Dead Wake discussion

#3 "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania" by Erik Larson

I can not say enough in support of this book. It was absolutely excellent - a real page turner! Erik Larson is at the top of my favorite author list.

Have you read any of his other books? This was the fourth book of his I read and honestly I liked each of the other three much more.

Yes: Isaac's Storm and In the Garden of Beasts. I find it difficult to choose a favorite, for each has its merits.

I think this is my favorite Erik Larson. I loved this book. I love the way he teaches me about a subject I otherwise had no interst in. I loved the way he tied in President Wilson's personal life into the story. I now have a better appreciation of what Wilson endured at the pre-war climax not long after he lost his beloved first wife. Important factoid: The first First Lady Wilson was from Rome, Georgia, --not far from the suburbs of Atlanta!

Nice catch, Rebecca!

I also appreciated and learned so much through Larson's intimate portrait of Pres. Wilson and his pre-war administration. Very few Americans know the full story about this and, sadly, even fewer care. The lesson here is that we are doomed to repeat history if people continue to ignore it.

Before you get too teary-eyed venerating Wilson, you should read Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan (British Prime Minister Lloyd George's grand-daughter, a PhD historian at Oxford) and Vanquished by Robert Gerwarth, a PhD historian now at University College in Dublin. Wilson strong-armed the Versailles peace process with his stubbornness. Lloyd George and Clemenceau (France) tired of arguing with him and gave up trying to balance his views with the knowledge and good sense they had

Wilson's complete ignorance of history, cultures, and realities on the ground resulted in borders and nation creation that led to years of continuing fighting, arguably World War 2 and the continuing problems through today and beyond in the Middle East.

The truth and the realities of what he did don't support the reputation he has. It's puzzling. He was an awful president.

Wow! Thank you for the information. It is always enlightening to get another facet of this diamond we call History. I will read both books you cited. Looking forward to it, as a matter of fact.

PS: I'm not one of those people who easily gets teary-eyed. :)

Good information. I will read those books!

Thank you for being open minded. I would read them in the order cited, MacMillan's book first details what went wrong in the peace process and and gives an overview of consequences. The Gerwarth book focuses on a portion of the geography, Eastern Europe and also what happened between Greece and Turkey, AFTER the armistice.

Report back what you find and whether you agree or disagree with what I said.

Will do. Thanks, Snidely.