Description
It is a story that’s familiar to everyone. At the time of its launch, the RMS Titanic was the largest ship ever built and when she set sail on her maiden voyage in 1912 there were 2,227 people on board. Four days into the crossing the Titanic hit an iceberg; less than three hours later the ship sank and 1,517 people lost their lives. These are the barebones of what was a dramatic event – and what many of us believe to be the truth of the Titanic’s first and last voyage is what we have learned from Hollywood movies, all of which have told the story in their own way. Built for the White Star Line in Belfast, the Titanic was designed to compete with the Lusitania that was owned by rival shipping company, Cunard. It was a time when the only way to travel across the Atlantic was by mighty ocean liner. Competitors vied to provide the speediest, most technologically advanced ships and – for those who could pay for it – the most luxurious crossing. No expense was spared in building the liners and during the build-up to the Titanic’s launch and that of her sibling, the Olympic, there was a feverish sense of anticipation and excitement among transatlantic travellers. Sadly, the Olympic was involved in a maritime accident too, when she collided with a Royal Navy vessel in 1911; it was an incident that caught the nation’s attention at the time and later, after the Titanic sank, much speculation. Titanic—The Unfolding Story as told by The Daily Mirror offers a unique insight into this terrible, yet endlessly fascinating, disaster. It tells the whole story: from the commissioning of the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympic following their construction, launches and maiden voyages, through to the Titanic’s demise, the immediate aftermath, and the very public enquiries on both sides of the Atlantic. Based on the words of contemporary newspaper reports the story comes alive as it never has before. The depth of detail is fascinating, revealing fresh insights into a tragedy that continues to captivate us today. Use of contemporary newspaper photography and iconic images all help to make this book one of a kind.
About the Author
Richard Havers spent 20 years in the airline industry before deciding to pursue his passion in music. He’s made videos, produced in-flight radio shows for airlines, and has produced concerts for artists including Paul McCartney and The Beach Boys. His books include Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey, Rolling with the Stones, co-written with Bill Wyman, Sinatra an illustrated Biography of Frank Sinatra, he co-authored My Take, Gary Barlow’s Autobiography and When Football Was Football, nominated for illustrated Sports Book of the Year in 2009. Richard lives in Scotland and supports Spurs and has written over 30 books.
Carol King has been a writer for almost thirty years, first as a technology journalist for magazines, newspapers, radio and TV, and later switching to art, cinema, travel and history. She has contributed to more than 20 books including Art: The Whole Story and 1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die, and co-authored As Much As I Can, a biography of the actor, theatre and film director Peter Glenville. He spends her time between London and a small town in Sicily.