Doomed Ships: Great Ocean Liner Disasters

by William H. Miller Jr.

These true-life adventures unfold amid flames, collision, and explosions, with frantic calls of SOS and a rush to clamber aboard lifeboats. Nearly 200 photographs, many from private collections, highlight tales of the vessels whose maritime lives ended in catastrophe: the Morro Castle, Normandie, Andrea Doria, Europa, and others.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2006

About the author

William Henry Miller, Jr. (Bill Miller) (born May 3, 1948) is a maritime author and historian who has written numerous books dealing with the golden age of ocean liners.

William H. Miller was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on May 3, 1948. In addition to his teaching career and writing over 80 books and many articles on the great liners, he was chairman of the World Ship Society's Port of New York Branch from 1970 to 1976. He was deputy director of the New York Harbor Festival Foundation from 1979 to 1982. He was historian at the Museum of the American Merchant Marine in 1979 and creator of a course entitled "The Ocean Liner" at the New School of Social Research in Manhattan in 1981. He also created the passenger ship database for the Ellis Island Museum. He appeared in the documentary SS United States: Lady in Waiting. A documentary about his life and studies, Mr. Ocean Liner, premiered aboard RMS Queen Mary 2 on July 1, 2010.

Reviews

[Jerry Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a great interest in the era of the classic ocean liner. I am also something of a sucker for disaster narratives and these two interests seem to come together all too often when considering the fates of these great ships.

This was one of those books I throw into an order to get free shipping and it isn't likely to be particularly memorable. It is essentially an easy read with a brief summary of the fate of liners, some great, some obscure plus pictures of said ships either wrecked or burned out or in happier times. Some of the more celebrated disasters (Lusitania, Normandie, Andrea Doria) are give slightly more extensive coverage but it is naturally very superficial.

It is a quick read - can be consumed easily in a few hours or less, or flicked through at one's leisure. Some of the entries are interesting, some very bland with a minor incident on a ship that was later resolved. What strikes me is that the vast majority of disasters are fire related. These occur either at sea, often with disastrous results in terms of loss of life (Morro Castle) or whilst docked, frequently for a refit (Normandie). It seems as though ships are very susceptible to fire and one hopes that modern passenger vessels are not so vulnerable.

It is pretty clear that traveling by sea was not exactly a safe means of transportation, and that liners from the early 20th century were lucky to have a lifespan of 10-20 years before becoming obsolete at best, or meriting an entry in a book such as this at worst. Not a horrible book by any means and I quite enjoyed it, but very top level. If anything, it provides a guide for further research if you are so minded.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re like me and find the sinking of ocean liners a tragically fascinating historical topic, this book is perfect. Utterly engaging with gorgeous photos, the author is obviously well versed on the topic and has written an ideal primer on these surprisingly pervasive tragedies at sea.

[Jaap · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic Bill Miller : great pictures, well documented. Even though the subject is rather sad and seeing those once proud ships in their final moments, this book is a joy to read.

[Chaotician · Rating 5 out of 5]

i haven't read all of this book, but i have flipped through it. it covers pretty much every known ship disaster except for the Titanic, which is documented pretty heavily.

[Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Eerie book with Black and white pictures on "Doomed ships" not all are horrible endings. Some famous, some are not, no cargo ship(container) are included. Good book.