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Titanic - 'Iceberg Ahead': The Story of the Disaster by Some of Those Who Were There
To have sailed on 'the voyage of the century' aboard White Star Line's RMS Titanic - described at the time as 'a floating palace' - was like being one of the first passengers to fly on Concorde.
On 10 April 1912, people from all walks of life began embarking on Titanic, then the largest ship afloat, for what was to be the trip of a lifetime on the ship's maiden voyage across the north Atlantic. Many were looking forward to starting new lives in the United States.
However, just before midnight on Sunday, 14 April 1912, Titanic's crew began to send out distress signals stating, 'We have struck an iceberg'. The liner had been steaming at speed when it collided with an enormous iceberg which stripped off her bilge under the waterline for more than 100 yards, opened up five of the front compartments and flooded the coal bunker servicing one of the boilers.
The damage was fatal, and some three hours after the disaster began to unfold the last visible part of Titanic slipped beneath the waves. There were only sixteen lifeboats and four collapsible dinghies - which was completely insufficient for the number of passengers making the crossing. As a consequence, more than 1,500 passengers and crew died: two out of every three people onboard perished.
Much has been written about the Titanic disaster, and it has been the subject matter for several films. The author is well-known for his depth of research and his attention to detail, and in a new style of format, he has selected fifty people involved in the disaster, and by using their specific eyewitness accounts he has managed to make the confusing situation much clearer, making it possible for the reader to experience the dreadful events as they unfolded. The book also includes biographical tributes to the fifty people, who came from all walks of life and geographical regions, telling who they were, their experiences during the disaster, and what happened to those who were fortunate enough to survive.
On 10 April 1912, people from all walks of life began embarking on Titanic, then the largest ship afloat, for what was to be the trip of a lifetime on the ship's maiden voyage across the north Atlantic. Many were looking forward to starting new lives in the United States.
However, just before midnight on Sunday, 14 April 1912, Titanic's crew began to send out distress signals stating, 'We have struck an iceberg'. The liner had been steaming at speed when it collided with an enormous iceberg which stripped off her bilge under the waterline for more than 100 yards, opened up five of the front compartments and flooded the coal bunker servicing one of the boilers.
The damage was fatal, and some three hours after the disaster began to unfold the last visible part of Titanic slipped beneath the waves. There were only sixteen lifeboats and four collapsible dinghies - which was completely insufficient for the number of passengers making the crossing. As a consequence, more than 1,500 passengers and crew died: two out of every three people onboard perished.
Much has been written about the Titanic disaster, and it has been the subject matter for several films. The author is well-known for his depth of research and his attention to detail, and in a new style of format, he has selected fifty people involved in the disaster, and by using their specific eyewitness accounts he has managed to make the confusing situation much clearer, making it possible for the reader to experience the dreadful events as they unfolded. The book also includes biographical tributes to the fifty people, who came from all walks of life and geographical regions, telling who they were, their experiences during the disaster, and what happened to those who were fortunate enough to survive.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
240 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2021
5 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 17, 2021
This is a non-fiction story. I loved the titanic movie and story. This book was good, and I loved learning more about the titanic. I love that this book did a closer look at each of the people that where saved. I have to say I know most of the facts about what happen to the titanic before reading this book, but I did not know about the people that where saved. I did enjoyed this book, and I think it was well written. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Pen & Sword) or author (James W. Bancroft) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
March 22, 2021
When I first learned about the Titanic in 4th grade, it captured my attention. I became hooked on history. A few months later, the wreck was discovered. Then I ordered a book (Exploring the Titanic: How the Greatest Ship Ever Lost—Was Found) from a Scholastic book order, which I still have. I pored over this book over and over and over, eventually finding more books to supplement my addiction. (I did not like the 1997 movie.) My interest was piqued by this new book, but was there really anything new to learn about the Titanic?
Yes! I was pleasantly surprised. The first half of the book is a timeline of the disaster, pieced together through multiple witness accounts. Quite a few of these accounts I had never seen before. It started with the ship’s construction and concluded with the Carpathia rescue and initial reports. It really brought the disaster to life.
The second half provides a brief biography of many of the passengers (some survivors, some victims). This included parents’ names and birth dates and places—information less interesting to read through. Some people had really interesting lives that would make good biographies on their own.
Overall, it’s a nice addition to the collective history of the Titanic.
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Published March 31, 2021.
Yes! I was pleasantly surprised. The first half of the book is a timeline of the disaster, pieced together through multiple witness accounts. Quite a few of these accounts I had never seen before. It started with the ship’s construction and concluded with the Carpathia rescue and initial reports. It really brought the disaster to life.
The second half provides a brief biography of many of the passengers (some survivors, some victims). This included parents’ names and birth dates and places—information less interesting to read through. Some people had really interesting lives that would make good biographies on their own.
Overall, it’s a nice addition to the collective history of the Titanic.
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Published March 31, 2021.
February 2, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - many thanks for that!
Since I was a child (I think around 9 years old) I've loved reading about the Titanic. I can't say why, but something about this tragedy keeps me coming back to read more. So when I saw this new Titanic book on Netgalley, I knew I had to check it out.
The author has selected fifty people involved in the disaster and tells the story of what happened through their eyewitness accounts. Why were they onboard the Titanic? As passengers or members of the crew? Did they have any premonitions or worries regarding the ensuing tragedy? What was life like onboard the ship? And of course, how did they experience the collision with the iceberg and the aftermath?
The second half of the book explores some biographical details of most eyewitnesses. Were did they come from and what happened to them after the Titanic?
As somebody who's very interested in the Titanic and the personal tragedies, I enjoyed reading this book a lot. In the beginning, I wasn't so sure, as some of the accounts felt more like bullet points than a coherent story to me. At times it was hard to keep track of everybody and remember all the names.
But the accounts of the actual sinking and the time in the lifeboats until the survivors were rescued were extremely touching and heartbreaking. Families were torn apart without a chance to say goodbye for the last time. People had to die, so others could live. The survivors in the lifeboats witnessed the sinking and the terrible screams of the ones dying. They had to spend hours on tiny unstable boats in the middle of the North Atlantic without knowing if they would be rescued. I couldn't put the book down, and I know I'll be thinking about that for quite a while.
Regarding the biographies of some of the people involved in the second part of the book: Naturally, I was more interested in some than in others. It was great to learn more about Thomas Andrews, Charles Lightoller (the highest-ranking surviving officer) or Harold Bride.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable read. A couple of weeks ago I read A Night to Remember by Walter Lord and I couldn't stop myself from comparing the two. While I do prefer Walter Lord's book, Titanic: Iceberg Ahead is definitely worth reading. If you're interested in the accident and want to find out more about the people involved, do check it out.
Since I was a child (I think around 9 years old) I've loved reading about the Titanic. I can't say why, but something about this tragedy keeps me coming back to read more. So when I saw this new Titanic book on Netgalley, I knew I had to check it out.
The author has selected fifty people involved in the disaster and tells the story of what happened through their eyewitness accounts. Why were they onboard the Titanic? As passengers or members of the crew? Did they have any premonitions or worries regarding the ensuing tragedy? What was life like onboard the ship? And of course, how did they experience the collision with the iceberg and the aftermath?
The second half of the book explores some biographical details of most eyewitnesses. Were did they come from and what happened to them after the Titanic?
As somebody who's very interested in the Titanic and the personal tragedies, I enjoyed reading this book a lot. In the beginning, I wasn't so sure, as some of the accounts felt more like bullet points than a coherent story to me. At times it was hard to keep track of everybody and remember all the names.
But the accounts of the actual sinking and the time in the lifeboats until the survivors were rescued were extremely touching and heartbreaking. Families were torn apart without a chance to say goodbye for the last time. People had to die, so others could live. The survivors in the lifeboats witnessed the sinking and the terrible screams of the ones dying. They had to spend hours on tiny unstable boats in the middle of the North Atlantic without knowing if they would be rescued. I couldn't put the book down, and I know I'll be thinking about that for quite a while.
Regarding the biographies of some of the people involved in the second part of the book: Naturally, I was more interested in some than in others. It was great to learn more about Thomas Andrews, Charles Lightoller (the highest-ranking surviving officer) or Harold Bride.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable read. A couple of weeks ago I read A Night to Remember by Walter Lord and I couldn't stop myself from comparing the two. While I do prefer Walter Lord's book, Titanic: Iceberg Ahead is definitely worth reading. If you're interested in the accident and want to find out more about the people involved, do check it out.
April 18, 2021
I found this book by author James W. Bancroft interesting. My previous knowledge of the Titanic disaster was probably slightly better than most, but only enough to recall some of the highlights of what happened.
Mr. Bancroft related many anecdotes, and the majority of the book tells the story through the eyes of the people who were there. I discovered many interesting facts (such as the amazing number of mail sacks on board, or why the Titanic had four funnels rather than only the three it required…and I was not aware of the fire going on the whole time) concerning both the ship itself and its passengers and crew.
The subtitle – “The Story of the Disaster by Some of Those Who Were There” – continues into Part II of the book. While Part I tells the story of the Titanic, much of it through letters and quotes and individual remembrances, the second part delves into the history of these same folks, from birth to death. While I thought this section would be boring (who wants to learn about a bunch of folks whose claim to fame is being part of a disaster) I quickly discovered what a loss that would have been to my full enjoyment of the book. There were many interesting stories, such as a survivor’s granddaughter achieving international fame in figure skating. Remember that scene from James Cameron’s movie “Titanic” when Leonardo DiCaprio is gambling everything he owns against two tickets on the Titanic? That scene has some truth surrounding it.
Mr. Bancroft provides an extensive bibliography and there are some interesting pictures at the end of the book. For serious students of the Titanic disaster, there may be some tidbits included. For those of you like me who only have a passing knowledge of what happened, this book is a quick read presented in a manner that kept me turning page after page. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
Mr. Bancroft related many anecdotes, and the majority of the book tells the story through the eyes of the people who were there. I discovered many interesting facts (such as the amazing number of mail sacks on board, or why the Titanic had four funnels rather than only the three it required…and I was not aware of the fire going on the whole time) concerning both the ship itself and its passengers and crew.
The subtitle – “The Story of the Disaster by Some of Those Who Were There” – continues into Part II of the book. While Part I tells the story of the Titanic, much of it through letters and quotes and individual remembrances, the second part delves into the history of these same folks, from birth to death. While I thought this section would be boring (who wants to learn about a bunch of folks whose claim to fame is being part of a disaster) I quickly discovered what a loss that would have been to my full enjoyment of the book. There were many interesting stories, such as a survivor’s granddaughter achieving international fame in figure skating. Remember that scene from James Cameron’s movie “Titanic” when Leonardo DiCaprio is gambling everything he owns against two tickets on the Titanic? That scene has some truth surrounding it.
Mr. Bancroft provides an extensive bibliography and there are some interesting pictures at the end of the book. For serious students of the Titanic disaster, there may be some tidbits included. For those of you like me who only have a passing knowledge of what happened, this book is a quick read presented in a manner that kept me turning page after page. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
November 18, 2021
This is a non-fiction story. I loved the titanic movie and story. This book was good, and I loved learning more about the titanic. I love that this book did a closer look at each of the people that where saved. I have to say I know most of the facts about what happen to the titanic before reading this book, but I did not know about the people that where saved. I did enjoyed this book, and I think it was well written. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
May 15, 2021
So, like most people, I’ve always loved the movie, Titanic. That was my first encounter with the infamous incident, but it would not be the last. I’ve watched many documentaries on the subject. Read tons of books. I devoured whatever I could about this topic. So when I received an email asking if I wanted a free copy of this book to review, I jumped on it!
I thought I knew about all there was on this ship and the tragic tale, but I was wrong! I learned that people actually died during the building of Titanic! Some thought the Titanic was cursed the ship before it even left port!
It’s broken into what I’d say is two parts. One where the author breaks the whole timeline down in perfect details and the other is factual accounts by people who lived through this event. Some of these stories really pull at your heart and I won’t lie, it made me tear up. I just couldn’t imagine...
Honestly, it’s very well written and I love having the whole timeline at my fingertips in one complete book. Which is my favorite part about this book hands down.
If you’re like me, then this book is for you. I fully recommend it. You will not be sorry!
I thought I knew about all there was on this ship and the tragic tale, but I was wrong! I learned that people actually died during the building of Titanic! Some thought the Titanic was cursed the ship before it even left port!
It’s broken into what I’d say is two parts. One where the author breaks the whole timeline down in perfect details and the other is factual accounts by people who lived through this event. Some of these stories really pull at your heart and I won’t lie, it made me tear up. I just couldn’t imagine...
Honestly, it’s very well written and I love having the whole timeline at my fingertips in one complete book. Which is my favorite part about this book hands down.
If you’re like me, then this book is for you. I fully recommend it. You will not be sorry!
January 17, 2021
My review will be live on my blog on 31st March 2021 - publication day!
I have always been fascinated by the Titanic so as soon as I saw that this book was being released I was really intrigued and I had the whole book read from cover to cover in a matter of hours of it landing on my Kindle!
I loved the layout and the authors writing style was perfect, I found it addictive and was reading, just one more chapter after the other which is the sign of a really good book for me.
I have read a lot of books on the disaster and this one has stood out for me – it is informative, honest and frank in the statements made. I loved finding out what happened to some of the people that survived too – Charles Lightoller was a revelation and I loved what he was able to achieve after – a remarkable man and the book told me quite a lot I had not read before and particularly enjoyed that the people were the main focus
It is 5 stars from me for this one – it was a great book to read and I loved being able to read the stories of those who were actually involved with the great ship – very highly recommended!
I have always been fascinated by the Titanic so as soon as I saw that this book was being released I was really intrigued and I had the whole book read from cover to cover in a matter of hours of it landing on my Kindle!
I loved the layout and the authors writing style was perfect, I found it addictive and was reading, just one more chapter after the other which is the sign of a really good book for me.
I have read a lot of books on the disaster and this one has stood out for me – it is informative, honest and frank in the statements made. I loved finding out what happened to some of the people that survived too – Charles Lightoller was a revelation and I loved what he was able to achieve after – a remarkable man and the book told me quite a lot I had not read before and particularly enjoyed that the people were the main focus
It is 5 stars from me for this one – it was a great book to read and I loved being able to read the stories of those who were actually involved with the great ship – very highly recommended!
January 27, 2021
Another sad account about the most famous shipwreck in history, the Titanic that struck on iceberg fatally on April 14 1912 and sank into the North Atlantic Ocean. I like how the author discussed about the some of the possible errors when Titanic was being built, also the fact that it may be cursed because 8 shipbuilders died in its creation, interesting point to think about. Most of the book was not new information but I still enjoyed it because it is a nonfiction book about the TItianic.
Highly recommended for anyone interested about the most famous shipwreck in history.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, James W Banvroft and Pen & Sword Frontline for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 3/31/21
Highly recommended for anyone interested about the most famous shipwreck in history.
All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, James W Banvroft and Pen & Sword Frontline for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 3/31/21
January 23, 2021
I’m not alone in being fascinated by the story of the ill-fated ship billed as ‘unsinkable’ which hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage. I have read books, watched films and documentaries and am always ready to read and learn more so I was very excited to read Titanic-Iceberg Ahead. The focus of this book is very much on the people who travelled on the Titanic: the first part being an account of events pieced together through the words of passengers and crew; the second part being short biographies of some of the passengers and crew. This book is meticulously researched and pieced together. I discovered so many details that I had not been aware of or appreciated. Reading the story through the words and accounts of others made it feel more real and imaginable. It also gives a greater sense of the human side and the human cost of this tragedy. The two parts of the book are separately fascinating. The biographies flesh out the human lives that populated the Titanic on its first and last voyage. They are an absorbing read. So many themes emerge: lives destroyed by the tragedy; heroes of the Titanic who went on to be heroic elsewhere; passengers and crew who were only on the Titanic by chance. I think this is a worthy addition to Titanic literature. The only aspect which did not quite work for me was the separation into two parts - I felt that they existed entirely separately and wanted them to link into each other more. I read this in an electronic copy so perhaps references in a physical copy are available to switch between the account and the biographies. I would also have liked to see an introduction where the author explains how the book has been researched and its rationale. With thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword for a digital copy of this book.
January 13, 2025
Most of this book read like a college essay with a high page count and not enough information to meet the minimum, so the author put in long winded quotes (that often jumped around on timelines) and made the margins bigger.
January 26, 2021
Described in riveting and vivid detail, "Titanic Iceberg Ahead" is a sobering, fascinating, gut wrenching and poignant book about what happened before the fateful night of April 15, 1912 when 1,516 people were killed after the infamous ship hit a black iceberg and sank. The author relays many experiences, letters and journal entries of those who constructed the ship, the few who decided not to board last minute, survivors and some who died in such detail it took my breath away. The amount of research must have been phenomenal!
From the time of alarm to two explosions to the complete sinking was only three hours. But what those three hours must have been like! Pure terror. I loved this book a lot and many things stand out in my mind including the personal descriptions of the trip by the sadly unsuspecting people, the high number of those with premonitions, the descriptions of belongings in the pockets of the dead and the courageous orchestra members who played until the very end. So many who survived the sinking drowned in the below freezing water. Women and children were rescued first but the number of lifeboats was alarmingly low with a capacity of 1,178, less than half of those on board! These are just a few of the hundreds of stories and details described. The photographs and especially the biographies of many mentioned by name in the book are moving, both those who survived and those who died. Many could not speak of the horrors for the rest of their lives, some did speak of it to get the true story out. All were affected.
This book should be at the top of Nonfiction readers' lists of books to read for sure. It is THAT good.
My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for a digital copy of this wonderful book. Much appreciated. This is my unbiased review.
From the time of alarm to two explosions to the complete sinking was only three hours. But what those three hours must have been like! Pure terror. I loved this book a lot and many things stand out in my mind including the personal descriptions of the trip by the sadly unsuspecting people, the high number of those with premonitions, the descriptions of belongings in the pockets of the dead and the courageous orchestra members who played until the very end. So many who survived the sinking drowned in the below freezing water. Women and children were rescued first but the number of lifeboats was alarmingly low with a capacity of 1,178, less than half of those on board! These are just a few of the hundreds of stories and details described. The photographs and especially the biographies of many mentioned by name in the book are moving, both those who survived and those who died. Many could not speak of the horrors for the rest of their lives, some did speak of it to get the true story out. All were affected.
This book should be at the top of Nonfiction readers' lists of books to read for sure. It is THAT good.
My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for a digital copy of this wonderful book. Much appreciated. This is my unbiased review.
January 13, 2021
The Titanic was a disaster of epic proportions, one that would have lasting effects for many years to come. With the "Unsinkable" ship ready to sail, many flocked to its decks, hoping for better lives, celebrating honeymoons, looking for better employment, or just taking pleasure trips.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on 14 April 1912 - no one could believe it. The iceberg should not have caused the amount of damage, but there were several design flaws, ones that would come back to haunt the massive ocean liner.
Through this book, we get a glimpse inside the ship itself, the people aboard the vessel, and many of their thoughts and impressions on the great liner. What can never be erased is the massive loss of life, due to the fact that there were not enough lifeboats on board for everyone and the lives that were torn apart by the sinking of this ship. This heartbreaking book will keep you captured from page one, giving you a glimpse into the hopes and dreams that were dashed for many that night.
At the end of the book, there is an accounting for several of the passengers and crew, whether they lived or died, and even providing some background on them. These stories bring home the humanness of it all, the real live people who had their lives cut short, dreams lost, and for some, the inability to get over the guilt of having survived the sinking.
I highly recommend this book! It was amazing, and I truly enjoyed it!
*I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair and honest review, via NetGalley and Pen and Sword Publishers*
When the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on 14 April 1912 - no one could believe it. The iceberg should not have caused the amount of damage, but there were several design flaws, ones that would come back to haunt the massive ocean liner.
Through this book, we get a glimpse inside the ship itself, the people aboard the vessel, and many of their thoughts and impressions on the great liner. What can never be erased is the massive loss of life, due to the fact that there were not enough lifeboats on board for everyone and the lives that were torn apart by the sinking of this ship. This heartbreaking book will keep you captured from page one, giving you a glimpse into the hopes and dreams that were dashed for many that night.
At the end of the book, there is an accounting for several of the passengers and crew, whether they lived or died, and even providing some background on them. These stories bring home the humanness of it all, the real live people who had their lives cut short, dreams lost, and for some, the inability to get over the guilt of having survived the sinking.
I highly recommend this book! It was amazing, and I truly enjoyed it!
*I was provided with a copy of this book for a fair and honest review, via NetGalley and Pen and Sword Publishers*
February 23, 2021
The historical facts of the Titanic's infamous sinking have been a morbid maritime currency, in non-fiction books, film's, television documentaries, for well over 100 years. With countless articles written and books published, so many stories have been told and retold about the 'unsinkable' ship and have been historically re-written on countless occasions.
The most famous that spring to mind would be; 'A night to remember by Walter Lord, and James Cameron's 1997 cinematic masterpiece 'Titanic', are probably the best of both cinematic and non-fiction retellings. Assuming you've read plenty of Titanic's history (like I have) then surely 'TITANIC - ICEBERG AHEAD' by James W Bancroft is superfluous in this well-stocked subject matter? Well, yes and no.
The beginning of the book recounts all of the usual Titanic information, when she was launched, where from, how big, unsinkable, maiden voyage, etc etc. However, by the second half of the book, the author delves deep into the passenger's lives, and unlike those well-versed accounts of the ships first-class millionaires on board, this book tells the life stories of passengers, survivors and victims, of the Titanic, from second and third class. The social history is fascinating and tragic in equilibrium and is told with impressively researched detail. Foreboding narrative aside, it's a very good book for those who aren't familiar with the tragedy of the Titanic or the lives of those who sailed in her.
A very recommended read for history buffs and true crime fans, alike!
The most famous that spring to mind would be; 'A night to remember by Walter Lord, and James Cameron's 1997 cinematic masterpiece 'Titanic', are probably the best of both cinematic and non-fiction retellings. Assuming you've read plenty of Titanic's history (like I have) then surely 'TITANIC - ICEBERG AHEAD' by James W Bancroft is superfluous in this well-stocked subject matter? Well, yes and no.
The beginning of the book recounts all of the usual Titanic information, when she was launched, where from, how big, unsinkable, maiden voyage, etc etc. However, by the second half of the book, the author delves deep into the passenger's lives, and unlike those well-versed accounts of the ships first-class millionaires on board, this book tells the life stories of passengers, survivors and victims, of the Titanic, from second and third class. The social history is fascinating and tragic in equilibrium and is told with impressively researched detail. Foreboding narrative aside, it's a very good book for those who aren't familiar with the tragedy of the Titanic or the lives of those who sailed in her.
A very recommended read for history buffs and true crime fans, alike!
March 9, 2021
I'm obsessed with the Titanic story and I love the movie and I'm always reading things about that tragic night. This book has some informations that I've never read before and at the same time that I enjoyed reading it and getting to know more about the Titanic and I was sad about everything that happened. The first part of this book has lots of informations about things that happened before the Titanic sailed, what really happened that night and how things happened based on the survivors notes. Reading some of the survivors quotes made me feel like I was there with them that night. The cry and then the silence. I learned about things that happened while they were building the ship and the problems. The second part talks about the passenger's lives, the survivors and victims of that tragic day. There was a lot of research behind it and everything is resumed in part one but I can still understand and learn new information. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
March 13, 2021
“The ship took three years to build took less than three hours to sink.”
Now I LOVE anything to do with the Titanic and I’m always keen to get ANY book on the matter. Fiction/Non-Fiction.... give me them all!
It still amazes me that I always learn something new about the Titanic, and from page 1 I was filled with a lot of brand new interesting facts.
I really enjoyed learning about the passengers aboard the Titanic and it was great when it was mentioned which passengers made an appearance on the Titanic film by James Cameron and which actor that portrayed them.
There are a number of pictures at the end of the book, and they were exciting to see.
This is a great non-fiction, historical book and is a favourite of mine. I would recommend this to any historical reader and of course, those readers who have a love for the Titanic.
“The cries from the poor souls struggling in the water seemed terrible in the stillness of the night. It seemed to go through you like a knife.”
Now I LOVE anything to do with the Titanic and I’m always keen to get ANY book on the matter. Fiction/Non-Fiction.... give me them all!
It still amazes me that I always learn something new about the Titanic, and from page 1 I was filled with a lot of brand new interesting facts.
I really enjoyed learning about the passengers aboard the Titanic and it was great when it was mentioned which passengers made an appearance on the Titanic film by James Cameron and which actor that portrayed them.
There are a number of pictures at the end of the book, and they were exciting to see.
This is a great non-fiction, historical book and is a favourite of mine. I would recommend this to any historical reader and of course, those readers who have a love for the Titanic.
“The cries from the poor souls struggling in the water seemed terrible in the stillness of the night. It seemed to go through you like a knife.”
January 25, 2021
Although much has been written about the Titanic disaster, Bancroft's novel focuses on the cost of human life in the building of the great ship and then on in to the disaster itself. Bancroft tells the life stories of fifty of the passengers and crew, some of whom survived and also some who perished from drowning or from freezing to death. The stories are told in the second portion of the novel. In the first section, however, the reader is led through the building and launch of the ship. The description of the amenities and the wealthy who could afford such a passage is so detailed that the reader experiences the elegance and other-worldliness of the voyage. Well-researched, this novel is a treasure of detail and yet also lends an intimate view of the real people involved in this disaster.
July 14, 2022
I've always had 'a thing' about the Titanic disaster and I have read a fair bit about it. Often books contain a lot of the same information because the timetable of events is well documented and there is no getting away from the facts but that's where this book is different because it is told by the people that were there. Using letters that were written at the time of or just before the incident, testimony given the enquiries and press coverage Bancroft weaves together the events of that night in April 1912 in a way that I haven't read before.
The book is written in two parts. The first part is the story of the sinking and the second part introduces us to some of the people that have been referred to in the first part. Bancroft's research is amazing and adds a different dimension to the story that I thought I already knew. Some of the personal stories are beyond tragic.
The book is written in two parts. The first part is the story of the sinking and the second part introduces us to some of the people that have been referred to in the first part. Bancroft's research is amazing and adds a different dimension to the story that I thought I already knew. Some of the personal stories are beyond tragic.
March 19, 2021
I love anything having to do with Titanic, so when I saw Titanic: Iceberg Ahead, I knew I had to read it. In Titanic: Iceberg Ahead by James W. Bancroft, Mr. Bancroft profiles many people that were on the Titanic. Of each individual the author profiles, he gives a mini-biography of that person-whether they lived or died-and what happened to them before or after Titanic. To me, this is a unique book on the subject of Titanic and covers some theories and people that I have never heard of before or am not that familiar with. I believe it is well researched and would be a great book for any Titanic or maritime history buff. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I loved it! (This review is also on GoodReads.)
January 22, 2021
This is a non-fiction book about the Titanic. It is a well developed account of what happened to the ship and its participants. The personal accounts help make you feel as if you were right there with them. This is an interesting, entertaining story of what happened. It was easy to read and understandable which is one of my favorite things about this, the personal accounts was the other thing. I loved this book and highly recommend it to all.
February 15, 2021
This is full of first-person accounts from survivors of the Titanic. Some are chilling and at times I felt I was on board with them. It made me wonder what I would do in such a situation. Although compelling testimonies, they are not presented in a coherent manner or with a linking narrative. It could have benefitted from some editorial voice throughout. Still a fascinating read, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
March 3, 2021
An engaging story of two sisters who’s lives changed after the sinking of the titanic. Great read. You will not want to put this one down.
February 7, 2021
NOTE: I received a free preliminary, and likely unedited copy of this book from Netgalley for the purposes of providing an honest, unbiased review of the material. Thank you to all involved.
It’s been a long while since I read a book on the Titanic, as aside from a ton of whackadoo conspiracy stuff I was always of the mind that everything that could have been said had been said. Perhaps ignoring looking more into the material was a mistake because I quite enjoyed reading this book. I’m not surprised as I absolutely loved being able to visit a local museum exhibition around a decade or so ago that used props from the James Cameron film show what the ship was like, seeing that full-sized replicas were built (I believe the full museum is in Branson, Missouri now, this was a traveling thing). The reason I enjoyed it were the person stories, and the points of view from the handful of survivors.
That’s basically what this book is, it tells the story of the sinking of the Titanic, from early bad omens all the way up to the aftermath, but its sold through personal correspondence and accounts of the very people that were on the ship, organized in a linear way so that every bit of the trip is explained. Its an interesting way to piece a book like this together, and I appreciate the author doing it this way vs telling us the accepted “this is what happened” version of the story. It was particularly heartbreaking to read letters basically saying “The boats 100% unsinkable, I’ve never felt more safe in my life!” mailed from the last port before the boat went towards its water grave in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.
I particularly enjoyed a section about a man who was apparently so drunk that he somehow survived the sinking by wandering out onto the ship as it was listing to the side and swam around until the Carpathia showed up. In actuality it was less ridiculous as he hung halfway onto a lifeboat, held by a friend, but the descriptions make it sound like Mr. Magoo obliviously avoiding certain doom. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the conspiracies that yellow newspapers started printing after the disaster – like ones involving Captain Smith sightings. to me, this shows that nothing ever changes and gullible people are eternal.
The book is a fairly quick read and is split into two halves. Part one is the chronology of the entire disaster, and the second half are short biographies of the people involved alive or dead. Throughout the “main” bit of the book names sometimes have asterisks next to them, meaning that the author has included historical information to look at. There are also photographs and references in the back. All-in-all its well researched and well put together.
My only gripe with this book is that information is sometimes duplicated when jumping between accounts, its somewhat jarring when it happens and made me think that I was tired and reading the same line multiple times. Its a small gripe, and I understand why it happened, but I wonder if that could have been addressed.
While I’m not going to jump headlong into Titanic Mania like some did a while back (The anniversary especially) I think I have a new appreciation or understanding for what these unfortunate folks went through. It makes me want to go and see that big museum down in Branson one of these days, just to see what else I can learn.
It’s been a long while since I read a book on the Titanic, as aside from a ton of whackadoo conspiracy stuff I was always of the mind that everything that could have been said had been said. Perhaps ignoring looking more into the material was a mistake because I quite enjoyed reading this book. I’m not surprised as I absolutely loved being able to visit a local museum exhibition around a decade or so ago that used props from the James Cameron film show what the ship was like, seeing that full-sized replicas were built (I believe the full museum is in Branson, Missouri now, this was a traveling thing). The reason I enjoyed it were the person stories, and the points of view from the handful of survivors.
That’s basically what this book is, it tells the story of the sinking of the Titanic, from early bad omens all the way up to the aftermath, but its sold through personal correspondence and accounts of the very people that were on the ship, organized in a linear way so that every bit of the trip is explained. Its an interesting way to piece a book like this together, and I appreciate the author doing it this way vs telling us the accepted “this is what happened” version of the story. It was particularly heartbreaking to read letters basically saying “The boats 100% unsinkable, I’ve never felt more safe in my life!” mailed from the last port before the boat went towards its water grave in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.
I particularly enjoyed a section about a man who was apparently so drunk that he somehow survived the sinking by wandering out onto the ship as it was listing to the side and swam around until the Carpathia showed up. In actuality it was less ridiculous as he hung halfway onto a lifeboat, held by a friend, but the descriptions make it sound like Mr. Magoo obliviously avoiding certain doom. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the conspiracies that yellow newspapers started printing after the disaster – like ones involving Captain Smith sightings. to me, this shows that nothing ever changes and gullible people are eternal.
The book is a fairly quick read and is split into two halves. Part one is the chronology of the entire disaster, and the second half are short biographies of the people involved alive or dead. Throughout the “main” bit of the book names sometimes have asterisks next to them, meaning that the author has included historical information to look at. There are also photographs and references in the back. All-in-all its well researched and well put together.
My only gripe with this book is that information is sometimes duplicated when jumping between accounts, its somewhat jarring when it happens and made me think that I was tired and reading the same line multiple times. Its a small gripe, and I understand why it happened, but I wonder if that could have been addressed.
While I’m not going to jump headlong into Titanic Mania like some did a while back (The anniversary especially) I think I have a new appreciation or understanding for what these unfortunate folks went through. It makes me want to go and see that big museum down in Branson one of these days, just to see what else I can learn.
February 5, 2021
Titanic - 'Iceberg Ahead' by James W Bancroft offers a slightly different view of the tragedy than many other books, one I think of as more personal.
While I have, like so many others, read a number of books about the sinking of the Titanic as well as watched some documentaries (and yes, even two different movies) I haven't committed a lot of the details to memory. In other words, I am far from one of those who can recite numbers, times, and all of the other details. My familiarity with it is decent but not great. I mention this because I came to this book expecting to be overloaded with all of the small details of how and why the accident happened, which is interesting but frankly has been done to death (thus my lack of interest in remembering all of it). I was, instead, pleasantly surprised by how this book is organized.
Rather than being about the ship and the accident with people mentioned when necessary, this was about the people. Those involved in building and sailing the ship as well as passengers. We do get the story and enough of the details to still be in awe of the size and perceived invincibility of it, but the people are front and center here. What they thought, how they felt, and some small biographic material about many of them. By using their words the emotional pain of losing a father, for example, hits much harder than simply being told passengers lost relatives. The helplessness of knowing a father is onboard as you watch it go down is made more real when we get her words.
I recommend this to readers who always wonder, when reading about any historical event, what the people actually were thinking and what happened to them after the event. My heart went out to so many of these people in a far more personal way than even the movies elicited.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
While I have, like so many others, read a number of books about the sinking of the Titanic as well as watched some documentaries (and yes, even two different movies) I haven't committed a lot of the details to memory. In other words, I am far from one of those who can recite numbers, times, and all of the other details. My familiarity with it is decent but not great. I mention this because I came to this book expecting to be overloaded with all of the small details of how and why the accident happened, which is interesting but frankly has been done to death (thus my lack of interest in remembering all of it). I was, instead, pleasantly surprised by how this book is organized.
Rather than being about the ship and the accident with people mentioned when necessary, this was about the people. Those involved in building and sailing the ship as well as passengers. We do get the story and enough of the details to still be in awe of the size and perceived invincibility of it, but the people are front and center here. What they thought, how they felt, and some small biographic material about many of them. By using their words the emotional pain of losing a father, for example, hits much harder than simply being told passengers lost relatives. The helplessness of knowing a father is onboard as you watch it go down is made more real when we get her words.
I recommend this to readers who always wonder, when reading about any historical event, what the people actually were thinking and what happened to them after the event. My heart went out to so many of these people in a far more personal way than even the movies elicited.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 10, 2021
240 pages
4 stars
This is a very interesting and informative little tome.
I knew that there were accidents during the building of the ship, but did not know that eight men died during the building process of the Titanic in the Harland & Wolfe shipyard.
I also found fascinating how the firemen/stokers and trimmers kept the ship moving and loaded with coal even after she was mortally damaged. I have seen the movie about the heroic firemen, etc., that kept the lights on as the Titanic went down. Absolutely wonderfully done! And the musicians.
There is an extensive listing of some of those who survived that awful night, and those who didn't. It talks about their histories, where they came from and a little about their families.
This is followed by a description of how the press handled the emergency/disaster, and an extensive bibliography for those who would like to further explore the subject.
And pictures! With captions!
All in all, this is a good book, told in clear and concise style. It covers aspects about the voyage that no one else (that I have read, anyway), has thought to discuss. Very well done, Mr. Bancroft.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Frontline Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4 stars
This is a very interesting and informative little tome.
I knew that there were accidents during the building of the ship, but did not know that eight men died during the building process of the Titanic in the Harland & Wolfe shipyard.
I also found fascinating how the firemen/stokers and trimmers kept the ship moving and loaded with coal even after she was mortally damaged. I have seen the movie about the heroic firemen, etc., that kept the lights on as the Titanic went down. Absolutely wonderfully done! And the musicians.
There is an extensive listing of some of those who survived that awful night, and those who didn't. It talks about their histories, where they came from and a little about their families.
This is followed by a description of how the press handled the emergency/disaster, and an extensive bibliography for those who would like to further explore the subject.
And pictures! With captions!
All in all, this is a good book, told in clear and concise style. It covers aspects about the voyage that no one else (that I have read, anyway), has thought to discuss. Very well done, Mr. Bancroft.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Frontline Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review.
April 6, 2021
Princess Fuzzypants here: More than a century later, the interest in the Titanic and its fateful maiden voyage is still keen. There has been much written and several movies have been made about the events.. Quite a few of the people onboard have transcended into fame from the various iterations. This book takes yet another look at many of the people onboard. Where it differs from most of the other books is the detail into the lives of many characters whom history would not remember but for their presence during the catastrophe.
While it does look at a few of the First Class passengers, it tends to look at those who thus far, may have been overlooked. It looks at passengers and crew as it goes into deep detail into their lives before Titanic and if they survived, how their lives transpired in the aftermath. If they perished, there is a note of whether they were identified and what became of those they left behind. While it is written in a straightforward style, the pathos of the lives Titanic touched still seeps through. Perhaps none is more poignant than the lives of the crew members who survived and had to live with the memories.
Four purrs and two paws up.
While it does look at a few of the First Class passengers, it tends to look at those who thus far, may have been overlooked. It looks at passengers and crew as it goes into deep detail into their lives before Titanic and if they survived, how their lives transpired in the aftermath. If they perished, there is a note of whether they were identified and what became of those they left behind. While it is written in a straightforward style, the pathos of the lives Titanic touched still seeps through. Perhaps none is more poignant than the lives of the crew members who survived and had to live with the memories.
Four purrs and two paws up.
January 25, 2023
Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and their publishing company for a chance to read this book and give an honest opinion about its subject.
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Book Reviews | Pillowfort | Twitter
March 17, 2023
So many different aspects in the books
April 15, 2024
Clearly, the Titanic disaster (112 years ago today) continues to fascinate us all. What I found particularly good about this book was the depth of research that the author, James W. Bancroft, went to in order to present as detailed and accurate account as possible of what happened. At times he indicated where there were conflicting statements by eyewitnesses and he also pointed out how the finding of the ship's location and dives to it have provided more accurate evidence that either confirmed eyewitness accounts or put to rest theories caused by others. I particularly liked that he provided such detailed and rich biographies for so many that he had mentioned ... yes, we have all heard of the 'unsinkable' Molly Brown and Colonel John Jacob Astor, so I was glad he focussed on many of the lesser known people ... they deserve to be remembered, too.
My only disappointment is that there was no discussion of how the Titanic disaster forever changed shipping, maritime law and the world. After all, it was its generation's 9/11 level of tragedy.
My only disappointment is that there was no discussion of how the Titanic disaster forever changed shipping, maritime law and the world. After all, it was its generation's 9/11 level of tragedy.
March 19, 2021
As someone who has always been incredibly interested in the tragedy that was the Titanic, I really enjoyed this book.
As a compilation of several first hand accounts, there were obviously some moments that were more enjoyable to read than others. I appreciate Bancroft's commitment to providing first person accounts in survivor's own words as much as possible, but I wish he had included a bit more of his own analysis of the events as well and tied the stories together a little bit more. At times, it felt more like a bullet point summary of events than a real book. At only 240 pages, there is definitely room here for Bancroft to expand on some of these moments more without sacrificing any of the first-person accounts.
Nevertheless, I think anyone who is interested in reading more about the Titanic would absolutely enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Frontline Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
As a compilation of several first hand accounts, there were obviously some moments that were more enjoyable to read than others. I appreciate Bancroft's commitment to providing first person accounts in survivor's own words as much as possible, but I wish he had included a bit more of his own analysis of the events as well and tied the stories together a little bit more. At times, it felt more like a bullet point summary of events than a real book. At only 240 pages, there is definitely room here for Bancroft to expand on some of these moments more without sacrificing any of the first-person accounts.
Nevertheless, I think anyone who is interested in reading more about the Titanic would absolutely enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Frontline Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 29, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
I read this awhile ago and thought I did this part. So here we are several months later. I found this really interesting and it wasn't what I expected going in. I figured, "ok, a new book about the Titanic. Maybe some new info or more in depth in certain areas." That's kind of what we got but from the coolest area, the people. There are so many accounts from papers, or journals about the people on the ship, the people who built the ship, even the money backers. It was really interesting to read about the conditions and just how YOUNG so many of these people were, especially some of the workers. The conditions were just, appalling, and there were so many deaths. It was nice to read a book that focused more on the people than just the ship and the captain.
I read this awhile ago and thought I did this part. So here we are several months later. I found this really interesting and it wasn't what I expected going in. I figured, "ok, a new book about the Titanic. Maybe some new info or more in depth in certain areas." That's kind of what we got but from the coolest area, the people. There are so many accounts from papers, or journals about the people on the ship, the people who built the ship, even the money backers. It was really interesting to read about the conditions and just how YOUNG so many of these people were, especially some of the workers. The conditions were just, appalling, and there were so many deaths. It was nice to read a book that focused more on the people than just the ship and the captain.
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