Titanic: The Tragic Story of the Ill-Fated Ocean Liner

by Rupert Matthews

'Goodbye Miss Young. Good luck to you and don't forget to remember me to the folks back home.'
Major Archibald Butt (1865-1912)

The sinking of the Titanic on her maiden voyage in 1912 is one of the most dramatic stories in maritime history. The largest passenger steamship in the world, fitted with more advanced safety features than any of her rivals, she was proclaimed to be virtually unsinkable.

More than 1,500 people perished when the Titanic went down - many from drowning but more from hypothermia on one of the coldest but most beautiful April nights anyone could remember in the North Atlantic. The survivors of the disaster brought home tales of heroism and cowardice, of calmness and panic, of honour and disgrace.

Just how and why the Titanic foundered on such a beautiful April evening is the subject of this fascinating book. Author Rupert Matthews explores witness accounts and evidence gathered at the inquiries, along with more recent discoveries, to piece together a complete picture of what happened on that fateful night in 1912.

Features:
• Photographs of the Titanic, her crew and passengers
• Eye-witness accounts
• Personal memories
• Over 100 illustrations

Genres: Nonfiction, History

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

111 years to the day that the Titanic sunk into the Atlantic Ocean. 111 years of evidence, eye witness accounts, inquiry, and speculation. Unfortunately we’ll never know the exact particulars as those who could have told us went down with the ship.

This book however, does offer some previously unknown details to me.

It explains the fire on board the ship - something most other books I’ve read on the disaster have glossed over. It also includes some quotes from survivors detailing their experiences as the ship floundered and eventually sunk.

It tells stories of survivors swimming out to the life boats and pulled inside, of a dog paddling alongside a boat for hours before the Carpathia turned up and hauled them in. Of Lightoller and others standing for hours on their partially submerged collapsible life boat. Of the several ships that answered the distress calls. All of them too far away and impeded by the ice to get to those floating in the water.

It also tells the story of Ismay, who inherited the company off his father and was subjected to a hostile takeover by ruthless business men. Neither of whom were on the ill-fated vessel by sheer coincidence and luck as fate turns out.

I also like the theory of Fata Morgana to explain the mystery ship seen by Titanic passengers and crew and the crew of the Californian. I honestly believe that the two vessels saw each other and a colossal misunderstanding on the Californian’s part saw them render no aid as Titanic went down. The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer is an excellent historical fiction novel that takes an educated/best guess/academic approach to the actions on the Californian.

What I didn’t like about this book is that it is riddled with errors. The Titanic stuff seems accurate enough (other than exonerating Captain Lord) and backed up by researchable evidence, but the spelling and grammar is terrible. Words used incorrectly, words in sentences that don’t belong. Poorly structured sentences. Make for frustrating reading.

[John Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of 2025. Back on my annual Titanic fixation. Cool book, nice little segments,packed with facts - every aspect you can think of. Nice little change up from the docos and such 🚢🧊❄️💦

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAD to read this book on this 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. What a well told history of all the interesting events and issues that no one ever told you about this disaster. I would Highly recommend this read. You will learn a lot and be intrigued the whole way through the story

[Jeffasmith1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about the Titanic that I've read! Starting years before the construction, gives you a high-level view of the history around it. I highly recommend this book

[Nick Guzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

almost poetic in its simplicity, Rupert Matthews’ concise volume would make a straightforward starter for anyone hoping to get their feet wet (sorry!) in learning about the Titanic while also being a very readable refresher for anyone fully immersed (sorry!) in Titanic history

there are a few oversimplifications and inaccuracies, and the brevity lacks the soul and detail of more definitive works like Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember, but I’ve been reading about the Titanic for nearly 30 years and still got something out of it!

[Alicia Kelly Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative story of the titanic , great read for me having been fascinated with the ship since I was a child, lots of details I didn't know and a good amount of pictures/drawings showing particular things.
1 star off a perfect read due to the layout only, having to backtrack pages to look at pictures due to sentence lengths.

[FrDrStel Muksuris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rupert Matthews offers an exceptional service at filling in the blanks with regard to the ill-fated ocean liner on her maiden voyage. He addresses the all-important context and climate at that time, the risks involved, and the hows and whys and all possible theories of the Titanic’s premature demise. Thankfully, through well-prepared research and careful scrutiny, he lays to rest the inaccuracies and suspicions that twentieth-century literature and the movie industry have unfairly imposed on this mammoth tragedy. In the end, I personally could not remove from my mind the thought that the Titanic is no more than a microcosm of our own fallen world, in which its inhabitants are on a journey together that can very easily equalize the playing field, since all travelers are in the same predicament and whose lives are truly interdependent, hanging every so fragilely, as it were, by a thread. And it is here indeed, in the face of collective adversity and tribulation, that we see true humanity come alive through acts of altruism and selfless compassion. A wonderfully compelling read.

[Katlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t take my review completely seriously, as I have not read any other books about the sinking of the Titanic and cannot comment on accuracy. However, from a reader standpoint, this book was very well-written, seemingly well researched, and compelling. It covers the disaster from the history of the company that built the ship, to standards of ships at the time, the layout of the ship, the passengers and crew that were on the ship, the disaster itself, and the aftermath. The bibliography was a nice addition as well. I was compelled to keep reading throughout the book, that played out like a novel, with accounts from survivors of the tragedy. I would highly recommend this book! 5/5 October 4 2019

[Verity-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Titanic by Rupert Matthews is a fascinating, gripping read.

I loved how detailed and accessible this was — it makes the history feel alive instead of distant and dusty. The human stories are what stayed with me most: the passengers, the crew, the bravery, the heartbreak. It’s impossible not to feel emotional reading about real lives caught in such a tragedy.

If you’re even slightly interested in Titanic history, this is absolutely worth reading. Informative, absorbing, and respectfully written.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summing up of the well known story: the liners, luxury first, the maiden voyage, ice warnings, the first SOS, sinking headfront, the final plunge, the inquiries, back to the Titanic. The author gathered all the information and inserted great artwork, illustrations and photos. This is the ultimate trip with the ill-fated ship. Highly recommended!

[Anne Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

Very good book, very detailed, no sensationalism! Must point out though (it's perhaps been mentioned in other reviews), the photo near the beginning of J. Bruce Ismay, said to have been taken in 1862 was certainly not as he was born in 1862!

[Deshna Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The events are well presented and the research is well done.

[Papa Smurf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Titanic Rupert Matthews

I found this book interesting and factual and very gripping couldn't put it down. The sadness and such loss of human life. Remain this day a mystery

[Abhijeet Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading the book, I felt like I lived that night.

[Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great retelling! lots of info I didn't know.

[Don Paske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of the sinking of the Titanic. Seemed to be well researched.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read that includes a lot of facts. It doesn’t go into great detail so if you want an easily readable book about the facts surrounding the sinking, this is perfect.

[Carole L Ottens · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

Easy read and quick read about the Titanic. I learned some things other books did not cover. Recommended for all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much really that’s new here, but still an enjoyable read. J Bruce Ismay, the owner of the White Star line, who usually comes across as the stereotypical villain who pressures Captain Smith to fatally plow his ship into an ice field, instead comes across as almost in shock the entire time, as well as being somewhat more helpful than he’s usually portrayed.

[JEAN-PHILIPPE PEROL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro bem construído, bem escrito e bem documento. Sem ceder as paixões (nem as fofocas), o Matthews conseguiu um levantamento completo dos conhecimentos que existem hoje sobre um dos maiores dramas da historia maritima. Se as fotos são interessantes, os mapas, pouco legiveis, e a falta talvez de desenhos ou esquemas explicativos são talvez os únicos pontos a desejar.

[Brian Skillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but slightly inaccurate

Decent book, but not accurate in certain respects. Exonerates Lord and the California , when they in fact were close enough to help and did nothing. Decent read all the same.

[Chelsea C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of less like owning a Titanic textbook of everything Titanic - I loved it!