Description
Book SynopsisIf you had been behind the Titanic on that fateful night in 1912, the last word that flashed before your eyes as the great ship was lost to the sea would have been ‘Liverpool’. The ship’s loss, a national and international tragedy, was also a tragedy for its home port and this fascinating book explores the history and myths surrounding the sinking, highlighting for the first time new and extraordinary stories that link Europe’s pre-eminent port and its most famous maritime loss. Using material from the White Star line archives, the extensive holdings of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, new illustrations and a variety of historical sources, Scarth unearths the full back story of key characters and companies: many of her key officers and crew were either from Liverpool or had strong links with the port, the ship’s owners were based in the City, many of the most colourful tales emerging from the disaster relate to Liverpool people and here, where appropriate, we find out what happened to them after the sinking. Titanic and Liverpool will be compulsory reading for anyone interested in the Titanic and also for anyone hoping to understand Liverpool’s role as the great processing port of Europe and gateway to the US and Canada.
Trade Reviewa carefully researched, appealingly written, beautifully designed and illustrated short book that brings a new perspective to a very oft-told story.
History TodayThe great port city of Liverpool, a ‘Maritime Mercantile City’and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, has come forward to claim ownership of the ship whose very name conjures up the hubris of man’s relation with the sea. Titanic was built in Belfast, set sail on her fateful maiden voyage from Southampton, but, on her stern was inscribed the single word ‘Liverpool’. Why? Because she was registered in Liverpool where her owner, the White Star line, was based. And with the city’s long seafaring tradition, many of the crew who went down on the night of April 15th, 1912 were Liverpudlians, as were a fair sprinkling of the passengers. This exercise in rightful reclaim, Titanic and Liverpool, is written by Dr Alan Scarth, a Liverpool-born historian and a curator at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and published by Liverpool University Press. But this is no parochial exercise in misplaced local pride: it is a carefully researched, appealingly written, beautifully designed and illustrated short book that brings a new perspective to a very oft-told story.
History TodayA delightful and insightful read that asks and answers why the Titanic was built and lays the foundation with a thumbnail sketch of Liverpool, the British Empire's foremost international seaport at the begiining of the twentieth century, the White Star Line, the disater and its aftermath. ... This author is fairly jaded with 'Titanic books' yet enjoyed the author's perspective and recommends it.
Karen Kamuda, Titanic Commutator.... this is an enjoyable read. It is clear, well written and holds the reader’s attention throughout. It is reasonably priced and makes a very welcome addition to the more scholarly contributions to the Titanic story. All those who are interested in Liverpool’s maritime history will have much cause to thank Alan Scarth for this beautifully produced and well-researched book.
Billy Frank, HSLC Transactions, Vol 159This fascinating, first of its kind volume explores the history and myths surrounding the sinking in terms of the extraordinary stories that link Europe's preeminent port city of Liverpool and its most famous maritime loss.
The Seniors' AdvocateTable of Contents
- Preface And Acknowledgements
- Primary Sources And Photographs
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Home Port
- Chapter 2 The Southampton Switch
- Chapter 3 The Big Idea
- Chapter 4 Tried And Tested
- Chapter 5 Officers And Crew
- Chapter 6 Passengers
- Chapter 7 Plain Sailing
- Chapter 8 Sinking
- Chapter 9 Bad Tidings
- Chapter 10 Coming Home
- Chapter 11 A Great Calamity
- Chapter 12 A Long Shadow
- Conclusion Appendix Officers And Crew (Liverpool Area) Endnotes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
- Contents
