I also received a copy of "Dead Wake" over Christmas and devoured it in three days. Larson is a terrific storyteller and has a detective's eye for detail that fleshes out his book's characters. Though I knew the outcome I was completely drawn in as the tragedy unfolded hour by hour.
If all our history books read like Larson's works there would be no blank stares when our fellow citizens are asked to about this era, or that particular event, or what happened when...
At 2:30 in the morning, as I sat by the fire finishing the book, I felt it might be prudent to go to my bedroom and put on my lifejacket as the end neared for the Lusitania. Fascinating... like all his books, Larson's narrative non-fiction captures the reader. The weaving into the story of parallel events helps set the scene. Larson is a treat to read...and it doesn't hurt to learn more than you ever knew about U-boats, Cunard's liners, and the fumbling about by Britain's Admiralty.
Erik Larson