Since everyone here is talking about books, i thought id throw in a few words of my own on books. my personal library only contains 3 lusitania books, though luckily for me i live just a couple blocks from the main library in center city philadelphia where you can find just about any book in the world.
ill have to disagree w/ general opinion and recomend that anyone interested in lusitania read Colin simpsons book, it is very CONTROVERSIAL, though it is not FICTIONAL. it should be pointed out that simpson stated some good facts on lusitania.
1. bad stability, although bailys book claims the ship had good stability, truth is lusitania rolled heavily in even the calmest seas, which probably contributed to her quick sinking.
2. coal absorbing water, i think the lusitania's wouldve listed even more if her bunkers were full, though since it was near the end of the voyage, her bunkers didnt have much coal left.
3. also true, no stoker aboard lusitania reported a boiler explosion and examination of the wreck has totally discredited that theory and also simpsons thoery on gun powder, i'll have to go w/ a steam pipe explosion as cause of 2nd explosion.
4. simpson also put the place of the torpedoes impact where it actualled occured or close to it right beneath the bridge, where baily on the other hand places it between the 1st and 2nd funnels.
5. although i doubt that there was any ammunition in the coal bunkers of the active boiler rooms, as that space would be more important for storing coal, i do think it is possible that ammunition might have been stored in some of the coal bunkers of the boiler rooms that were not active.
Mr. Sauder may comment on my opinions if he would like to.
heres some other reccomended reading material
Lauriats book is good. diana prestons book is good, though has a few minor mistakes. Hickey and Smiths book is also good, though ignore comments in book bout pool on deck. Hoehlings book is also good, also read his book Lost at Sea which has an interesting chapter on the lusitania. Bailys book is good, and highly recomended, though ignore theories on boiler explosions. ballards book is good, though as Sauder pointed out, its more of a coffee table book, and is full errors due to its author Dunmore. also try visiting the web page Lusitania Controversy, points out errors in both simpsons and bailys book, very useful.