NEW BOOK ALERT The Lusitania Story

Martin Owen Cahill

Martin Owen Cahill

Member
This work has been mentioned preemptively elswhere on this board. Published by Pen and Sword Books authored by Mitch Peek of WWW.lusitania.net.

I saw this book at my local Dymocks going for $100(NZ) a bit out of my rang just now so I sat me down and had me a good look.

The photo section is okay and it read well. Of particular interest will be the appendices at the back. These entail extensive passenger/crew listings with survivors names bold typed. also included stat breakdowns of ethnicity of varios classes of passengers.

Sinking well written up although it does repeat the seabed impact red herring [ref my similar titled thread enlaginging on this issue]

He dismisses Ballard's coal on seabed evidence as being manufactured.

Eric if you have seen it would care to give us a review?

kind regards to all

Martin
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I haven't read the new book and don't plan to unless I can get a copy for a deeply discounted price. The reason being is that I read their biography of Captain Turner and didn't think too much of it. Actually, I only read part of the Turner bio. I got halfway through and thought "why bother with the rest?" I put it back up on the shelf and haven't touched it for nearly two years. That's not to say that it didn't have some redeeming qualities, but I didn't feel there were enough to bother reading the rest and had better things to do with my time.

The problem as I see it is that the authors tend to rely too heavily on Simpson on most points. If you've read some of the Lusitania book threads here on ET, you know my feelings about Simpson and his lack of credibility -- not to mention accuracy! Unless the authors have drastically changed their opinions, I'm sure this book is no different. Would I buy it? No. Would I read it if someone gave me a copy? Perhaps. But probably only half way....

Eric Sauder
 
Oka-a-a-a-a-a-y.

I'm sitting on the fence on this one. As little as there is out there on the Lusitania, I'm inclined to take the gamble, but I'd can anyone tell me whether or not it contains anything useful, or is it just more of the same old thing? Book money is kind of tight this year and I don't want to blow it on something I can't trust.
 
Michael,

I wouldn't say there is "little" out there on Lusitania, just little that is reliable, apparently. Eric Sauder and others have made the point repeatedy that the best study to date is still "The Lusitania Disaster" by Thomas Bailey and Paul Ryan, published by The Free Press, New York, 1975. If you haven't bought this book already, you're better off investing in it. I just received my copy, which I bought for $5 through Bookfinder.com. For photography the best investment is obviously "Exploring the Lusitania," ostensibly by Robert Ballard and released by Madison Press, Toronto, 1995. As has been noted more than once, this book's text regarding the disaster contains novella-like flourishes unsuited to such a serious historical subject.

The Ballard book's section dealing with the expedition is quite good but for a more in-depth, personal and therefore (in my opinion) more interesting account, I'd suggest reading Eric's extensive article on the subject for the THS journal, the Titanic Commutator ("Probing the Mysteries of the Lusitania," Vol. 18, # 4, Feb.-Apr. 1995, pp 4-24).

"RMS Lusitania: Triumph of the Edwardian Age" by Eric Sauder and Ken Marschall is naturally a must-buy. It's taken me forever but I finally bought a copy. These do not come cheap - be prepared to spend as much as $75. I got mine for $60. It hasn't arrived yet but I'm looking forward to it.

Randy
 
More of the same old thing. As Eric said, it borrows heavily from Colin Simpson. I don't have my copy on hand, but as I recall there were errors on the passenger lists, and altogether it seemed like one of those pieces of research in which the author BEGINS with his conclusion and then works backward seeking out evidence to reenforce it, instead of gathering a broad spectrum of evidence and then drawing the conclusion after carefully analysing and interpreting his data- which seems to be the fatal flaw in most Lusitania books. For the cover price one would be better served in purchasing photocopies of the original archival evidence, in whichever aspect of the Lusitania affair most interests you (and the amount out there is volumous) and drawing your own conclusions.
 
Randy, thanks for the plug about my Lusitania article in the Commutator. I'm hoping to have an updated version (additional text, new photos, etc.) on Parks's web site before I leave at the end of March for the BTS convention. Stay tuned.

$60 for a copy of my Lusitania book? It's definitely *not* worth it....

Jim, thanks for your thoughts on the Mitch Peeke book. I trust it helped get Michael off the fence.

Eric
 
I too, have little in the way of books on Lusitania. Maybe if we are REALLY persuasive, we can get Eric to do another book on her. Show them how it is done! I'd be willing to turn over any information I have... (whisper... which is none, but Eric knows that!)
grin.gif

Randy, Re: Triumph of an Edwardian age! I agree that the book is a gem! For the first time, I really was impressed with the photos and description of the ship. You know, she was really beautifully decorated!
$60.00? Hmmm. Mine is an extra, extra special copy, and I would not part ways for ~any~ price!
 

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