Voyagers of the Titanic

Passengers, Sailors, Shipbuilders, Aristocrats, and the Worlds They Came From

By: Richard Davenport-Hines

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Late in the night of April 14, 1912, the mighty Titanic, a passenger liner traveling from Southampton, England, to New York City, struck an iceberg four hundred miles south of Newfoundland. Its sinking over the next two and a half hours brought the ship—mythological in name and size—100 years of infamy.

Of the 2,240 people aboard the ship, 1,517 perished either by drowning or by freezing to death in the frigid North Atlantic waters. What followed the disaster was tantamount to a worldwide outpouring of grief: In New York, Paris, London, and other major cities, people lined the streets and crowded around the offices of the White Star Line, the Titanic’s shipping company, to inquire for news of their loved ones and for details about the lives of some of the famous people of their time.

While many accounts of the Titanic’s voyage focus on the technical or mechanical aspects of why the ship sank, Voyagers of the Titanic follows the stories of the men, women, and children whose lives intersected on the vessel’s fateful last day, covering the full range of first, second, and third class­—from plutocrats and captains of industry to cobblers and tailors looking for a better life in America.

Richard Davenport-Hines delves into the fascinating lives of those who ate, drank, reveled, dreamed, and died aboard the mythic ship: from John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest person on board, whose comportment that night was subject to speculation and gossip for years after the event, to Archibald Butt, the much-beloved military aide to Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft, who died helping others into the Titanic’s few lifeboats. With magnificent prose, Voyagers of the Titanic also brings to life the untold stories of the ship’s middle and third classes—clergymen, teachers, hoteliers, engineers, shopkeepers, counterjumpers, and clerks—each of whom had a story that not only illuminates the fascinating ship but also the times in which it sailed. In addition, Davenport-Hines explores the fascinating politics behind the Titanic’s creation, which involved larger-than-life figures such as J. P. Morgan, the ship’s owner, and Lord Pirrie, the ship’s builder.

The memory of this tragedy still remains a part of the American psyche and Voyagers of the Titanic brings that clear night back to us with all of its drama and pathos.

©2012 Richard Davenport-Hines (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Interesting perspective

What made the experience of listening to Voyagers of the Titanic the most enjoyable?

I always find it fascinating to read the personal stories of the participants in an event - good or bad - and this book reveals insights into the passengers and crew that you don't see in most histories. I recommend it for any Titanic enthusiast or person interested in the lives of people of the period.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Voyagers of the Titanic?

Understanding the impact on families who lost loved ones.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Narrator put me to sleep

Story okay. It’s the Titanic, after all. The narrator had very little variation in tone.

Outstanding, in every respect.

The story, although well known, is riveting; the narration is perfectly matched to the story.

A missed opportunity ...

History is fascinating! No more than the sinking of the Titanic. I really wanted to get into this book and find out more about its passengers and the horrors they faced. The sacrifice with a stiff upper lip! It is all here except that the narrative is so dry and the performance sub-par. What a shame! There are parts within the book that is so harrowing and heart breaking as I knew it would be. As I listened, I lost my way due to the excruciating detail of names, places and relationships. Perhaps I need to listen to it again with a different mindset to capture the background of the individuals of first class through steerage. The story deserves it.

Most Excellent

I have read through this twice already and will no doubt listen again. It has so many facts, names, places, histories, that each time you listen you are able to retain a little more. I don't know how many books I've read about the Titanic and I have seen all of the movies, including the German propaganda film from world war II, plus I have been to Margaret Brown's Denver home now turned museum and Titanic memorabilia shop, I learned some new things and perspectives from this book. It was obviously painstakingly researched and it was interesting to hear the stories of persons on board and then right away find out if they perished or lived on. very well done.

Most Interesting

What did you love best about Voyagers of the Titanic?

It was an interesting - I learned a lot. The author folded in all of the information and details beautifully....

What did you like best about this story?

He made the tragedy far more "personal" with so many stories of the individuals involved with both the construction of the ship and those on the voyage.

Which character – as performed by Robin Sachs – was your favorite?

Hard to specify that with this type of book. I think the "regular" people he talked about ..such sad stories.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I certainly got teary...

Any additional comments?

The narrator did a simply outstanding job....

Not what I expected

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed "Voyagers of the Titanic" much more the second time than the first time I listened to it. It seemed very dry and boring with lots of numbers and statistics and lists of names and where people were from, but the next time I listened to it, I was able to listen to the story behind all those people and it was very interesting indeed.

It could have been handled so much better.

What a terrible thing to have to go through. This book is well researched and written. So many more lives could have been saved Makes me glad I didn’t have to be there. So sad! If you want to read a great account of the tragedy, this is a good choice.

Interesting Details. Superb narration.

Wonderful period information. Full of generally unknown detail. Paints a portrait of an era, as well as a ship. The narrator captures voices from the past.

A Penetrating Picture of Titanic

What did you love best about Voyagers of the Titanic?

All the various letters from the individuals who sailed on the Titanic provides a unique picture of life on board. It gives a very thorough picture of those who were on the ship from across all of the classes and crew.

What other book might you compare Voyagers of the Titanic to and why?

My immediate comparison is to Lost In Shangri-La.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did, because Sachs was able to bring each of the characters to life in their own words.