I agree with you Tarn, would that Pitman,
Boxhall & Lowe had all put thier stories down on paper. the good news is that there seems to be quite a bit of material out there, it just has not been collected yet. and of course, Inger is working on that Lowe biography, which I am very much looking forward to. we'll be seeing that book published any day now, right Inger?
Ian, back to some specific recommendations. I would heartily second Fiona's suggestion of Eva Hart's bio. quite comprehensive about a remarkable woman.
Patrick Stenson's bio of
Lightoller is a favorite of mine. it has had several slighly different titles depending on which edition. the latest version is called
Titanic Voyager. The Odyssey of C.H. Lightoller. as Tarn suggested, Ligholler's autobiography ends pretty much with his service in WW1. Stenson's bio fills in the rest of this amazing man's life and career.
if you are interested in
Bruce Ismay, there is no better book than William Oldham's
The Ismay Line. The White Star Line, and the Ismay Family Story. an excellent biography not only of Bruce but of his equally famous father Thomas. unfortunately this book is out of print, and it tends to be very expensive when it is offered for sale. tis a shame a modern reprint has never been done.
David Haisman's biography of his mother, Edith was a fun read. again, this one covers much more than just her Titanic experience. this was another woman who had some interesting life experiences long after Titanic was behind her. it is called
I’ll See You in New York. Titanic, The Courage of a Survivor. The Edith Haisman Story, by Her Son. David posts here on ET quite frequently, and you can order the book directly from him.
there is a short bio of
Captain Smith by Gary Cooper. it is called
The Man Who Sank the Titanic? The Life and Times of Captain Edward J. Smith. considering how little is known about the
Captain Smith, I thought this was very well done. Cooper does a good job of filling in Smith's early life and career.
finally, I have to say how much I enjoyed Susanne Störmer's biography of William Murdoch, called
William McMaster Murdoch, A Career at Sea. The Complete and Documented Version. the author has some radical opinions about the night Titanic sank and though I don't agree with her conclusions, it doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for this book as she has really unearthed a remarkable volume of research on a man who history has tended to marginalize. well worth your time.
hope these suggestions help.
Michael (TheManInBlack) T