The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria: The Sinking of the World's Most Glamorous Ship

by Greg King, Penny Wilson

In the tradition of Erik Larson's Dead Wake comes The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria , about the sinking of the glamorous Italian ocean liner, including never-before-seen photos of the wreck today.

In 1956, a stunned world watched as the famous Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria sank after being struck by a Swedish vessel off the coast of Nantucket. Unlike the tragedy of the Titanic , this sinking played out in real time across radios and televisions, the first disaster of the modern age. Audiences witnessed everything that ensued after the unthinkable collision of two modern vessels equipped with radar: perilous hours of uncertainty; the heroic rescue of passengers; and the final gasp as the pride of the Italian fleet slipped beneath the Atlantic, taking some fifty lives with her. Her loss signaled the end of the golden age of ocean liner travel.

Now, Greg King and Penny Wilson offer a fresh look at this legendary liner and her tragic fate. Andrea Doria represented the romance of travel, the possibility of new lives in the new world, and the glamour of 1950s art, culture, and life. Set against a glorious backdrop of celebrity and La Dolce Vita, Andrea Doria 's last voyage comes vividly to life in a narrative tightly focused on her passengers – Cary Grant's wife; Philadelphia's flamboyant mayor; the heiress to the Marshall Field fortune; and many brave Italian emigrants – who found themselves plunged into a desperate struggle to survive. The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria follows the effect this trauma had on their lives, and brings the story up-to-date with the latest expeditions to the wreck.

Drawing on in-depth research, interviews with survivors, and never-before-seen photos of the wreck as it is today, The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria is a vibrant story of fatal errors, shattered lives, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Adventure, Historical, Italy, World History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2020

About the author

Greg King (born 1964) is an American author, best known for his biographies of prominent historical figures.

He is the author of eleven internationally published works of royal and social history, specializing in late Imperial Russia and Edwardian-era royalty, including The Fate of the Romanovs, The Court of the Last Tsar, and the UK bestseller The Duchess of Windsor. A frequent onscreen expert and commentator for historical documentaries, his work has appeared in Majesty Magazine, Royalty Magazine, Royalty Digest, and Atlantis Magazine.

Source: wikipedia.com & us.macmillan.com

Reviews

[Don Gerstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a simple tale of an ocean liner that sinks into the sea one night. This is a mixture of individual stories combined into one incredible book, brought to life through the responses of different people as they reacted to the unexpected. Courage and tragedy, self-sacrifice and fear driven by imminent death – these and other human elements are present, exposing the best and the worst of human nature that accompanies any type of disaster.

Thure Peterson’s hours-long battle to rescue his wife is a tension-filled testament to what a person will do to save a loved one. One can imagine what is going through Captain Peter Calamai’s mind as he insists he will remain on the Andrea Doria, essentially “going down with the ship.” Countless others have their stories retold, and authors Greg King and Penny Wilson do their best to involve us in the actions and emotions of all of them.

I did feel a bit lost in the beginning when the authors introduced all the people, and more than once I wished there was a section I could refer to that would help me keep all the names straight. Fortunately, the characters are constantly revisited, and it was much easier than I thought to remember who was who. For those who wish to explore further, the authors have included a Notes section as well as an extensive Bibliography.

I’ve read many books on historical events, but seldom have had the pleasure to read one that involves you in the people and their stories as this one does. This is a gripping story that I finished in a 24-hour period. Highly recommended. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this title.

[Truman32 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels sometimes when dealing with all these difficult times that we are living on a sinking ship. But are we really? To gain some insight, I decided my next read would be The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria by Greg King and Penny Wilson. The good news is that this was a good read- very informative, moving, and eye-opening. The bad news is yes, yes we are living on a sinking ship.
The Andrea Doria was one of those lavish ocean liners that folks took back in the day for intercontinental travel (before flying became so much more efficient and affordable). It seems people wanted to enjoy their voyage, not just get to their destination. I suppose they were actually enjoying the company of their friends and family. I’m even told they would wear white jackets and fancy dresses to dinner. Weird. On a warm July 25, 1956 the Andrea Doria had over 1,000 passengers. The mayor of Philadelphia was enjoying the tasty waves, no doubt wishing he could throw a snowball at Santa. The wife of that rascal Cary Grant was onboard as was the daughter of department store mogul Marshall Field. The guy who would eventually help tackle Sirhan Sirhan (along with Rosie Grier) was enjoying the trip, as was the dude who wrote such musical gems as Yakety Yak, Hound Dog, and Stuck in the Middle with You.
On a foggy night another ocean liner, the Stockholm bumped uglies with the Andrea Doria and that was all she wrote folks. And by bumping uglies, I mean the front of the Stockholm was pointed and reinforced to cut through thick Swedish ice and when this bumped into the Doria it was ugly. Over 50 folks died shrieking horribly. The Andrea Doria capsized outside of Nantucket ruining the nice Italian vacation of many people.
King and Wilson do a detailed job setting up the passengers so when the inevitable happens you are invested in these characters and identify with their plight. The first few chapters are a bit tough to get through as introducing so many different passengers makes it hard to keep track of who is who. Many share the same names, have similar sounding names, or work identical occupations. But if you tough out this rocky start the rest of the book is smooth sailing. Things ramp up when the boats begins to sink and the pages will fly by.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In July 1956, the Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria left Genoa, Italy bound for New York. More than 1,600 passengers and crew were aboard. The Andrea Doria was the pride of Italy...a beautiful luxury boat with every amenity, even murals painted by famous artists. The sailing proved to be a safe, quick passage. The ship had been designed for speed, safety, and comfort. There was more than enough lifeboat space in case of problems....but no problems were foreseen.

Until....

On the evening of July 25th, 10 hours away from NYC, the Andrea Doria was struck by another ship, the Stockholm, in heavy fog. Both ships were badly damaged. The Stockholm was not in danger of sinking. The Andrea Doria, however, was doomed.

The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria provides information about the ship, its crew and captain, the passengers, the events that fateful night and the aftermath of the accident. It is obvious that the authors did painstaking research on the ship and the sinking. The facts are given in a very interesting, informative manner. I was not bored once while reading the 340+ pages of this book. So much information...but well-written and interesting.

It is amazing that only 51 people aboard the ships died due to the collision. And despite problems lowering lifeboats from the Andrea Doria because the ship was listing too far to one side, all passengers were evacuated as quickly as possible. Other ships in the region came to help, even the Stockholm. It was a huge and costly rescue mission, seen around the world as the media filmed the event from circling airplanes.

Wonderful book! I kept thinking what a contrast this event was compared to the sinking of the Titanic just 40+ years before. What if other ships had responded to Titanic as quickly as they did the Andrea Doria? It could have ended very differently for so many people!

This is the first book by Greg King and Penny Wilson that I have read. I will definitely be reading more! I very much enjoyed this book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is harder to rate than most would consider. It's a true 3.5 stars, IMHO. But I rounded it up for the immense research and also the reporting of facts and opinions exactly as they were expressed, without author /worthy of interpretation "eyes" slant to whose fault, which ship was more responsible for the outcomes. And other ethnic or economic class stereotypes that I felt he did NOT entrap himself within. As they did with the Titanic story and others I've read or have seen in film.

It's hard to read because of the width of personal information about 100's of peoples' placement criteria in their intimate family, friend /association, logistics in circumstances "settings". Both prior to the voyage, during the voyage, or after the sinking. It was a time of night when all people were NOT in their cabins.

Some of the circumstances of "afterwards" were so grim that you have to give this work major credit for telling it without crossing nearing impossible levels of sensibilities. Very gory details told in a respectable way, for instance.

I remember 1956 well, but I did not know much about this accident at all. Now I know nearly everything to do with it and the photos are 5 star with top of the line paper quality.

The beginning chapters and the last 3 or 4 chapters were 3 star as they covered the legal and lawful court and personal fallout aspects which I thought were hard, dry reads. This book took at least 3 times longer to read for me than the usual non-fiction of this length. Technical aspects plus law slants made parts of it hard going.

The witness voices were 5 stars. And the research sources 5 stars. And the reaction of the great majority of by-standers in the during and afterwards were also 5 stars. Really makes you wonder how such a level of "rescue" might happen today. Perhaps, they would need to parse the people first for "identity" and "worthiness". Then until now, with the kind/types of thinking and human societal "values" set within 2020 as "good" values- one might tend to believe it wouldn't be by class of the ticket either.

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best accounts of the sinking of the Andrea Doria. The author intertwines the personal and technical details of that tragic night. The sinking of the Andrea Doria was truly the end of the Golden Age of the passenger liner era. A must read.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First we are introduced to the passengers many of whom are wealthy, important, well known people.

Then the ship is describes in minute detail, every scrap of wood, wall panels, lighting, ceramics, statuary, china and more...and more…

Once the accident happens the narrative takes on a different feel and tempo. The harrowing experience of the passengers is detailed and gripping made more so because we have already been introduced to them so we have some idea of who is who.

The writing is such that it gives the reader a feeling of actually being on the ship as it begins to list and passengers become frantic.

In the aftermath the ongoing question is: which ship was at fault? The question continues to this day. Although over time and after several investigations it would appear that the Italian captain was mostly correct in decisions he made on that fateful voyage. Sadly he was never completely absolved of blame and died with the weight of the tragedy still on his shoulders.

I found this passage of interest as it is likely just as relevant today: “Modern technology, as soon became apparent, was still subject to human interpretation and error.” (pg.189)

Many dive operations of the shipwreck site have taken place over the years and all are included therein. This I did not find terribly interesting.

In the end we find out about the survivors – how their lives turned out. To be expected many suffered lasting trauma from the tragedy and, surprisingly, some that did not.

Sorry - not nearly as good as "Dead Wake"

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, such a sneaky book. I always finish a book once I start it, but one third of the way through this one I was ready to pull the plug. I had little interest in every minor design detail of the ships decor, nor of the personal history of seemingly everyone on board. I felt all this exposition was interminable, and was anxious to get to the wreck.
But the author, the sneaky dog, was busy intimately involving me with the ship, it's passengers, and it's crew so adroitly, that I didn't foresee the gut punch that the ship's misfortune would bear upon the reader. Upon the books completion I felt as if I had suffered a personal tragedy, a melancholy which clung to me for days afterward.
Bravo to Greg King for a masterful creation that is both illuminating and emotionally involving, a rare literary double play.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well researched and well written. The author’s writing style is engaging and brings history to life on the pages. The books focuses on the passengers and events leading up to the sinking of the Andrea Doria and the unfortunate aftermath where the Swedish ship (Stockholm) was absolved of wrong doing. Years later it was proved that the collision was the fault of the Stockholm.

This is an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read about one of the last luxury ocean liners.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook  page.

[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of this book I read while with a chip on my shoulder, due to a really dumb editorial mistake near the start when, in talking about the background of Piero Calamai, the captain of the "Andrea Doria, the authors make an off-handed comment about Calamai being instrumental in saving the "torpedo cruiser" "Caio Duilio" after a British torpedo attack during World War II. Problem: the "Duilio" was a full-fledged battleship and the attack was the famed British raid on Taranto in 1940. The authors elaborate and clarify later in the book, but with that gaff I came close to tossing the book at the wall.

This would have been unfortunate, as King & Wilson generally do a pretty good job of telling an intricate story, being most interested in reconstructing a time and attitude, before providing a blow-by-blow of the disaster, and doing some debunking of some of the misconceptions regarding events that have come down through the years.

That there are misconceptions regarding the seaworthiness of the "Doria," and the competence of her crew, have much to do with the publicity battle in the wake of the collision, which the Swedish American Line, operators of the "Stockholm," managed to win; not helped by the two passenger lines basically settling out of court. This is unfortunate in that it left Captain Calamai's honor stained, when one is left with the feeling that the owners and command staff of the "Stockholm" really deserved to be hammered for running a slack operation; it really pisses me off. Had Captain Nordenson of the "Stockholm" followed best practice, rather than doing just what was convenient, this event wouldn't have happened.

Therefore, while I think I can recommend this book, I do wonder about what other aspects of this story that the authors might have garbled and that their editors didn't pick up.

[Joe L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of errors and bad weather led the beautiful vessel Andrea Doria to a watery grave.
Good background on passengers and interviews from survivors make this worth reading.
Edit: wanted to add the wreck of the Andrea Doria is known as one is the most hazardous to dive in the world. Situated in approx 150 feet of water (50M) it’s plagued by strong currents and sediment that reduce visibility down there to near zero. 22 diver lives have been claimed since 1956.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

The wreck of the Andrea Doria led to one of the most memorial stories about a shipwreck – that of a young girl who fell asleep in her bed on the Andrea Doria and work up on the deck of the Stockholm. It is amazing luck and tragedy for her stepfather and sister died. Linda Hardberger (nee Morgan) perhaps is the most person, the image, that one associates the most with the Andrea Doria. Whether this is due simply to her story, or also to who her father was, can be debated. But in many ways that story has become the central point of the Doria shipwreck in many narratives. It is to the credit of King and Wilson that they do not do this and give equal (if not more) time to various people who were not famous after the wreck.

King and Wilson not only provide background on the captains of both vessels but also of the rules of the sea of the time, and of various passengers. There is an overview of the lines as well as the placement of cross ocean travel. The description of the wreck and the rescue is balance and clearly presented. While the background information might make the beginning of the book dry for some readers, when the voyage starts, the writing propels the reader forward quite easily.

It is to the authors’ credit that they provide information on the survivors and their lives after the wreck. More importantly there is an excellent analysis of the question of guilt as well as how the question played out in the media. The media analysis is particularly good and well done.
The book is an excellent read and offers a good history.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew about the Andrea Doria and its ill-fated last voyage - my ex is obsessed with ships and so while we were together I too learned to be "obsessed" with ships. While his obsession mostly lies with Titanic, the SS United States and the H.M.S. Hood and that tragedy, the Andrea Doria often flitted into conversations [something I didn't remember until I read this book - one of the survivors of the wreck is active in the saving of the SS United States and that is why both her name and some of the revelations shared by her with the author seemed familiar to me] and though I didn't really know all the details, I knew that it had been a real tragedy. So when this book came up on NetGalley, I knew I needed to read it. Because apparently all that ship talk rubbed off on me. ;-)

This book was...wow. I learned so much about this and about the passengers and the aftermath. And this is not a happy story - much like Titanic, so many things went wrong in the chaos of the aftermath of the wreck and it is a wonder that anyone survived. And the actions both during the rescue and afterwards by the Swedish line, in my opinion, was nothing short of criminal. And the struggles of most of the survivors afterwards was just a sad epilogue to what was a horrific night.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows anything about ships and ocean liners, who has heard, but not really read anything about the Andrea Doria or just likes a good book about a tragic event. Reading about the building of the ship and the days at sea leading up to the tragedy was fascinating and the way that people stepped up to help save their fellow passengers was absolutely awe-inspiring. And the ones that were lost to the sea...well, I recommend having some tissues ready. You'd have to be dead not to be moved by the stories of the dead.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most exceptional work of narrative nonfiction I’ve encountered since Close to Shore.

The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria is a stunning, captivating, and thorough account of the wreck, sinking and aftermath of the eponymous luxury liner that did everything right that the Titanic did wrong...and sank anyway.

King and Wilson’s harrowing account of the ship’s final sail before tragedy struck reads like fiction. I couldn’t put it down.

The level of detail the authors have managed to pack into this dense but never boring read is incredible. The story is told largely through accounts of survivors, allowing us a personal, intimate connection to the hard facts of the incident while still showcasing the painstaking research involved.

The section of the book devoted to the wreck and subsequent sinking of the Andrea Doria is absolutely terrifying (so evocative that I felt like I was there), and the events leading up to it and following in its wake prove to be equally captivating, thanks to the masterful storytelling abilities of King and Wilson.

An absolute must read if you love shipwrecks, the history of luxury travel, or even if you just loved the movie Titanic but could have done without the fictionalized love story and bad acting.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Mr. King and Ms. Wilson have certainly done their research on the Andrea Doria. It is obviously . coupius and detailed. There is a bibliography included for those who wish to further search for tidbits about the Andrea Doria, her history and her sad sinking.

I appreciate the facts given in the book about the actual accident that sank the ship. Who was where and who did what to avoid or make the collision between the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm inevitable. The authors spoke well of the panic that ensued not only on the ship, but among those loved ones waiting for the passengers sailing into New York. I was somewhat surprised and heartened to learn of the various organizations and department stores that rendered aid to the survivors.

Then there were contradictory and conflicting stories told by the survivors about the conduct of the Andrea Doria crew and their lack of assistance given to the passengers. In addition, the authors cover the inevitable official inquiries in the aftermath of the collision. When the results of various inquiries are listed, the reader only has to decide for themselves who is ultimately to blame for the crash.

While the writing was a little dry in that it for the main was a recitation of bare facts about passengers and the interior/exterior of the ship, it did give a good accounting of both some of the luminaries aboard and the appearance and design of the ship. Since I think in pictures, it gave me a good idea of her – and I Googled her as well...I did not know, for example, that the ship was named for a real person. I found that interesting.

I watched a television show not long ago where a search and salvage team dove on her. It was very poignant.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for forwarding to me a copy of this informative book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very much interested in the story of this tragedy and how a ship with modern radar and technology could have been the victim of a collision. It was an good portrayal of the hows and whys, but my problem was the whos. We are introduced to individuals on the beginning of the journey, but there were too many narratives to really keep straight, let alone have sympathy for. By the time of the crash and the aftermath, I found it hard to recall the background of a particular person or family, though there were a few that stood out, especially among those who didn’t survive.

Yes, the accident was preventable (looking at you, ramming ship Stockholm) and the circumstances tragic, but the overall the story didn’t captivate me as much as I’d hoped. There were a few interesting anecdotes and details that were intriguing, but overall, the fate of the Andrea Doria and her passengers could have been written in a more exciting, compelling way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Susan Paxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Does St Martin's no longer employ copy editors? Here's a nice sample: two survivors from the wreck "continue to make regular visits to Guatemala each year, where they still have family of cousins." Really?

There are moments in here, because bits of the story are inherently dramatic (none more so when Baron de Beaudean, the wonderfully colorful captain of the Ile de France - someone ought to write about him -, after cautiously approaching the crippled Andrea Doria, turned to his officers and ordered the lights on, at which moment the big French liner burst into view - it must have been an incredible sight), and the authors have the advantage earlier writers didn't, of knowing that the damage to the Andrea Doria was much worse than thought at the time, but overall it feels only sketchily edited, with way too many identical survivor accounts apparently included simply because they had them, and the coverage of the investigations and hearings are badly shortchanged as a result.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing duo of Greg King and Penny Wilson have produced a number of books that I have enjoyed reading and this one was no exception. I was excited when I first noted that it had been published and could not wait to get my hands on a copy of it. I knew of the Andrea Doria disaster (and not just because of a Seinfeld episode) so I was most keen to learn more. As is often the case when I read one of their books I had it read in a short time and was left feeling that it was a most satisfying read.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I vividly remember seeing the Andrea Doria sinking beneath the waves on TV as a kid. It was probably a news segment remembering the Andrea Doria 30 years later or something like that but as a child it felt like I was watching it happen live. I'd already had an interest in ships because of Titanic and this more modern shipwreck was equally fascinating. Despite being mortally wounded she stayed afloat for 11 hours and almost everyone on board was saved. The majority of casualties came from the collision itself with the rest happening during the evacuation and some succumbing to their injuries later. I love Greg King and Penny Wilson's books and usually keep up with them, but this one I missed and if it hadn't been for audible recommending it I never would've known it is existed. The book focuses mostly on the human side of the disaster and there's several chapters devoted to introducing us to the various people on board. Very confusing honestly. The actual disaster is well written like a suspense novel filled with terror and chaos as people try to flee. While it seemed at first like Italian ships all have cowardly crews who flee at the first chance the officers and crew here, except a few wait staff behaved quite impeccably and my heart broke for Captain Calamai. Carstens on the Stockholm came across as arrogant and possibly sociopathic. He never lost sleep over what happened? Even if it hadn't been his fault of which it most certainly was you don't feel slightly guilty. What kind of a heartless monster are you? It actually made me angry that he got away with the deaths of 51 people while Calamai who did his best was crucified. And he got to keep his high ranking position. Wow, just wow. I'm glad that history is being kinder to Captain Calamai. The rescue as mentioned is the best part of the book. From the wild story of Linda Morgan who fell asleep in her cabin on the Andrea Doria and woke up on the bow of Stockholm, to Thure Peterson and his heroic efforts to save Linda's mother Jane and his own wife Martha, to poor innocent Norma Di Sandro who knocked into a lifeboat as her father tried to save her hitting her head and prematurely ending her life days later. Following the sinking we get the inquiry and as I said Carstens is the worst and the fact that the press was on his side makes you realize even in the 1950s you couldn't trust mainstream media. We learn what became of those who survived and Stockholm after she was repaired. They follow divers exploring the wreck which continues to take lives. The now infamous Ocean Gate makes an appearance but not the unfortunate Titan. The book throughout draws comparisons to Titanic, I was glad the authors didn't buy into the Captain Smith myth that he was a brave hero when in reality he caused his ship to founder with his own actions. Also like Titanic I noticed a lot of people had premonitions about Andrea Doria. I can't help wonder if they actually did or if they are just saying that in hind sight cause it does seem odd that so many ship wreck survivors say this. The only one I believe is Eva Hart's mother who refused to sleep at night on Titanic because of her fears. Anyway for the most part I enjoyed this book. It did get sort of dry after the actual ship story was told. I didn't near to hear about all the diving expeditions and salvage missions but other than that it was a very engaging look at a somewhat lesser known ship wreck.

[Susie Stangland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait! Before you watch the movie Titanic one more time, stop and read The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria instead! The world was listening and watching live as survivors fought to leave and the glamorous ship sank. They say “life is in the details” and there is an abundance of them in the account. I found this focused attention made those on the ship seem more like real people so I appreciated the care to include them. This telling ranks right up there with some of the great ship sinking stories. Look for it!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real nail biter of a book. I'm from New England, even lived on Nantucket in the 90s, so I already knew quite a bit of what happened but to have the stories of individuals on the boat and what happened to them really brought it to life. One family on the boat, the Giffords, I ended up knowing at different times of my life. I worked for two of them and dealt with the third on Nantucket. I hope that there eventually is a museum or at least an exhibit of all the treasures that have been found. It would be fascinating.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria is extremely well researched and provides lots of details about the two ships involved in the accident that should not have happened.

The lives of the passengers and crew are not neglected. King describes his interviews with the two Hollywood Stars on the AD, other prominent people, and the everyday Joe.

Details of the wreck itself are explored at the time of the accident and years later after more sophisticated analyses are done. The courageous rescue of most of the passengers and the nearby ships who responded to the distress call are brought to life.

The sad deaths of passengers who were killed in the collision and those who died in the aftermath are remembered by their families.

If you are ever curious about this mid-century sea accident, this is the book to read.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on the great passenger ship disasters, including some on the Andrea Doria. Most are written by fantastic authors giving us the stories from the perspectives of engineers, technical professionals and other "experts". Greg King and Penny Wilson have joined to bring to life the personal stories of passengers aboard the Andrea Doria. Including photos and articles from the accident itself, this personal perspective gives so much depth and feeling to the already emotional story of the rescues and sacrifices of so many people. I dont know why no one had written this version before but I'm so glad that this view has been added to the Andrea Doria's story.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion of the book.

I absolutely loved it. Great storytelling of a truly tragic, unforgettable and unnecessary tragedy. The book not only explores the accident that occurred, how it could have been avoided and subsequent dives to recover artifacts, but it tells the story of families, passengers and those affected by it.

You get to know some of the crew as well too not only on the doomed ship but on those ships that helped come to its aid.

I found it captivating and a highly recommended book even if you are not a maritime fan.

[Susan The Book Dragon Campton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome, My Fellow Book Dragons, to Throwback Thursday, where we examine a Gem that takes us back in time. Tonight’s is quite exquisite, having been found in some wreckage of a cruise ship. It is part of a strand of beautiful pink rosary beads. Perhaps they came apart after being in the water, perhaps they pulled apart by the person praying them, who knows? But hold them and you can feel a bit of panic mixed with hope and a rush of adrenalin. This is Gem Makers’ Greg King and Penny Wilson’s “The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria”.

I have never read so comprehensive a text on this particular event. This is a delight to study. I never felt as though I were reading, but more as if I were learning at the table of someone who had actually been there. Many books have been written on the Titanic and in great detail, but most, I have found on the Andrea Doria were more text like in their presentation and a bit boring.

King and Wilson did a wonderful job of explaining cruise ships both before and after WWII, I felt as if I were on each deck. The people who were on the ship the day of the sinking, and what they were doing was as real to me as if I were onboard.

This is a lovely book. If you are looking for something to widen your knowledge, increase your horizons, or just something quite fun and exciting to read, this is it! “The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria” is definitely different and quite a tale.

Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon,

Drakon T. Longwitten

I received my copy of this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to #StMartinsPress

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

What could be more exciting than a large cruise ship on a collision course to disaster? I thought of A Night to Remember, The Poseidon Adventure, or Titanic. The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria has the potential to be an equally great movie. However, as a book, not so much.

The book is extensively researched, and it shows. Literally, every fact discovered, whether relevant or not, is thrown into the mix. Pages on cruise ship passenger volume reductions due to competition from air travel. Chapters on cruise ship design and the aftermath of World War II on Italy. In addition, most of the cruisers’ stories are relayed to the nth degree. All are told—not shown. With 218 first class passengers, you can see why the collision doesn’t occur until 25% into the book. By that point, I was exhausted and had already started to skim read the rest.

If you are writer penning a story set on a 1950s cruise ship, this book would be an excellent resource for setting. Or if you love the history of maritime disasters, I highly recommend this book. However, for those readers, like me, looking for an exciting disaster thriller, look elsewhere. Or wait for the inevitable movie based on the book. That dichotomy makes the Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria difficult to rate. I’ll average it to 3 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is thoroughly researched and includes the actual accounting of events by many of the passengers and crew. The first six chapters describe the various passengers and their lives before the tragedy, and the layout and decoration of the beautiful Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria, one of the last of its kind. The descriptions of the passenger's struggle to survive and rescue others is emotional and heartbreaking. I couldn't stop reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Andrea Doria set sail, everyone figured it would be another routine voyage. No one could have envisioned what horrors awaited in the middle of the ocean.

This book was amazing in more way than one. I enjoyed getting into the history, the stories, the mechanics of what made it all happen, which mistakes were made (by both sides) and how the event could have been avoided.

If you love history, this is one book that you need to read! It was well-rounded, and brought the Andrea Doria to life once more!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated by David Colacci (best known by me as the voice of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti) and acquired from the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled's BARD app.

For some reason disaster narratives fascinate me. This is a good one, giving nice background of life on board the luxury liner, its crew and passengers, as well as the aftermath. Listening to it made a long sleepless night more bearable.

[Mini · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best researched books I’ve ever read, and the audiobook narration takes it to another level. I loved the stories of all the survivors and where they are today with their families.

[Presley Roush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. “A Night to Remember” esque story telling. Truly so fascinating how we as humans act against impossible odds.