspects of this story, but I can't imagine there being a better entire book on the Titanic than this.
--------
* Addendum: 2016:
In the intervening years since I wrote this review, I did end up seeing the 1953 Titanic movie, and it is an entertaining potboiler vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck, all gussied up in high-gloss duds and 20th-Century Fox production values and familial bad blood. Kind of Stella Dallas on the high seas. Barbara can suffer in mink just as well on a cruise liner as in a mansion. It's grand entertainment, but not a very good Titanic movie.
September 7, 2022
In his book A Night to Remember, Walter Lord presented the Titanic disaster from the passengers and crew's viewpoints.
Written in 1955 and partially based on interviews with survivors and families of the deceased, the book contradicts the standard narrative formed by the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Captain's suicide and the main heroine floating on the door, a vengeful husband and steerage passengers who craved to sneak into the first class - all were added for the dramatic effect.
Those who read more or less about the disaster will find nothing ground-shakingly new in the book except for the single stories of individual passengers. Yet, as one of the earliest records, A Night to Remember is a brilliant example of ground-level research. The author managed to convey the sharp contrast between the initial calm - after all, Titanic was deemed unsinkable - and the panic when the realization of the danger struck people. Particular details stand out in their horror, like the vessel California being so near yet doing nothing to investigate what was going on with Titanic; or the restaurant's personnel, who, not officially belonging to the White Star Line crew, were left out for themselves.
Perhaps, I became cynical after reading a lot on history, mainly about what one human being can do to another, but this book didn't touch me emotionally. I remember crying over the 'Titanic movie and the long, arduous book that covered excessively the first days after the disaster (the last third of that book was dedicated to the White Star Line's handling of the incomplete information and media coverage). Perhaps, I got lost in the vastness of personal stories where names merged into one: I'll remember the details but not the people. Or the audio version didn't play out well for me. Thus, A Night to Remember gets three stars from me as a classic.
Maybe, I'll change my mind later.
Written in 1955 and partially based on interviews with survivors and families of the deceased, the book contradicts the standard narrative formed by the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Captain's suicide and the main heroine floating on the door, a vengeful husband and steerage passengers who craved to sneak into the first class - all were added for the dramatic effect.
Those who read more or less about the disaster will find nothing ground-shakingly new in the book except for the single stories of individual passengers. Yet, as one of the earliest records, A Night to Remember is a brilliant example of ground-level research. The author managed to convey the sharp contrast between the initial calm - after all, Titanic was deemed unsinkable - and the panic when the realization of the danger struck people. Particular details stand out in their horror, like the vessel California being so near yet doing nothing to investigate what was going on with Titanic; or the restaurant's personnel, who, not officially belonging to the White Star Line crew, were left out for themselves.
Perhaps, I became cynical after reading a lot on history, mainly about what one human being can do to another, but this book didn't touch me emotionally. I remember crying over the 'Titanic movie and the long, arduous book that covered excessively the first days after the disaster (the last third of that book was dedicated to the White Star Line's handling of the incomplete information and media coverage). Perhaps, I got lost in the vastness of personal stories where names merged into one: I'll remember the details but not the people. Or the audio version didn't play out well for me. Thus, A Night to Remember gets three stars from me as a classic.
Maybe, I'll change my mind later.
February 18, 2014
4.5 stars
Such a riveting book about the sinking of the titanic. This book is full of tragedy : third class passengers being locked below, life boats not full, not enough life boats, ignored warnings about ice, massive loss of life, etc. But it was also about heroism. The band playing until the very end, the men who stayed behind to keep sending out SOS messages knowing that by doing so they would surely not survive. Walter Lord did an amazing amount of research in writing this book. He interviewed survivors and went over documentation in order to write this captivating book which was very hard to put down.
Such a riveting book about the sinking of the titanic. This book is full of tragedy : third class passengers being locked below, life boats not full, not enough life boats, ignored warnings about ice, massive loss of life, etc. But it was also about heroism. The band playing until the very end, the men who stayed behind to keep sending out SOS messages knowing that by doing so they would surely not survive. Walter Lord did an amazing amount of research in writing this book. He interviewed survivors and went over documentation in order to write this captivating book which was very hard to put down.
October 17, 2021
I have read a number of books about Titanic but, for some reason, have never read this classic volume, which was a huge success when published in 1955. The film, of the same name, was released in 1958, featuring Kenneth Moore and adapted by the author of spy novels, Eric Ambler. Moore played Charles Lightoller, second officer, who survived despite his insistence that the lifeboats were for women and young children only and later took part in Dunkirk, so was technically a hero twice in one lifetime.
Lord's interest was sparked when he travelled on Titanic's sister ship Olympic, when young (we learn in his book that the ship volunteered to collect survivors from Carpathia, but that it was felt the sight of Olympic might be too upsetting for those aboard) and he wrote the first serious account of the disaster. There had been personal accounts before then, but this took account of all of these reminiscences as well as including interviews with many survivors and the family's of those involved which makes it feel much more immediate.
This is very much a book not only about the disaster, but about the era in which it took place. When men offered 'protection' to women travelling alone, which saw many men that night ensuring their 'charges,' were seen safely into lifeboats they had no intention of stepping into themselves. Of the public shame of those, like Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star Shipping Line, who - unsure of whether to act like a passenger or crew - gave into temptation and stepped into a lifeboat and forced into a later life of reclusion. Of an era when it was not only 'women and children' first, but First Class passengers assumed they were of more importance and more third class women were lost than First Class male passengers.
Indeed, this disaster did change things, with shipping routes being changed to safer, if slower ones, after the sinking, as well as ships being required to have enough lifeboats for all aboard. There are, of course, great acts of heroism. Ben Guggenheim in evening dress, bravely awaiting his fate and smaller acts - the steward who ensured the couple he had served got into lifeboats. I am glad this was suggested to me and think it is one of the best books about Titanic, if only as the access to survivors makes it so immediate.
Lord's interest was sparked when he travelled on Titanic's sister ship Olympic, when young (we learn in his book that the ship volunteered to collect survivors from Carpathia, but that it was felt the sight of Olympic might be too upsetting for those aboard) and he wrote the first serious account of the disaster. There had been personal accounts before then, but this took account of all of these reminiscences as well as including interviews with many survivors and the family's of those involved which makes it feel much more immediate.
This is very much a book not only about the disaster, but about the era in which it took place. When men offered 'protection' to women travelling alone, which saw many men that night ensuring their 'charges,' were seen safely into lifeboats they had no intention of stepping into themselves. Of the public shame of those, like Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star Shipping Line, who - unsure of whether to act like a passenger or crew - gave into temptation and stepped into a lifeboat and forced into a later life of reclusion. Of an era when it was not only 'women and children' first, but First Class passengers assumed they were of more importance and more third class women were lost than First Class male passengers.
Indeed, this disaster did change things, with shipping routes being changed to safer, if slower ones, after the sinking, as well as ships being required to have enough lifeboats for all aboard. There are, of course, great acts of heroism. Ben Guggenheim in evening dress, bravely awaiting his fate and smaller acts - the steward who ensured the couple he had served got into lifeboats. I am glad this was suggested to me and think it is one of the best books about Titanic, if only as the access to survivors makes it so immediate.
February 5, 2016
Lord delivers a riveting account of a tragedy that symbolized the end of an age. The Titanic, the grandest of luxury liners, heedlessly speeds forward into the night as the wealthy elite indulge. They meet their destiny in the elemental forces. The Titanic’s demise eerily foreshadows the profound changes coming as the world soon unravels in the Great War. The prevailing confidence that man can control nature and his fate is shattered. A far more uncertain world is revealed.
The actions of the crew and passengers depict the extremes of human behavior. Some were gallant, some were heroes, and others were cowardly and heartless. Most of us know how the band played on, how Captain Smith went down with his ship, and how some men donned their finest to perish in style after helping women and children to the lifeboats. But very disturbing is the behavior of those fortunate enough to be in one of the sixteen lifeboats. Only one lifeboat went back to save survivors after the Titanic sank even though most had plenty of room. Outcries from the boats’ predominantly female passengers demanded that the crews not go back afraid that people struggling in the water might swamp the boats. I understand fear but I still have a difficult time understanding leaving people to die in the frigid ocean especially when they could be friends or even the women’s husbands.
This is a short book and reads quickly. Lord does an excellent job of putting you there. You can feel it. He also includes interesting commentary on the contemporary newspaper accounts, many of which were racist attributing cowardly acts to blacks and Italians that were actually committed by Anglo-Saxons. Highly recommended – a big payback for a small investment of time.
The actions of the crew and passengers depict the extremes of human behavior. Some were gallant, some were heroes, and others were cowardly and heartless. Most of us know how the band played on, how Captain Smith went down with his ship, and how some men donned their finest to perish in style after helping women and children to the lifeboats. But very disturbing is the behavior of those fortunate enough to be in one of the sixteen lifeboats. Only one lifeboat went back to save survivors after the Titanic sank even though most had plenty of room. Outcries from the boats’ predominantly female passengers demanded that the crews not go back afraid that people struggling in the water might swamp the boats. I understand fear but I still have a difficult time understanding leaving people to die in the frigid ocean especially when they could be friends or even the women’s husbands.
This is a short book and reads quickly. Lord does an excellent job of putting you there. You can feel it. He also includes interesting commentary on the contemporary newspaper accounts, many of which were racist attributing cowardly acts to blacks and Italians that were actually committed by Anglo-Saxons. Highly recommended – a big payback for a small investment of time.
June 14, 2017
I don't know how the author does it, but he manages a sumptuous notice of detail and a very brisk, but not quite hurried pace – of course perfect for a narrative centering on the Titanic. He also draws some interesting cultural conclusions which point to its place in history and why it still fascinates us.
April 4, 2017
Book on CD read by Walter Jarvis
On April 15, 1912, the greatest ship to ever sail struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. This is a chronological tale of what the people aboard the Titanic recall of that night’s events.
This is a re-read. I first read it before I joined either Shelfari or Goodreads, so I have no record of when I read it. I believe it was in the 1980s; I know it was long before the hugely successful movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. If memory serves, I re-read it at about the time the movie was released. So this is my third reading.
It’s a gripping story, and Lord does a great job of bringing all these people to life. I get a real sense of the confusion and disbelief when the ship first strikes the iceberg. And later, of the chaos and panic when it is clear she will go down, and there are not enough lifeboats for everyone aboard to safely get away.
Lord used transcripts of testimony given by many people during the inquiry following the disaster, as well as personal interviews with survivors and relatives of those lost at sea, as well as people who were aboard the Carpathia which picked up all the lifeboats and returned with them to New York. The text edition I had included some photographs, as well as a full list of the passengers.
Walter Jarvis does an okay job of reading the audio version, but I really disliked his voice. Still, he did convey a sense of urgency as he related the events of that horrible night.
On April 15, 1912, the greatest ship to ever sail struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. This is a chronological tale of what the people aboard the Titanic recall of that night’s events.
This is a re-read. I first read it before I joined either Shelfari or Goodreads, so I have no record of when I read it. I believe it was in the 1980s; I know it was long before the hugely successful movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. If memory serves, I re-read it at about the time the movie was released. So this is my third reading.
It’s a gripping story, and Lord does a great job of bringing all these people to life. I get a real sense of the confusion and disbelief when the ship first strikes the iceberg. And later, of the chaos and panic when it is clear she will go down, and there are not enough lifeboats for everyone aboard to safely get away.
Lord used transcripts of testimony given by many people during the inquiry following the disaster, as well as personal interviews with survivors and relatives of those lost at sea, as well as people who were aboard the Carpathia which picked up all the lifeboats and returned with them to New York. The text edition I had included some photographs, as well as a full list of the passengers.
Walter Jarvis does an okay job of reading the audio version, but I really disliked his voice. Still, he did convey a sense of urgency as he related the events of that horrible night.
August 10, 2024
I've never trusted the month of April. It should be the month of flowers and bunnies and eggs and bees, which it is. But April is also the month of disasters...the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, Chernobyl, the Oklahoma City Bombing, Columbine and, of course, the Sinking of the Titanic. The 'S' is capitalized.
Prior to reading Walter Lord's version of the Sinking, the Titanic was just another shipwreck to me, but forever after, it is THE shipwreck. Under Lord's framing, it's also the end of the Gilded Age when industrial magnates could wear warm furs while sitting top deck on the greatest ocean liner ever built. The stories of the survivors and the drowned so shook me, I remember having to carry a flashlight to bed so I could read this adventure under covers without anyone else in the house knowing. There are a number of books about the Titanic, but there really is only one. Lord's Titanic.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust
Yes, April is the cruellest month.
Book Season = Spring (still won't travel by boat)
Prior to reading Walter Lord's version of the Sinking, the Titanic was just another shipwreck to me, but forever after, it is THE shipwreck. Under Lord's framing, it's also the end of the Gilded Age when industrial magnates could wear warm furs while sitting top deck on the greatest ocean liner ever built. The stories of the survivors and the drowned so shook me, I remember having to carry a flashlight to bed so I could read this adventure under covers without anyone else in the house knowing. There are a number of books about the Titanic, but there really is only one. Lord's Titanic.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust
Yes, April is the cruellest month.
Book Season = Spring (still won't travel by boat)
April 7, 2013
Because I'm cruel and evil, I'm going to ruin this book for you with a spoiler. The ship sinks, folks.
What, you already knew that? You've heard the story before, once or twice, maybe? In fact, do you think the Titanic story is overblown in our culture? Are you tired of it? You can blame Walter Lord. But don't blame him too much; he wrote an amazing book.
Lord was something of a harmless crank with a bit of a fascination with this big honkin' ship that had run into an iceberg a few decades before. He collected all the information on it he could. This being the 1950s, he then topped that off by interviewing many of the survivors of that disaster. (The fact that this was not that long after the Titanic sank, in terms of history, is pointed out by the fact that one of the Titanic stewards Lord interviewed was still working on trans-Atlantic passenger liners at the time the book came out.)
Lord then wrote his book, for the most part, as anecdotes from people who were there, assembled like jigsaw pieces into a coherent picture. It is a brilliant and compelling way of telling the story because it gives you the overall picture, the names and faces of the people who stood on the slanting deck that cold night, some unlikely and near-forgotten heroes and villains, and the sense that you're right there watching it happen.
A Night to Remember is a quick and easy read, and very rewarding. I recommend it. In fact, if you want to know about the Titanic disaster, I suggest you read this book, watch the movie of the same name that was made from it, and skip the eternal, tedious, and repetitive rest of the literature on the subject.
What, you already knew that? You've heard the story before, once or twice, maybe? In fact, do you think the Titanic story is overblown in our culture? Are you tired of it? You can blame Walter Lord. But don't blame him too much; he wrote an amazing book.
Lord was something of a harmless crank with a bit of a fascination with this big honkin' ship that had run into an iceberg a few decades before. He collected all the information on it he could. This being the 1950s, he then topped that off by interviewing many of the survivors of that disaster. (The fact that this was not that long after the Titanic sank, in terms of history, is pointed out by the fact that one of the Titanic stewards Lord interviewed was still working on trans-Atlantic passenger liners at the time the book came out.)
Lord then wrote his book, for the most part, as anecdotes from people who were there, assembled like jigsaw pieces into a coherent picture. It is a brilliant and compelling way of telling the story because it gives you the overall picture, the names and faces of the people who stood on the slanting deck that cold night, some unlikely and near-forgotten heroes and villains, and the sense that you're right there watching it happen.
A Night to Remember is a quick and easy read, and very rewarding. I recommend it. In fact, if you want to know about the Titanic disaster, I suggest you read this book, watch the movie of the same name that was made from it, and skip the eternal, tedious, and repetitive rest of the literature on the subject.
April 12, 2021
I'm fascinated with the events of the Titanic so I will essentially read any book involving it. That was the case with this book.
This book was interesting because it's a true account from the perspective of the survivors and takes the reader through the different chain of events of that night.
It was an okay and worthwhile read but not one that goes fully in-depth regarding the accident. It's very short but at the same time, it took me longer than I expected to read due to the dryness in writing style.
For others that are also intrigued by the timeline of that night, it's a good read. However, if you are looking for a book that has more of a full history, there are many more enjoyable resources out there for information.
This book was interesting because it's a true account from the perspective of the survivors and takes the reader through the different chain of events of that night.
It was an okay and worthwhile read but not one that goes fully in-depth regarding the accident. It's very short but at the same time, it took me longer than I expected to read due to the dryness in writing style.
For others that are also intrigued by the timeline of that night, it's a good read. However, if you are looking for a book that has more of a full history, there are many more enjoyable resources out there for information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,508 reviews