Review of "On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic"

by Terri Bey

Before I begin with this book review, I apologize for not including the authors' names in the title of this blog, as there was a title character limit. I apologize to my readers and to the authors.

I just finished the book, "On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic" by Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton, and Bill Wormstedt, which features an introduction by noted Titanic Author George Behe. The book is a comprehensive study of the RMS Titanic from her creation to her tragic demise, after striking an iceberg on that fateful April night, and beyond. "On a Sea of Glass" also delves into the rescue of the passengers by the Cunard Liner RMS Carpathia and into the post-disaster inquiries in both New York and London. The reader can read more details in the appendices, as well.

I totally and wholeheartedly recommend this book. If there were such a thing as a "mandatory" book for Titanic enthusiasts or even ship enthusiasts in general, "On a Sea of Glass" would be it. This book is as detailed and as comprehensive a book about the RMS Titanic as a reader, historian and researcher would want. What I was most impressed with was the details about what happened at each lifeboat, and the maps that were included. One map in particular that stood out was demonstrating the time that each lifeboat left and which officer was taking care of which lifeboat at that particular time. There was another map that dealt with how many crewmen were in each boat.

I loved the authors' inclusion of the passengers' experiences during the entire voyage. The reader would read about the passengers when the voyage began, and then the reader gets to read what happens to the passengers during the sinking, etc. There was one story that I found sad, in particular. The first boat to leave the ship, Lifeboat #7, was only partially filled with 28 people in a boat built for 65. According to the book, Colonel John Jacob Astor and his bride, Madaleine were going to go into the boat. However, per survivor and Lifeboat #7 occupant William Sloper, Colonel Astor held his bride back and someone said something into Colonel Astor's ear, and he and his bride did not enter the boat. Sadly, that was a fatal mistake by Colonel Astor, as his bride escaped in Lifeboat #4, but Second Officer Charles Lightoller, because of his ultra-strict interpretation of the "Women and Children First" rule, would not allow Colonel Astor to join his wife, and Astor perished.

What was especially eye-opening for me was the appendices. The appendices discussed various subjects, such as the Californian Affair, White Star Line General Manager J. Bruce Ismay's being berated by the press for surviving and for supposedly being responsible, and many other topics. One topic that got my attention was the break-up of the RMS Titanic when she sank. For 73 years, until she was found in 1985 by Dr. Robert Ballard and the French Team IFREMER, the accepted "truth" was that the RMS Titanic sank in one piece. Second Officer Charles H. Lightoller said it. Many historians said it. In this appendix concerning the breakup, there is a list of about 15-20 passengers who gave testimony that either heavily IMPLIED or directly STATED that the liner broke up on the surface, before sinking. These passengers used the same words, such as, "explosion," "rattling," "noise," etc. I had a hard time understanding why these passengers' statements had been completely ignored for over 70 years before the wreck was found.

In conclusion, "On a Sea of Glass" is an outstanding book on the RMS Titanic. Messrs Fitch, Layton, and Wormstedt have written a masterpiece for generations of future Titanic enthusiasts.

Buy the book at:

Amazon.com: On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic eBook: Fitch, Tad, J.Kent Layton, Bill Wormstedt, Behe, George: Kindle Store

RMS TITANIC: The Birth of a Legend and the Death of Another

by Terri Bey

May 31st is an important date in the history of the RMS Titanic. On May 31, 1911, the RMS Titanic was launched, and on the same day, her older sister, the RMS Olympic left Belfast to start on her maiden voyage. On May 31, 2009, Millvina Dean, who was the last living Titanic survivor, passed away at 97, so this day is one to celebrate the legendary Titanic's launch and at the same time, remember the life of Millvina Dean.

Let's start with the launch of the RMS Titanic, herself. The launching took place at the Harland & Wolff shipyards, where approximately 100,000 people were in attendance, including Harland & Wolff Chairman Lord Pirrie and other dignitaries. There was no christening of the ship, as seen in films, as White Star never christened any of her ships.

The slipway was greased up with soap, tallow, and sperm whale oil, so the 24,360-ton hull of the Titanic can slide into the water. Hydraulic rams were positioned right under the bow and at 12:13 pm, Lord Pirrie gave the signal. The hydraulic rams were released by Robert Falconer Keith, Head Foreman Shipwright at Harland & Wolff. The Titanic slid down the slipway and into Belfast Harbor. The legendary Titanic has been launched.

A photo of the launching of the RMS Titanic. Robert Welch Photographer?

Let's now discuss the late Millvina Dean, who died on May 31, 2009. Elizabeth Gladys Millvina Dean was born on February 2, 1912, in Camberwell, Surrey, England. The two-month-old Millvina Dean, along with her parents, Bertram Frank and Georgette Light Dean, and her brother Bertram were going to emigrate to Witchita, Kansas, where her father was hoping to open a tobacco shop. They boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton and traveled in Third Class.

Millvina Dean became the youngest passenger at two months old and when the RMS Titanic sank, became its youngest survivor. Dean's mother and brother also survived. Unfortunately, her father did not. Dean, her mother, and brother returned home on the Adriatic, where Miss Dean, being the youngest Titanic survivor, became a mini-celebrity as First and Second Class passengers wanted to hold her.

In her adult life, Millvina Dean worked for the British Government. Dean eventually became a Titanic celebrity and was a guest at many Titanic-related events, such as conventions, autograph sessions, etc. She also was a guest of the Titanic Historical Society on her first trip to Belfast in 1996. She passed away on May 31, 2009, of Pneumonia.

Photo of Millvina Dean. Source: The LA Times

Contact: Alydace@yahoo.com

Review of "Carpathia" by Jay Ludowyke

By Terri Bey

I read Jay Ludowyke's book, "Carpathia," about the RMS Carpathia, the Cunard liner which answered the distressed call of the RMS Titanic. Ludowyke writes about the history of the RMS Carpathia and her rescue of the 705 Titanic survivors. Ludowyke also discusses the German U-boat 55's torpedoing of the Carpathia during WWI. Also discussed are the dives to Carpathia's wreck site.

Overall, this is a very good book. Ludowyke describes each aspect of, for the lack of a better word,, the life of the RMS Carpathia in great detail. The reader comes away with a feeling as if they were on the Carpathia. I thought the part where the Carpathia went to the aid of the stricken Titanic to be especially intense. I also was impressed with Ludowyke's meticulous description of the behavior of both the Titanic survivors and the passengers on the Carpathia after the Titanic's survivors were on board the Carpathia, and were headed to New York.

There were a couple things that I thought hurt the book. Ludowyke kept calling the Carpathia, "Thia." I didn't like that much. I also didn't like how she kept flashing back from events 1912 to 2007, when the diving was going on. It also would have been great, had the author, when talking about people in the book, would address them by their last names, so the reader doesn't have to struggle to remember who the author is referring.

However, this is overall, a very good book, and I highly recommend it for Titanic enthusiasts.

Contact: Alydace@yahoo.com