 |
|
The blurb
The Titanic was the most magnificent ship ever built, offering every possible luxury to her passengers – yet on the night on the 14th of April, 1912, she sank in the North Atlantic, leaving the lucky ones floating in wooden rowing boats, and the rest struggling for their lives in the icy water.
This novel follows the fortunes of Reg, a handsome young steward who works in the first-class dining room; Annie, a gifted Irishwoman who is travelling to America with her four children; Juliette, a titled English lady who is pregnant and unmarried; an American millionaire and his wife who are trapped in a poisoned marriage; and a mystery passenger who never shows her face in public.
The sinking of the Titanic not only steals lives but blows apart the futures of those who survive. Coming to terms with the shocking events, survivors form new attachments, make decisions with tragic consequences, and watch all their old certainties crumble. How can life ever be the same again when you have heard 1,500 people dying in the water around you?
This novel follows the story of 3 survivors who were unfortunate enough to be sailing on the maiden voyage of the fateful Titanic on 14th April 1912.
Reg is a 21 year old first-class steward, with a fiance back home and an ambition to earn enough money to settle down and start a family. His work record is blotted by an incident on a previous cruise when he was accused of stealing. He looks up to his friend John.
Annie and her brood of four children are sailing on the Titanic to join her husband in America to begin a new and better life for the family. They are travelling in 3rd class but Annie feels this is luxury travelling.
Juliette is a Lady who has found herself pregnant out of wedlock, to her married lover. Her mother believes that no Englishman will want to marry her now and, as time is pressing on, the only solution is to find an American husband and fast.
The author begins by introducing us to these 3 central characters and other characters around them on the voyage. It follows the fateful night of the sinking and then Part 2 follows the three characters as they are rescued and begin to rebuild their lives in New York.
I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, how the came to be rescued and following their stories after the rescue. There are some fascinating descriptions of the Titanic and the type of passengers it would have been carrying. The class divide on the floating community is explored in the story. I liked the fact that the story did not end when these passengers were rescued.
My only niggle was that I just didn't feel the fear and panic of these passengers quite as much as I expected to. I didn't feel like I was there with them.
This one will appeal to those who enjoy historical romance, historical fiction and social history.
7 out of 10 for me! I enjoyed this one!
Thank you to Avon for sending me a review copy. This did not influence my review in any way.
No comments:
Post a Comment