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Titanic Landmark Series
Titanic - A Survivor's Story
Here is a survivor's vivid account of the greatest maritime disaster in history. The information contained in Gracie's account is available from no other source. He provides details of those final moments, inlcuding names of passengers pulled from the ocean and of those men who, in a panic, jumped into lifeboats as they were being lowered, causing injury and further danger to life. Walter Lord, author of A Night to Remember, comments that Gracie's book - written shorting before he died of exposure he suffered on that night - in 'invaluable for chasing down who went in what boat', and calls Gracie 'an indefatigable detective'.
209 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1913
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
February 17, 2020
I heartily recommend this memoir. This might be the single most fascinating account of the Titanic that I have ever had the privilege to read.
Col. Archibald Gracie was an extraordinary man, and his account of the sinking—with its clarity and its unassuming tone—provides both insight into the disaster and closure for those shaken by the tragedy. Gracie seems to have been a methodical man, and he lays out the information as smoothly and logically as possible. He makes it abundantly clear what things he witnessed personally and what things he deduces based on evidence. His eye for detail is extraordinary.
This book has two parts. The first is Gracie’s memoir, in which he shares his experience on the ship the day of the sinking. He describes the loss of his friend James Clinch Smith, who was with him until the ship sank beneath them both. He recounts the valor of the men and women on the ship, as well as the kinship he felt with the other survivors on Collapsible B. He describes, quite scientifically, a telepathic experience that was attested by three people thousands of miles apart. He recounts with gentle humility his own shortcomings. His writing is poignant but never maudlin. There is dignity here, not just for Col. Gracie, but for everyone whom he describes. He includes names whenever possible, but he also pays tribute to some brave people whose identities he never learned.
The second part of this book is Gracie’s meticulous research. Much of it is not his own words, as he has collected a great deal of survivor testimony and drawn from the transcripts of the inquests in order to provide a more complete picture of the the disaster. It’s not as personal or as moving as Gracie’s own account, but it provides a great deal of background information, particularly with regard to the people in the other lifeboats. It seems that Col. Gracie’s purpose for this publication was to collect as much historical record as he could—including his own account—and preserve it for all. It is truly a phenomenal project.
Col. Archibald Gracie never lived to see his work published. He died of complications from his exposure in the icy water. In a sense, this makes him the last victim claimed by the disaster. He was 53 years old.
Col. Archibald Gracie was an extraordinary man, and his account of the sinking—with its clarity and its unassuming tone—provides both insight into the disaster and closure for those shaken by the tragedy. Gracie seems to have been a methodical man, and he lays out the information as smoothly and logically as possible. He makes it abundantly clear what things he witnessed personally and what things he deduces based on evidence. His eye for detail is extraordinary.
This book has two parts. The first is Gracie’s memoir, in which he shares his experience on the ship the day of the sinking. He describes the loss of his friend James Clinch Smith, who was with him until the ship sank beneath them both. He recounts the valor of the men and women on the ship, as well as the kinship he felt with the other survivors on Collapsible B. He describes, quite scientifically, a telepathic experience that was attested by three people thousands of miles apart. He recounts with gentle humility his own shortcomings. His writing is poignant but never maudlin. There is dignity here, not just for Col. Gracie, but for everyone whom he describes. He includes names whenever possible, but he also pays tribute to some brave people whose identities he never learned.
The second part of this book is Gracie’s meticulous research. Much of it is not his own words, as he has collected a great deal of survivor testimony and drawn from the transcripts of the inquests in order to provide a more complete picture of the the disaster. It’s not as personal or as moving as Gracie’s own account, but it provides a great deal of background information, particularly with regard to the people in the other lifeboats. It seems that Col. Gracie’s purpose for this publication was to collect as much historical record as he could—including his own account—and preserve it for all. It is truly a phenomenal project.
Col. Archibald Gracie never lived to see his work published. He died of complications from his exposure in the icy water. In a sense, this makes him the last victim claimed by the disaster. He was 53 years old.
July 31, 2021
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the Titanic. I would recommend reading it rather then listening to the audiobook. The audio quality was poor and the narrator didn't fit the book.
Anyway, the book itself was great. One of the most interesting books I ever read. And it might be the best memoir I picked up. Colonel Archiebald Gracie was an amazing writer and reasearcher. The fact that he started to write this book right away after the Titanic disaster is incredible! It was like really moving back in time through his words!
At first it was a bit hard to get into the book, because of the writing style. I think it's how a lot of Edwardian books was written. So the flow of words was different writing to modern books. However, one gets used to it quick enough.
I never thought another Titanic book would beat Walter Lord's 'A Night To Remember' . However, I would say this is better for two reasons; One, this book is a true story from an actual survivor. Second, Walter Lord took inspiration and facts from Archibald Gracie's book in order to create his own amazing work.
I love that the book has a lot of details regarding passengers and the aftermath of the sinking etc.. It might not be everyones cup of tea. But for a geek like me who love putting in the smallest of details into everything this is amazing!
Still, there are things about this book that one should take into an account. Yes, this is a very good and informative book, as long as one remember that this event is told by only one persons perspective. This is mainly what Archiebald Gracie witnessed and this is his side of the story. You can't take everything as pure facts. Because there are 700 other peoples survival stories as well. He though put in a lot of other survivors stories and he has done amazing background, which in my opinion added much to the book.
One can't also take this as 100% facts. Gracie did a very good work with the reasarch. Thanks to Achiebald Gracie we have a lot of information regarding the sinking. At least according to Walter Lord, the author for 'A Night To Remember' we know who went in to which lifeboats etc. As for his own story. Is fascinating and I respect him very much to write down his experiences. The fact that we can imagen what did happen to the first-class infamous staircaise is because Archiebald Gracie was at the right place at the right time.
However, he is not a professional historian. He was an amateur historian and wrote for personal enjoyment more then anything else.
One thing that I also noted that people critizies Gracie for is that he only really writes about the first class passengers. And that he doesn't treat the third class passengers at all. That he didn't name them or alienist them.
It's true and in modern days standard it's horrible. However, in my opinion, one should not forget that this happened 109 years ago. Peoples way of thinking was different. The Edwardian era's society didn't entermingle with each other. Also, not only Archiebald Gracie, but the press/media wasn't interested in third class survivor stories. Brutal and wrong, yes, but can one blame Archiebald Gracie for having the same mindset as the majority of people seemed to have during that time?
In the end, I'm a sad though that he didn't get a chance to see his own book being published before his own death in December of 1912. Because it was a really good book and I enjoyed every moment of it. In my opinion, it would have been interesting to meet him in person! He seemed like a kind person and a true gentleman with a lot of passion for history.
Anyway, the book itself was great. One of the most interesting books I ever read. And it might be the best memoir I picked up. Colonel Archiebald Gracie was an amazing writer and reasearcher. The fact that he started to write this book right away after the Titanic disaster is incredible! It was like really moving back in time through his words!
At first it was a bit hard to get into the book, because of the writing style. I think it's how a lot of Edwardian books was written. So the flow of words was different writing to modern books. However, one gets used to it quick enough.
I never thought another Titanic book would beat Walter Lord's 'A Night To Remember' . However, I would say this is better for two reasons; One, this book is a true story from an actual survivor. Second, Walter Lord took inspiration and facts from Archibald Gracie's book in order to create his own amazing work.
I love that the book has a lot of details regarding passengers and the aftermath of the sinking etc.. It might not be everyones cup of tea. But for a geek like me who love putting in the smallest of details into everything this is amazing!
Still, there are things about this book that one should take into an account. Yes, this is a very good and informative book, as long as one remember that this event is told by only one persons perspective. This is mainly what Archiebald Gracie witnessed and this is his side of the story. You can't take everything as pure facts. Because there are 700 other peoples survival stories as well. He though put in a lot of other survivors stories and he has done amazing background, which in my opinion added much to the book.
One can't also take this as 100% facts. Gracie did a very good work with the reasarch. Thanks to Achiebald Gracie we have a lot of information regarding the sinking. At least according to Walter Lord, the author for 'A Night To Remember' we know who went in to which lifeboats etc. As for his own story. Is fascinating and I respect him very much to write down his experiences. The fact that we can imagen what did happen to the first-class infamous staircaise is because Archiebald Gracie was at the right place at the right time.
However, he is not a professional historian. He was an amateur historian and wrote for personal enjoyment more then anything else.
One thing that I also noted that people critizies Gracie for is that he only really writes about the first class passengers. And that he doesn't treat the third class passengers at all. That he didn't name them or alienist them.
It's true and in modern days standard it's horrible. However, in my opinion, one should not forget that this happened 109 years ago. Peoples way of thinking was different. The Edwardian era's society didn't entermingle with each other. Also, not only Archiebald Gracie, but the press/media wasn't interested in third class survivor stories. Brutal and wrong, yes, but can one blame Archiebald Gracie for having the same mindset as the majority of people seemed to have during that time?
In the end, I'm a sad though that he didn't get a chance to see his own book being published before his own death in December of 1912. Because it was a really good book and I enjoyed every moment of it. In my opinion, it would have been interesting to meet him in person! He seemed like a kind person and a true gentleman with a lot of passion for history.
May 22, 2012
I'm sure it was terribly informative in 1912/13 but less so now. Interesting how the testimony of first class passengers (including that of Col. Gracie) were accepted as fact by both British and American Inquiries, whilst those of 2nd and "steerage" were called into question - yet these turned out to be more accurate (i.e. the ship DID split etc..). Very skewed to paint Col. Gracie in the best, most heroic light. Quite ironic how it was emphasised several times throughout the book that there was NO attempt to hold back, or discriminate against, steerage passengers yet all those in the life boats who held 1st or 2nd class tickets are named individually whereas boats containing steerage are labelled exactly that. More an insight into the class society of the edwardian era than anything else.
November 20, 2012
This is the first hand account of the experiences of Archibald Gracie on the night of 14th April 1912 aboard the Titanic as she succumbed to the waters of the Atlantic and while the event is one of the most dramatic in peacetime history, Archibald tells his story with the reserve typical of the time. He tells how he helped fill the few lifeboats that there were and how he managed to escape the freezing waters of the Atlantic, eventually finding his way on board the Carpathia and back to dry land. His language is somewhat dated and some of the details are a little inaccurate but that's easy for us to say one hundred years on (I'm sure the last thing on anyone's mind was the taking of notes) but even so this account is invaluable and shows that the public perception of chaos on decks may not be quite as accurate as we like to think.
The second part of the book compiles the accounts and experiences of all the survivors that Archibald contacted and received replies from. These show the variations in how the events were perceived and the differences between the experiences of those survivors. These stories add another dimension to the book and provides a unique collection of tales of this historic event.
The second part of the book compiles the accounts and experiences of all the survivors that Archibald contacted and received replies from. These show the variations in how the events were perceived and the differences between the experiences of those survivors. These stories add another dimension to the book and provides a unique collection of tales of this historic event.
January 12, 2021
Excellent book!!!
December 26, 2020
A fascinating, first hand account from one of the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic. Well worth a read.
April 25, 2019
I have already read several books about the tragic sinking of the Titanic and they all ended the same way, it sank. So when I stumbled on this one I had to ask myself, do I really want to read another book about the Titanic? I expected that it would most likely end the same way. Having read it, I am glad that I didn't talk myself out of it. Just as with almost any subject, there are different viewpoints and angles that can be considered and examined. Why are there so many books about Lincoln? Autobiographies of Benjamin Franklin? Books about the Holocaust? The thing about previous books I have read about the Titanic (as well as several movies) is that some focused on the errors made by some of the crew, some focused on the technical issues of exactly how the iceberg tore open the hull, some focused on the personal stories of various passengers. This book is the personal account of Col. Archibald Gracie, who was a passenger and a survivor of the calamity, written shortly before his death from the exposure he suffered from that night. What it presents that I didn't get from the other books I read was an account of the on board reactions and almost calm nature as the sinking became more imminent and many realized their coming fates. It details the efforts to fill the limited number of life boats with women and children first, adding a few experienced crew members in each to control and operated each boat. It covers the facts of some boats being only partially filled when they left the Titanic, the wait for the arrival of the Carpathia a few hours later, and the condition of many of the survivors in the boats and in the water. It then goes into the hearings held after the fact to determine causes and any fault to be assigned. This involved a lifeboat by lifeboat detailing of what the capacity was; how many men, women, and children were in each including names; any discrepancies or problems encountered; and whether they chose to return to the sinking ship to attempt to pick up any additional survivors or pulled any out of the water. This last part was probably the most interesting part to me as it highlights human nature in that some wanted to go back, some refused saying they would capsize drowning everyone, and many were split on what to do. It makes yo think about what your own reaction might have been under those circumstances. So even if you have already a book or three about the Titanic, you may want to give this one a read.
June 2, 2020
This personal account from a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic was first published in 1913. More than 100 years later, it still is a chilling account of all that happened on that fateful night. Archibald Gracie recalls what he and others experienced that night in an unforgettable narrative. He talks about what he did, helping others load and launch the lifeboats. He talks about the poignant goodbyes, families resigned to what must be. In the latter part of the book, he recounts the facts he garnered through meticulous research, contacting other survivors, and quoting some facts that came to light through the judicial inquiries at that time. It is a fascinating, detailed, and quite accurate account of the sinking as he himself experienced it, along with others’ testimonies. This audio version was superbly performed by Frederick Davidson.
September 7, 2020
As much as I love reading anything about the Titanic, this was not a very good book. It was a lot of self promotion by the author, self congratulatory oats on the back and a lot of name dropping if who he spoke with on the last days of the voyage before the disaster. He also refused to say any third class passenger names, and if you first or second class and were not English, French or American, you were also not named and considered foreign. It was appalling. He also disagreed with certain aspects of the sinking and pretty much stated that if he didn't see it or hear it, then it didn't happen.
May 21, 2025
Archibald Gracie’s book vividly recounts the 1912 Titanic sinking from his own experience. It’s engaging and full of historical details, perfect for those interested in learning more about the tragedy.
July 28, 2025
Interesting enough account of Col. Gracie's experience surviving the sinking of the Titanic. It was fine but could drag on a bit, even for it's shortish length.
June 29, 2014
This is NOT a Story. It's a very detailed account of the sinking of the Titanic.
If you are looking for an emotional account of the Titanics first and only crossing this is NOT the book for you. Although most of the details of this famous crossing are tragic, this is more of an accounting of what happened from the moment the Titanic struck the Iceburg to the last passengers recall before a panel of judges what happened in ghost fateful hours.
If you enjoy getting into and understanding the minutia of court hearings and witness testimony you will find this very interesting. If not, it will bore you to tears. This accounting begins with one man's story aboard the Titanic and what happened to him personally after the Burg was struck...then goes into great detail of the survivors stories. Story is really not the correct word. The White Star Line needed to get witness statements from every person who survived this tragedy. From the moment they were aware there was a problem; what they were told, how they were treated, how organized were the ship's employee's in getting them from their rooms, assisting with life vests up till and including the moment they were put on a rescue boat then rescued by the luxury liner the Carpathia.
A lot of the information is repeated as each person tells what they experienced. They go into great. detail about which rescue boat were they on, who else was on it with them, how many woman and children vs men vs employees of the line were on each boat. How organized were they? We're they prepared? We're lives saved or lost because of any one (or more) man's actions? Was anyone discriminated against? The questions go on and on as do the answers.
By the end of this book you will know how many men, woman, children, fireman, customers, etc were on each rescue boat. When each boat left the Titanic, what kind of people were the occupants of each boat, who were the heroes and who were the simpering cowards.
You'll discover some fascinating new facts about the sinking of the Titanic and about the character of the people which up till now we only have known through movie representations. I definitely know more about what really happened those few hrs and by the end of the book you realize that this isn't just a story, these are not just facts about who was on which boat or who said to go back to find more survivors or who bribed them with money to NOT go back etc. By time you get to the end it hits you that this was a living breathing person. It wasn't just a block buster movie. These were people who needed to know why their loved ones had to die that night just as much as the victims of 9/11 needed to know. That's when it really becomes REAL.
If you are looking for an emotional account of the Titanics first and only crossing this is NOT the book for you. Although most of the details of this famous crossing are tragic, this is more of an accounting of what happened from the moment the Titanic struck the Iceburg to the last passengers recall before a panel of judges what happened in ghost fateful hours.
If you enjoy getting into and understanding the minutia of court hearings and witness testimony you will find this very interesting. If not, it will bore you to tears. This accounting begins with one man's story aboard the Titanic and what happened to him personally after the Burg was struck...then goes into great detail of the survivors stories. Story is really not the correct word. The White Star Line needed to get witness statements from every person who survived this tragedy. From the moment they were aware there was a problem; what they were told, how they were treated, how organized were the ship's employee's in getting them from their rooms, assisting with life vests up till and including the moment they were put on a rescue boat then rescued by the luxury liner the Carpathia.
A lot of the information is repeated as each person tells what they experienced. They go into great. detail about which rescue boat were they on, who else was on it with them, how many woman and children vs men vs employees of the line were on each boat. How organized were they? We're they prepared? We're lives saved or lost because of any one (or more) man's actions? Was anyone discriminated against? The questions go on and on as do the answers.
By the end of this book you will know how many men, woman, children, fireman, customers, etc were on each rescue boat. When each boat left the Titanic, what kind of people were the occupants of each boat, who were the heroes and who were the simpering cowards.
You'll discover some fascinating new facts about the sinking of the Titanic and about the character of the people which up till now we only have known through movie representations. I definitely know more about what really happened those few hrs and by the end of the book you realize that this isn't just a story, these are not just facts about who was on which boat or who said to go back to find more survivors or who bribed them with money to NOT go back etc. By time you get to the end it hits you that this was a living breathing person. It wasn't just a block buster movie. These were people who needed to know why their loved ones had to die that night just as much as the victims of 9/11 needed to know. That's when it really becomes REAL.
March 14, 2022
** 4stars**
I appreciate the tremendous level of detail and research that went into writing this book.
This is the third (or maybe fourth???) NF book I have read in quick succession about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. What is different about this book in comparison to the others that I have read are a couple of things:
1. It was written by a survivor.
2. It was written almost immediately after the sinking.
3. The author had access to many primary sources from other survivors that he specifically referred to (e.g correspondence)
What I appreciated about this account in that not only was Colonel Gracie adamant about telling his own story, he also wanted to share the stories of those that had lost their lives and also other survivors.
Brace yourself, this was written in the early 20th century and Colonel Gracie does have a view of women that probably does not fit with the way women would describe themselves. He honestly believed it was his duty to save helpless women and children and was prepared to die for that belief.
Some truly remarkable accounts are recorded in this book. It is well recommended if you are interesting in Titanic history, or just in history in general.
I appreciate the tremendous level of detail and research that went into writing this book.
This is the third (or maybe fourth???) NF book I have read in quick succession about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. What is different about this book in comparison to the others that I have read are a couple of things:
1. It was written by a survivor.
2. It was written almost immediately after the sinking.
3. The author had access to many primary sources from other survivors that he specifically referred to (e.g correspondence)
What I appreciated about this account in that not only was Colonel Gracie adamant about telling his own story, he also wanted to share the stories of those that had lost their lives and also other survivors.
Brace yourself, this was written in the early 20th century and Colonel Gracie does have a view of women that probably does not fit with the way women would describe themselves. He honestly believed it was his duty to save helpless women and children and was prepared to die for that belief.
Some truly remarkable accounts are recorded in this book. It is well recommended if you are interesting in Titanic history, or just in history in general.
July 7, 2025
A fascinating and detailed insight into the sinking and inquiries of the Titanic. Some of the views on second-and third-class passengers as well as foreign travellers, are jarring to modern ears, but it's worth remembering this was written by an Edwardian gentleman who travelled first class and died before the end of 1912. In that sense, the book becomes a kind of time capsule. One of the more striking moments is his dismissal of 'steerage' passengers' claims that the ship broke in two: he calls them "deluded." Knowing now that they were right, I can’t help but wonder what he might have thought if he’d lived to see the wreck rediscovered.
Definitely a must read for anyone interested in the Titanic!
Definitely a must read for anyone interested in the Titanic!
July 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I loved reading about each individual lifeboat and its passengers. It was a very emotional and sad read but interesting too♥
January 17, 2024
This book was incredibly well-written and well-researched by Colonel Archibald Gracie, one of the 1912 Titanic disaster survivors. While Gracie sadly passed away in the same year that the famous ship sank on its maiden voyage, his account of what occured lives on for eternity. I have always been intrigued by this disaster and to hear the story from the perspective of someone who was there is truly captivating and shows the power of the written word as a tool to transcend time and space. It was furthermore intriguing to see the standards and worldviews of people who lived during that time: the casual racism towards one Japanese man by one of the men (not Gracie) on one of the lifeboats (who luckily survived), the chivalry by the men to let women and children go first and the fact that some jokes were made during the sinking of the ship additonally made this historical event so much more humane and flawed. I was also fascinated by the fact that Gracie solely tended to focus on first-class passengers: they were named, they were quoted, whereas others were not. All in all, this is a very good account of what happened in 1912.
June 26, 2018
Although I've read several books on the Titanic, I believe this is the only one I've read written by an actual survivor. The first half of the book is decent as Gracie recounts his experience as the boat sank. The second half, however, is comprised of testimonies of different survivors, many repeating their version of the same scene. Thus, it gets quite redundant.
April 15, 2021
I have been at conflict with myself on how to rate this book. After some thought I have gone for 3 stars. The problem is that this book is factual and is worded in a straight to the point manner. As harrowing as the experience was for all involved, this is a book that is mainly drama free. It’s fascinating yes, but is it interesting? No. Not really, not in the format that it is in. I would describe it as being part memoir, part document. The memoir part of the story is in the author’s own words and he tells you his experience of his time on Titanic. The document part is all of the research that the author put into the book. He interviewed several other survivors and took note of their experiences as well as adding transcripts from the official inquest that came after the sinking. There is so much detail here such as naming each lifeboat, naming the people on board and the conversations that supposedly took place. (It has to be said though that I have nothing but respect for Colonel Archibald Gracie, not only did he survive a horrific sinking, but he then spent the rest of his life researching the disaster for this book) I wouldn’t read this if you want entertainment. This isn’t that sort of book at all, if you seek entertainment watch the movie. If, however, you want to read a book which will tell you in detail how the crew coped with a disaster like no other and how the passengers behaved in an unspeakable situation then this book is probably the most accurate document you will ever read. This book is definitely one for Titanic enthusiasts, but probably not one for someone interested in groundbreaking literature!
February 28, 2012
As the title of the book already says: this book is the story of one of the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic. This alone makes this book for anyone who's interested in Titanic a must-read.
The first five chapters of the book are Colonel Gracie's story of what happened to him the last day on board of the ship and during the actual sinking and thereafter.
What makes this book really special is that Gracie also tracked down as many people as he could find who survived the sinking to collect as much information as possible about the lifeboats.
The last two chapters are a list of all the lifeboats and who were on board of them as far as he could figure that out, and some anecdotes about what happened on each lifeboat.
That he managed to get so much information is a feat in itself, but when you know he did all his information gathering in the summer of 1912 while feeling ill and that he died in december 1912 (the after-effects of his ordeal) you really have to admire his strong will.
It may be clear that I really love this book because of the richness of information and because of the personal aspect: a lot is written about Titanic, but a book about what happened written by someone who actually was there cannot be missing in any Titanic-collection.
A critical note:
Gracie was absolutely a man of his time.
It's amazing how almost every man who was on board of a lifeboat is either a sneaky foreigner or had been given personal permission to be there.
The first five chapters of the book are Colonel Gracie's story of what happened to him the last day on board of the ship and during the actual sinking and thereafter.
What makes this book really special is that Gracie also tracked down as many people as he could find who survived the sinking to collect as much information as possible about the lifeboats.
The last two chapters are a list of all the lifeboats and who were on board of them as far as he could figure that out, and some anecdotes about what happened on each lifeboat.
That he managed to get so much information is a feat in itself, but when you know he did all his information gathering in the summer of 1912 while feeling ill and that he died in december 1912 (the after-effects of his ordeal) you really have to admire his strong will.
It may be clear that I really love this book because of the richness of information and because of the personal aspect: a lot is written about Titanic, but a book about what happened written by someone who actually was there cannot be missing in any Titanic-collection.
A critical note:
Gracie was absolutely a man of his time.
It's amazing how almost every man who was on board of a lifeboat is either a sneaky foreigner or had been given personal permission to be there.
February 17, 2019
Gracie is one of the few people that survived the Titanic sinking without a lifeboat. I seriously can’t imagine surviving for more than a second in that water and Gracie was even sucked down with the ship, but lived to tell his tale. His story is seriously amazing, but unfortunately he was the first survivor to pass afterward. He didn’t last the year out as he died from complications of diabetes. As such, his story is somewhat unfinished and the second half of the book is just a compilation of recounts from survivors with some of the continuing disparate information. Some of it is just plain inaccurate such as Gracie swearing the boat never broke in half which we now know it did.
December 16, 2025
The only book I've ever bought twice
December 19, 2023
Not your usual Titanic fare. Yes the ship sinks, but unusually for a book involving the Titanic, it sinks around a half way into the book.
The story here is what it says, A survivor's story. It deals with his time on the ship, his interactions with those on board (along with some name dropping), but it also deals with what happened during and immediately after the sinking. His recollections may be skewed by his own memories, or even his state of health as he obviously never recovered from the effects of a large ship suddenly leaving him at the mercy of the seas but it makes for a good read. I recently read the book by lightoller, 'Titanic and other ships'. Both of these books were written by men with their own views and positions on status and have to be read with that in mind. They were not written to placate those of a sensitive nature. Although Grace's book was extolled as not holding back, it is often apparent that he shies away from showing any weaknesses in his own part, if indeed there were any, but when all is said and done, he is writing his own book on a disaster in his own words.
All that said, this book is effectively two books in that he details his experiences in the first part, but then the book switches to the courts dealing with accounts of those on the lifeboats and other aspects of survivors. The court aspect could be hard going for many readers as it is a little repetitive at times. I am making up details here, but it is in the manner of 'lifeboat number 7, souls on board 23, crew 'stoker and steward' then the questions from the court along with answers before 'lifeboat number 8' etc. Surprisingly I got something from this aspect as it gave an insight into aspects of the real world situation happening at the time rather than the edited prose many put on the situation. For anyone who has an interest in Titanic, the book is a must read. Equally, I would say the same of Lightollers book as there are parts of each that touch briefly on the same subjects, especially in the last moments before each man left the ship.
An interesting book written by a particular type of gentleman in a particular time in history. Written very shortly after the sinking it carries much of the class society aspects within it. In this day and age people will look at many aspects of his 'style' as appalling in that he obviously sees 2nd class and steerage as below his status. It's easy to fall into the trap of seeing the writer as a bad man, when in fact it's more an accurate reflection of the period, and the reality at the time for the writer was that he saw himself as first class and anybody not of first class was below him.
The story here is what it says, A survivor's story. It deals with his time on the ship, his interactions with those on board (along with some name dropping), but it also deals with what happened during and immediately after the sinking. His recollections may be skewed by his own memories, or even his state of health as he obviously never recovered from the effects of a large ship suddenly leaving him at the mercy of the seas but it makes for a good read. I recently read the book by lightoller, 'Titanic and other ships'. Both of these books were written by men with their own views and positions on status and have to be read with that in mind. They were not written to placate those of a sensitive nature. Although Grace's book was extolled as not holding back, it is often apparent that he shies away from showing any weaknesses in his own part, if indeed there were any, but when all is said and done, he is writing his own book on a disaster in his own words.
All that said, this book is effectively two books in that he details his experiences in the first part, but then the book switches to the courts dealing with accounts of those on the lifeboats and other aspects of survivors. The court aspect could be hard going for many readers as it is a little repetitive at times. I am making up details here, but it is in the manner of 'lifeboat number 7, souls on board 23, crew 'stoker and steward' then the questions from the court along with answers before 'lifeboat number 8' etc. Surprisingly I got something from this aspect as it gave an insight into aspects of the real world situation happening at the time rather than the edited prose many put on the situation. For anyone who has an interest in Titanic, the book is a must read. Equally, I would say the same of Lightollers book as there are parts of each that touch briefly on the same subjects, especially in the last moments before each man left the ship.
An interesting book written by a particular type of gentleman in a particular time in history. Written very shortly after the sinking it carries much of the class society aspects within it. In this day and age people will look at many aspects of his 'style' as appalling in that he obviously sees 2nd class and steerage as below his status. It's easy to fall into the trap of seeing the writer as a bad man, when in fact it's more an accurate reflection of the period, and the reality at the time for the writer was that he saw himself as first class and anybody not of first class was below him.
March 21, 2023
This was a very dry read with about half of it consisting of recorded testimony from survivors during both the American and the British inquiries. There is an advantage to a record of events published a year after the disaster; events of that tragic night are as fresh in the minds of survivors as they would ever be. However distance gives perspective and over a century later we know so much about the Titanic that is more enlightening than this book. The best example being the authors almost adamant belief that the ship did not break apart in the last moments as stated by a number of witnesses. We of course now know definitively that it did. Also the tone of the era I think hampers the account; an undue amount of effort is spent extolling the gentlemanly manners of the first class passengers first class because there is hardly a mention at all of those in third class, in fact the only mention comes from testimony not from the author himself. Still, it illustrates the vast difference in acceptable behaviour between 1912 and 2023. Were Titanic to go down today, putting aside all things like modern technology with regards to communication and more rigid marine safety requirements, there is no way men would quietly stand aside for women and children to be saved while they gallantly went down with the ship. Today there would be a stampede of men and women pushing each other aside to save themselves because we live in a “me first” society.
There was one passage in the first chapter where the author was chatting with the President of the Canadian Grand Trunk RR the evening of the disaster that really struck a chord with me: “This was the prophetic utterance with which, alas, he sealed his fate a few hours thereafter; ‘The White Star, the Cunard, and the Hamburg-American lines’ said he, ‘are now devoting their attention to a struggle for the supremacy in obtaining the most luxurious appointments for their ships, but the time will soon come when the greatest and most appalling of all disasters at sea will be the result’. I work with the cruise ship industry in an onshore capacity and I have been saying the same thing for years with relation to the size of the behemoths that are being built in this century. Instead of the names of those old lines we could be saying ‘Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess lines.
There were definitely some interesting aspects to this book but it was just too dated and too dry for my liking. 2½ stars
There was one passage in the first chapter where the author was chatting with the President of the Canadian Grand Trunk RR the evening of the disaster that really struck a chord with me: “This was the prophetic utterance with which, alas, he sealed his fate a few hours thereafter; ‘The White Star, the Cunard, and the Hamburg-American lines’ said he, ‘are now devoting their attention to a struggle for the supremacy in obtaining the most luxurious appointments for their ships, but the time will soon come when the greatest and most appalling of all disasters at sea will be the result’. I work with the cruise ship industry in an onshore capacity and I have been saying the same thing for years with relation to the size of the behemoths that are being built in this century. Instead of the names of those old lines we could be saying ‘Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess lines.
There were definitely some interesting aspects to this book but it was just too dated and too dry for my liking. 2½ stars
April 15, 2018
Titanic: A Survivor’s Story Titanic was the most powerful book I’ve ever read on the fateful sinking of the Titanic. From the first sentence, this was a powerful read. Colonel Archibald Gracie retold his experience about surviving the sinking of an unsinkable passenger ship on her maiden voyage. The memoir was initially published in 1913, which might account for the intricate prose used. The wording, as well as the descriptions of all things related to ships and sailing made this a slow read. Also, his description of what he endured was so unimaginable, that it took me a while to let it sink in and really understand the magnitude of chaos that occurred around him.
I found this to be a heart wrenching tale of survival and heroism. Gracie stated that the passengers exhibited extreme decorum while waiting to board the life boats. He claimed the men left aboard accepted their fate with honor. He was thrust overboard and survived a harrowing swim in the icy water. Once he surfaced, he miraculously made it to a life boat that was half submerged. The boat quickly filled up and those aboard yelled to men trying to board that taking in even one more passenger would sink everyone. In response, those in the water wished the men god bless and accepted their fate.
Gracie not only detailed his own story, but also included the eye witness accounts of other survivors. He That resulted in this book being termed an extremely accurate account of the night. He included testimony from the Senate hearings and examined questions that many had posed, such as did the ship actually break in half, and did the boilers explode. Every year, I try to read a book on Titanic, and am still amazed at the stream of events that led to her sinking. Gracie's story was even more amazing in that he claimed having had three hours of sleep that fateful night allowed him to be rested enough for the physical exertion required of him to survive.
Gracie's story of survival was amazing, and the presentation of all the information from other passengers was equally interesting. I highly recommend this.
I found this to be a heart wrenching tale of survival and heroism. Gracie stated that the passengers exhibited extreme decorum while waiting to board the life boats. He claimed the men left aboard accepted their fate with honor. He was thrust overboard and survived a harrowing swim in the icy water. Once he surfaced, he miraculously made it to a life boat that was half submerged. The boat quickly filled up and those aboard yelled to men trying to board that taking in even one more passenger would sink everyone. In response, those in the water wished the men god bless and accepted their fate.
Gracie not only detailed his own story, but also included the eye witness accounts of other survivors. He That resulted in this book being termed an extremely accurate account of the night. He included testimony from the Senate hearings and examined questions that many had posed, such as did the ship actually break in half, and did the boilers explode. Every year, I try to read a book on Titanic, and am still amazed at the stream of events that led to her sinking. Gracie's story was even more amazing in that he claimed having had three hours of sleep that fateful night allowed him to be rested enough for the physical exertion required of him to survive.
Gracie's story of survival was amazing, and the presentation of all the information from other passengers was equally interesting. I highly recommend this.
September 14, 2025
An essential read for Titanic enthusiasts. Gracie was one of the last people off the ship and survived by climbing onto the upside down collapsible lifeboat. He died within a year of the sinking and spent the last months of his life writing this book. He recounts his personal experiences then gives an accounting of each lifeboat using inquiry testimony and personal connections. The book showcases the unreliability of eyewitness testimony as well as the classism and racism of the day. Survivor testimony was taken at face value with inconsistencies ignored. How different would our understanding of the tragedy be if officers and the upper class had been questioned with a less deference?
Most of the lifeboats were launched well under capacity. The officers supposedly worried that boats would capsize if fully loaded. Did they truly believe the boat designers would include lifeboats that were unsafe to launch when full? They also claimed multiple times that there were no people around to fill the boats. It was clear the Titanic was doomed when the one boat launched with only 12 people onboard. Did the officers even try to find more?
Gracie lists the first class passengers in each boat then lumps everyone else together as if they didn't matter. He claims everyone behaved to the highest standard while glossing over the men who tried to escape and were ordered out of the boats. Some men were listed as stowaways. These were invariably foreigners. Only two lifeboats tried to go back to save people from the water. The others actively chose to let people die out of fear their boat would be swamped. Hardly the cream of humanity.
Most of the lifeboats were launched well under capacity. The officers supposedly worried that boats would capsize if fully loaded. Did they truly believe the boat designers would include lifeboats that were unsafe to launch when full? They also claimed multiple times that there were no people around to fill the boats. It was clear the Titanic was doomed when the one boat launched with only 12 people onboard. Did the officers even try to find more?
Gracie lists the first class passengers in each boat then lumps everyone else together as if they didn't matter. He claims everyone behaved to the highest standard while glossing over the men who tried to escape and were ordered out of the boats. Some men were listed as stowaways. These were invariably foreigners. Only two lifeboats tried to go back to save people from the water. The others actively chose to let people die out of fear their boat would be swamped. Hardly the cream of humanity.
December 24, 2021
Reading the differing opinions about certain happenings on the doomed ocean liner is eye opening. There was so much happening all at once during the sinking that a full knowledge about any one instance would be impossible. Also, there were forms of prejudice, both of nationality and concerning ones job, at play at certain times as well. Concerning the ship breaking apart, people didn't want to believe it broke apart partly because it could mean the work had been shoddy and in part because they expected more commotion from the ship than they heard. Although we know so much better today that she did break apart, it seems perfectly reasonable to me that the majority of the day found that hard to believe. Concerning "President Ismay's" conduct, as most beginner historians (and it seems the majority of the Titanic's day, excluding the author of this book) I spent a lot of time believing that he was largely to blame for the accident and was utterly wrong to enter a lifeboat. Nonetheless, the facts point toward him just trying to do his best given each situation and only going in so the boat would be more filled. I think those assertions are more visible when you take into account the manner of Mr. Ismay's brokenness proceeding the American and British tribunals. I have come to feel more for the man. This book has been truly eye-opening. I hope to read other accounts, especially those from different classes of people.
December 18, 2020
The book starts out on the titanic and follows Gracie through his journey as a survivor of the infamous Titanic. What drew me into the book was the fact that it was written about a Titanic survivor. I really like those kinds of stories but I could never find an extremely detailed version of one so this book filled a void for me. What I liked most about the book was the fact that it’s a true story, that all the things written in the book someone had actually experienced. The writing style made the book much more immersive. Since the book was published in 1913, just one year after the sinking of the Titanic, the language is very different from modern language. Although the language, being old fashioned, was a plus for me it was also my biggest negative. Sometimes the language made it hard to understand especially when characters were talking. I think the percentage of people who would enjoy this book is very slim. If Titanic interests you and you want to hear a detailed survivors story then this book is perfect. If you’re not either of those things then this book will probably bore you.
January 24, 2019
The first half of the book is a a first-person account of Col. Archibald Gracie's experience the night the Titanic sank. It's related dispassionately with period-typical stoicism.
Gracie does an excellent job of explaining what he experienced. His section is a quick read that propels the reader along. It's quite enjoyable.
The second half is a collection of court records and newspaper articles that fill in the picture of the sinking. This section is quite dry and copied in many places verbatim.
The second section makes the book a good choice for researchers because it puts everything in one place. However, it's not a particularly enjoyable read. I'll admit I skimmed through a lot of it in favor of getting to the better narrative parts.
Overall, it's worth a read, but I greatly preferred the first part.
Gracie does an excellent job of explaining what he experienced. His section is a quick read that propels the reader along. It's quite enjoyable.
The second half is a collection of court records and newspaper articles that fill in the picture of the sinking. This section is quite dry and copied in many places verbatim.
The second section makes the book a good choice for researchers because it puts everything in one place. However, it's not a particularly enjoyable read. I'll admit I skimmed through a lot of it in favor of getting to the better narrative parts.
Overall, it's worth a read, but I greatly preferred the first part.
April 15, 2020
Lo he leído en inglés, porque es la versión que encontré en una librería de libros antiguos. Es una lectura bastante rapidita, sin un vocabulario extremadamente complejo, aunque sí contiene términos específicos de navegación.
Creo que es uno de los libros que a día de hoy se tienen que considerar como 'clásico' y tendría que constituir una lectura obligada para todo lector que se precie. En él se ponen de manifiesto decisiones muy drásticas y, en algunos casos, inhumanas. Se ven los muchos errores que se cometieron y que tenían fácil solución. Por ello, es cierto que el naufragio no se podría haber evitado, pero sí haber salvado muchas más vidas. Otro de los puntos claves es el egoísmo del ser humano y la lucha por la supervivencia, que llevó a muchas de las personas "en las que se podía confiar" a engañar y mentir por salvar el pellejo.
La parte buena del libro es que se narre en primera persona, siendo así un relato que cala hasta los huesos y que vives en tus propias carnes. Además, no solo contiene la versión del autor. Se podría decir que es una recopilación de relatos de muchos de los supervivientes. Y es ese precisamente el motivo por el que el libro en numerosas ocasiones me ha aburrido: se cuenta muchas veces la misma historia desde distintos puntos de vista, con las mismas palabras.
Creo que es uno de los libros que a día de hoy se tienen que considerar como 'clásico' y tendría que constituir una lectura obligada para todo lector que se precie. En él se ponen de manifiesto decisiones muy drásticas y, en algunos casos, inhumanas. Se ven los muchos errores que se cometieron y que tenían fácil solución. Por ello, es cierto que el naufragio no se podría haber evitado, pero sí haber salvado muchas más vidas. Otro de los puntos claves es el egoísmo del ser humano y la lucha por la supervivencia, que llevó a muchas de las personas "en las que se podía confiar" a engañar y mentir por salvar el pellejo.
La parte buena del libro es que se narre en primera persona, siendo así un relato que cala hasta los huesos y que vives en tus propias carnes. Además, no solo contiene la versión del autor. Se podría decir que es una recopilación de relatos de muchos de los supervivientes. Y es ese precisamente el motivo por el que el libro en numerosas ocasiones me ha aburrido: se cuenta muchas veces la misma historia desde distintos puntos de vista, con las mismas palabras.
October 1, 2024
Essential reading for any Titianic enthusiast. Just as important as A Night To Remember by Walter Lord, in my opinion.
This book is basically in two halves; the first half is Colonel Gracie's written experiences of the disaster, and the second half is his research which includes excerpts of both the British and American inquiries of the disaster, including testimonials from survivors, and letters written directly to him from survivors detailing what they went through and witnessed are included in his manuscript.
Colonel Gracie's account is one of the most detailed I have ever come across. And then for him to have gone to the effort of gathering as much as possible to be included in his book is incredible. If it wasn't for him, I don't think we would have known quite as much as we do now.
This book is basically in two halves; the first half is Colonel Gracie's written experiences of the disaster, and the second half is his research which includes excerpts of both the British and American inquiries of the disaster, including testimonials from survivors, and letters written directly to him from survivors detailing what they went through and witnessed are included in his manuscript.
Colonel Gracie's account is one of the most detailed I have ever come across. And then for him to have gone to the effort of gathering as much as possible to be included in his book is incredible. If it wasn't for him, I don't think we would have known quite as much as we do now.
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