Titanic: A Survivor’s Story

Sutton Publishing, 1998(First pub. in 1913 as TheTruth about the Titanic); 323pp; X; £6.99;CA....

I imagine this somewhat dated contemporary accouint of the loss of the Titanic has been re-issued to capitalise on the block-buster movie. Whilst I’ve yet to see the movie, I gather from informed press comments that it does depart, occasionally, from the the exact truth. Thus, for the avid historian or for those interested in the minutiae, Colonel Gracie’s first hand account of the sinking is an excellent record, with meticulous chronicling of the experiences of many of the survivors. It helps to set the record straight.

It is an extremely detailed and dry account of the sinking and the aftermath, drawing heavily on Gracie’s own experience as well as that of fellow passengers. There is considerable information drawn from the records of the various Courts of Enquiry held following the loss of the Titanic. Gracie was among the last to leave the Titanic; indeed she virtually sank beneath him as he struggled to reach an upturned raft on that fateful night in April 1912. Having survived the sinking, Gracie spent the Summer of 1912 tracking down and interviewing many of the survivors for their experiences and, at the same time, he attended the numerous court hearings in America to gather the official version of events. Sadly, largely due to the effect of his ordeal in the icy Atlantic, he died in December 1912, leaving his manuscript to be published posthumously. I suspect the prose may not be to everyone’s taste as we approach the millenium - slightly dated and formal. nevertheless, if its fine detail you require, this may be the book for you. SP