Bailey & Ryan

[Omar Khokhar]

Recently Eric Sauder suggested his top 3 lusitania books. He said the best one to read was a book by Andrew Bailey titled "The Lusitania Disaster" New York Press 1975.

I have just found a book by the same authors called "The Lusitania Disaster: An episode in modern warfare and diplomacy.

Can someone confirm is the book I found the same one as suggested by Mr sauder?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Eric Sauder]

Hi, Omar:

I went back and looked through that thread, but I didn't see anywhere I mentioned Bailey's first name. The full title of the book is "The Lusitania Disaster: An Episode in Modern Warfare and Diplomacy." The authors are Thomas Bailey and Paul B. Ryan.

Find it, read it, learn it, live it, love it. Great book!

Eric Sauder

 

[Cliff Mark Barry]

Just a quick Merry Christmas to everybody!!!
esecially Shelley, Eric Geoff & Mike P- its been gr8 chatting to everyone on the board

thanx for all you help in answering so many questions

Cliff

 

[Omar Khokhar]

Many thanks Eric for suggesting to read the Thomas Bailey and Paul Ryan book. I found a used copy on amazon ordered it on the 21st December and it arrived on the 24th. How quick that was!

I have had a flick through and I totally agree with Eric it looks a great book! This has to be my best christmas present!

Happy christmas Eric!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Well, I went poking around in these old threads to see if I could get some feedback on whether or not the Bailey and Ryan book is a good one. Looks like I got my answer and also a good deal. I found a copy at a used bookshop in Greenville for $12.00!!!!

 

[Dave Gittins]

Just to be nasty, I got mine for $1 AUS!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Arrrrrrrrggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!! Still, I'm sure if I'd gone to Alibris, I'd have paid 50 to 100 times that amount.

Just out of curiousity, did you see any obvious mistakes that I need to be wary of?

 

[Dave Gittins]

I'd have to read it again to check. You'll notice that the authors have the right qualifications, combining law and seamanship.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Yeah, I did notice that much, with one of them being a naval officer. I've already gone through a couple of chapters and got a kick out of the strieghtforward way they shredded some of Colin Simpson's more outrageous claims.

 

[Beth Collins]

Hi- I was thinking about getting a copy of this book due to Eric Sauder's recommendation on several threads. I did read the ubiquitous Simpson book many years ago and found it far-fetched and not particularly well-written. I have the Hoehling book and Diana Preston's recent one.
How would you characterize the writing style of the Bailey and Ryan book? Is it a dense read?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Is it a dense read?<<

Not really. It's written in a nice conversational style and what these two guys found cuts through an incredible amount of bull. Especially the B.S. passed off by Mr. Simpson as fact. In point of fact, the Simpson tome was the inspiration for Bailey and Ryan to write the book that they did.

Eric Sauder's endorsement was all the incentive I needed to buy it. This gent and his brother probably know more about the North Atlantic liners then just about anybody on the planet, and neither of these two men would endorse anything which didn't deserve it.

 

[Mike Poirier]

The research itself is interesting, but the writing at points is stilted and dull.
Overall, it is still worth reading.

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Beth- I've said this many times before, but as far as the Lusitania is concerned the absolute best thing you can do is read as much primary material as you can get hold of. All of the books are "wanting." Simpson is awful in all but one regard- he has impeccably detailed footnotes that will allow you to locate, and order, a huge amount of documentation 1915-1920. Try to track down the Limitation of Liability hearings testimony~ unlike the more commonly used Mersey report, it actually allows a great deal of interesting and, at times, disturbing testimony about the events of April 20-May 7 1915. The Bailey and Ryan book is good, but the best thing you can do is use their bibliography to order copies of the material from which they worked.

 

[Jesse D O'Neill]

Bailey & Ryan's book is the best book out there on there sinking of the Lusitania. Highly Recommended.