#1 New York Times Bestseller From the bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the Lusitania On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth month, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were surprisingly at ease, even though Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone. For months, German U-boats had brought ...
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#1 New York Times Bestseller From the bestselling author and master of narrative nonfiction comes the enthralling story of the sinking of the Lusitania On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth month, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were surprisingly at ease, even though Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone. For months, German U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic. But the Lusitania was one of the era's great transatlantic "Greyhounds"--the fastest liner then in service--and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack. Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot -20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger's U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way toward Liverpool, an array of forces both grand and achingly small--hubris, a chance fog, a closely guarded secret, and more--all converged to produce one of the great disasters of history. It is a story that many of us think we know but don't, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamour and suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope to President Woodrow Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster whose intimate details and true meaning have long been obscured by history.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Is best book I have read on subject!!
Marco C
Jun 5, 2020
Amazing Book
I highly recommend this book, Erik Larson is a great writer, brings to life the tragedy that the sinking the Lusitania was, I'm a true fanatic of any of Erik's books, I've read three of his books and I intend to read all of them!!
Robert S
Jan 4, 2016
Best of the bunch!
If you read only one book on this subject, this should be the one. Mr. Larson weaves a compelling and unique story around the events surrounding the sinking of the Lusitania from all perspectives. Well documented and crafted. Enough detail to inform, enough skillful narrative to be engrossing and hard to put down. Rewarding and a pleasure to read. A powerful chronicle not likely to be surpassed!
Worth G
Dec 23, 2015
Thorough and easy to read
Erik Larson has tried to bring in as much background information as possible, so the sinking of the Lusitania (a British ship loaded with American passengers) can be understood in context instead of being seen as an isolated, outrageous, and unprovoked act of war. For example, it had never occurred to me that the British were so good at tracking the locations of the U-boats, or that so many other ships were being sunk right around this time (including some American ships). Beyond that, the British had no strong motivation to protect American lives because they correctly foresaw that an incident like the Lusitania sinking would bring America into the war on their side.
This book is easy to read, clear, and very enjoyable.
Linda A
Sep 25, 2015
Lots of technical information, but good read
Everything you have ever wanted to know about the Lusitania-- and then some. Very well written, but slow at times because of all of the detailed information about the ship and the U-boat that sank her. Would be enthralling to a naval engineer, but foreign to the common person. Also explores the political, social and economic climate of the time to explain some of the unusual circumstances. No great suspense novel, but very interesting and informative.
