Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Too Deep?
Review: A German U-boat off the coast of Ireland torpedoed the British Cunard Line's "Lusitania" on May 7, 1915. Approximately 1200 lives were lost. Diana Preston''s tale "Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy"is an extensively detailed report on the events of that day.
Little of note is unreported here. We learn much about the ship itself from its' history, its' state rooms, and its' prominent passengers to the meal preparations to the quantities of water and coal it consumed. The political events leading up to WWI are covered, including the tug and pull in the U.S. between the doves and hawks of the day. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan was the principal opponent of war. For the record, the German government issued an unmistakably clear message that British ships sailing through the British Isles were military targets. As the ship founders, we follow eyewitness accounts of on board heroism and cowardice as some passengers and crew rise to the occasion. Others are shamefully selfish. Many survivors struggle in the waters of St. George's Channel, still cold in early May. Unexplained is the mystery of the delayed rescue effort from the Irish shore, even though the Lusitania went down in site of land! The heroism/cowardice scenes are replayed as crowded lifeboats refuse to take on desperate swimmers in the water. Preston's reports of the after the fact investigations are mostly satisfying but some stones are left unturned. There is ample evidence that some sort of wartime secrecy prevented the Brits from asking too many painful questions. The head of the investigatory board, Lord Mersey, also led the inquiry of the "Titanic" sinking of 1912. The skipper of that vessel was found blameless despite sailing too fast- at night- in iceberg country! Preston's opines only that a vague charge of "contributory negligence" could be leveled at the British Admiralty for not providing a naval escort through wartime waters or not ordering Skipper Turner to zigzag at maximum speed. Preston does report the facts that the vessel was not carrying Canadian combat troops or live ammunition. There was, she further reports, no second torpedo. In great detail we learn that the critical secondary explosion must have been due to ruptured steam line. Notably unexplained is Winston Churchill's blood curdling remark that the sinking and "dead babies" were worth several divisions of troops as propaganda value! This reviewer was most bothered from learning that the ship held no (!) lifeboat drills, assigned no lifeboat stations and had no lifejacket donning lessons. This was inexcusable for a British ship in designated combat waters, in wartime, only 3 years after the Titanic tragedy. Scores perished due to improperly worn life vests! Finally Preston delves into the angst in Berlin as the higher ups in the German government wrestle with their military leaders about U-boat tactics. LET's strength is also its' weakness. It's long! 53 pages of sources and notes attest to that. History lovers who relish detail will be right at home between the pages. Those who prefer their reading to be more concise should be disappointed. As a warning to the latter group, 4 stars are awarded. The former group can add back the 5th star. Anyone thinking of buying LET should recognize that this is not solely an accident investigation or stirring rescue report but a very broad and deep retelling of a tragic incident hat helped greatly in propelling the United States in to the maelstrom of World war I. The Lusitania tragedy was unique, as were the sinkings of the Andrea Doria and Titanic. Authoress Preston has certainly done her homework in bringing the distinctive details of this maritime disaster to life.
Rating:
Summary: Thorough and Insightful
Review: I believe the comparison of Diana Preston to Pullitzer Prize Winner Barbara Tuchman is quite justified, as Ms. Preston has gone to great lengths to provide intricate detail of the lives and events surrounding the Lusitania's tragic sinking off the Irish coast.It would be a disservice to say that this book provides too much detail for a reader who just wants the basics of the ship's sinking. I find that it is those details that make the book so engaging and, surprisingly, a fast read. Every good book I've read has typically taken about 100 pages before the author "has" you, and before you know it, Preston will have you on the top deck staring down at that single menacing torpedo. Knowing how the disaster affected so many lives through the poetic testimony of its survivors adds a much welcome human element to the tragedy. I was very much impressed by Preston's inquiry into what actually did cause that second explosion on the vessel. She has all the facts up to date and interests you with each new development. You'll know all there is to know about the Lusitania and more after reading Preston's book. A most engaging read
Rating: 
Summary: A Pulitzer Gem that was overlooked.
Review: I cannot begin to describe how moved I was by Ms. Preston's work. Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy is a masterpiece of scholarship and style. Truly fascinating and monumental. I almost felt as if I were onboard on that fatal day. I felt helpless knowing that the majority of passengers were doomed all the while the sun shining and the shore in sight. Ms. Preston covers her bases allowing the reader to view the tragedy from all angles. We see the perspective of Germany, England, America and the remainder of Europe. In addition, she exposes the truths and lies that continue to surround the Lusitania tragedy to this day. Ms. Preston's book was an impulse buy, but I find the Lusitania sinking a memory I shall not forget and her book a remarkable work that I will always remember. Hats off Ms. Preston. Reader, buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book in Every Way!!!!!!
Review: In this beautifully done narrative history, D. Preston gives a wonderful picture of this historical horror, almost as if the reader is sitting in the captain's seat! Starting out with the background, history of subs (though the Monitor and Merrimack are not mentioned- my only criticism), British code-breaking, the political and miltary stances on all sides, the many warnings given by the Germans beforehand, the strange personality of Kaiser Wilhelm, we are slowly led into terrible decision to launch the torpedo, and the thoughts of several German submariners, including the Captain. When the torpedo strikes, and all heck breaks loose, the author places the reader right there with great prose and some unique photos too! The suffering and dying is described in no uncertain terms, and parts of this book may actually make you cry. Almost all of the 37 babies died, passengers were torn up by the propellers, the life boats collapsed on a lower boat, crushing or maiming those in the lower boat..Not for the faint-hearted, but an all too real description of man's inhumanity to man. It seems there was plenty of blame to go around. Finally, the rescue operation seemed to take way to long, given that it was known that Lusitania could be a target, and that the sinking occurred only about 12 miles from heavily populated coatal Ireland. A book for the ages!
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Disaster, brought to Chilling Life.
Review: Of all the books I've read about the RMS LUSITAINIA and the fate that befell her, I have to say Ms. Preston's book on the infamous disater and its aftermath ranks among the best. She takes you through the events leading up to the Ocean Queen's last voyage, takes you aboard for the final days and hours, and places you right on deck for the final terror filled moments as the ship plunged to the seafloor in just 18 minutes after being torpedoed, and the even more horrible aftermath, as victims succumbed to the cold sea, or their injuries. (In one account a woman gives birth as around her float the bodies of drowned infants). An eyewittness account of seeing screaming people trapped in the ship's elevators after the power was cut off, brought to mind a TV documentary I saw in my youth about a dive to the wreck and the chilling image of a pile of skulls inside the remaims of one of these elevators. You'll also shudder when you read about bodies recovered weeks and months after the sinking; their eyes pecked out by birds, their flesh eaten by marine life.
Besides the sinking, Ms. Preston also delves into the behind the scenes actions of such person's as Winston Churchill, the German Kaiser, even the King of England and makes the convincing suggestion that perhaps the Lusitainia and her victims were but innocent pawns in a bid to get America into the war. This is supported by such evidence as that the ship was ordered to sail at much less then her top speed in dangerous waters, crucial intelligence concerning the presence of German U-Boats was withheld from her Captain, Royal navy vessals that could have reached the stricken ship within minutes and saved lives were myteriously called back, and the British Intelligence Community's reluctance to release vital information, even today about what really happened, not to mention the British Navy using the wreck as a practice target for depth Charges shortly after its discovery in the early 1930's after several "Secret" diving expeditions were made to it. (When survivors and families of those lost would have been still alive and would certainly have had something to say about such a "Sacred Grave" being treated such.)
I highly reccomend this book for all lovers of sea lore, and those interested in the "Lucy" and her story. Ms. Preston does an excellent job of bringing this moment in history to life and presents the facts in a well organized manner. A must for your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: The Beginning of the New Barbarism of Total War
Review: On May 7, 1915, when the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, the death toll was 1,198 passengers and crew. Diana Preston, the author, has written a comprehensive account of the Lusitania tragedy, which was a harbinger of twentieth century barbarism that would produce millions of noncombatant casualties. The book first briefly outlines the British, German and American political and military status and activity early in the 20th century followed by a short history of the development of the submarine which was "The Weapon of the Weaker (naval power) Nation." In WWI America became a major arms supplier to Britain, and the book's review of British and German activities in America are intriguing. Germany considered sabotage as the best means to counter American arms shipments to Britain. Effective 4 February 1915, Germany announced a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare, which was condemned by both Britain and America. On 1 May 1915, the Lusitania's New York departure date, Germany published newspaper warnings to persons traveling on British or allied ships in the war zone; however, the text notes that "Together with an inherent confidence in the Lusitania's performance was a quiet belief that 'they daren't sink her." At sea, the author writes, "Despite some underlying unease, time ebbed pleasantly for most passengers on the Lusitania." On 7 May off the Irish coast, at 2:10 P.M German submarine U-20 fired a single torpedo, which struck the Lusitania just aft of the bridge, and the Lusitania sank eighteen minutes later. The author provides a graphic account of the horror of the torpedo strike, the abandoning of ship, the tragedies in the water and the grueling wait for rescue; over three hours passed before first rescue ship arrived with some ships arriving as much as seven hours after the sinking. Preston writes that passengers and crew respond was "In some cases they had most to fear from each other," but adds, "many passengers and crew did do their best to help one another." Ashore it was a "Sad and Horrible Task" as the survivors were treated and the gruesome task of identifying the dead took place as more bodies were found each day. The book now begins a most interesting section on the activities that followed in Britain, Germany and America. The American Consul in Queenstown reported to his secretary of state his belief that "the Cunard people and the Admiralty each appear willing to shift responsibility to the other . . . ." The Germans while regretting the loss of life applauded the attack; anti-German rioting broke out in many British cities while in the "United States. . . the Lusitania would remain a live issue until her own entry into the war and beyond." The British Government recognized the propaganda value of the sinking and was "anxious that no blame for it could be placed at their door." The official inquires in both Britain and America ultimately ruled that it was a barbaric act by Germany. In the United States there were tales of espionage and conspiracy including a bomb in the US Capitol building and an attempted murder of J.P.Morgan Jr. who coordinated British munitions purchases. In Germany the civilian ministers came to regret the act while the military wanted resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare which didn't occur until 1917 then probably too late to change the final outcome. Justifications for the ship being a legitimate target are reviewed including comments on the outdated Cruiser Rules, which insisted upon "stop and search" an impractical requirement for a submarine. The author notes "Despite all its foreknowledge, this time the Admiralty sent no specific warnings and instituted no special measures to protest the Lusitania;" however, there is no evidence that the Admiralty deliberately sent the ship in harms way. Statements of German prisoners, however, made clear that in German naval circles the view prevailed that the U-20 "had definitely been ordered to lie in wait with a view to torpedoing her." The text notes that there is much evidence of information tampering. Items are missing from both the Admiralty and Cunard files, while American records have their share of missing documents. There are strong suggestions that Germany altered the War Diary of submarine U-20 for propaganda purposes or to forestall any postwar war crimes trials. However, on page 393, the author correctly states "The truth was that no government, British, German or American, was entirely free of blame for the situation leading up to the attack. Nor in its wake, was any government hesitant to twist the facts, or use the disaster, to its own political ends." The wreck was located in 1935, but it wasn't until advanced diving technology in the 1960s that meaningful exploration of the wreck began. These dives supplied much information but did not answer why the ship sank in only eighteen minutes, nor did the dives provide definite answers to the source of second or further explosions after the torpedo strike. Appendix B provides a technical review of the sinking which the author commissioned a consulting engineer to perform. This review notes that "Regardless of whether a second explosion occurred, the catastrophic level of hull damage was clearly the principal cause of the rapid sinking of the Lusitania. Regarding a possible second explosion the review notes "However caused, steam-line are easily the most likely cause of the second explosion. Captain Turner (Lusitania captain) certainly believed one occurred." In conclusion, the text notes that unrestricted submarine warfare heralded a time when the best-available technology would be unleashed without warning to noncombatants. The new barbarism of total war had begun.
Rating:
Summary: A Must
Review: The writer weaves all the details together to show how the parts created the situation while including the personal side of the people on board. There are differing opinions of what could have happened, and Preston acknowledges this having done extensive research in the United States, England, Ireland and Germany. She incorporates first-hand accounts and eye-witness statements of the before, during, and after. The framework of this story provides the political climate, the competitive nature of the shipping industry, as well as a lesson about the invention of the submarine and its changing uses. The other aspect is the people - those who were on the Lusitania, the commander and crew of the U-boat, and those who attempted rescue and had to deal with survivors and the dead - and the aftermath. Very well done.
Rating:
Summary: Politics of war lead to immense tragedy of innocents...
Review: This book is an incredible read. Thorougly and consumately researched, the writing is a testament in words to the inane maneuvering of men for reasons of politics and power. World War I has become a favorite area of nonfiction reading for me, since reading several very poignant mysteries and also online material concerning the poets from that era. The only thing I had known about WWI is the very wrong belief that author Preston says was not true: that the disaster led directly to American involvement in the war. I was pleased to be taught by an obviously master historian, about an era that was so briefly handled in even my advanced placement history class in highschool. I went through this book nonstop, even beating out my beloved mysteries and science reading. The pace starts slowly as Preston involves the readers in the sedate tempo of the time period before the war in the U.S. Unsuspecting passengers board this great ship of immense proportions, only to pick up flyers and newspapers with warnings placed in them from the German Embassy, that this floating palace is at high risk from the newest technology of war, submarines. As with the dismissal of the possibilities of sinking the great, unsinkable Titanic, so too are the passengers and crew lulled into complacency by the reassurance that the British Navy will be escorting the ship to port, and that the ship's speed alone would provide safety. This attitude only three years after the sinking of the Titanic, is almost illogical in its idiocy. With hindsight, we look back at the decisions of so many, including mothers to put their children at risk... Our world has become so fraught with dangers made by man, that we are as untrusting, as those people of that time period were trusting. Perhaps that is part of why this book is such a wonderful read, because it not only covers the tragic sinking of the Lusitania, but also the immense politics involved between the British, the Germans, and the U.S. Preston makes a good case for the sins of ommission (of all three countries) as ultimately being the reason for the sinking. Though there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to indicate that British military thought the sinking of a major passenger liner with Americans onboard would change the pacifist nature of the U.S., if this truly had an impact it involved not direct acts but rather acts of neglect and ambivalence and perhaps misunderstanding of the capabilities of submarine warfare. The statement made later by Winston Churchhill concerning the fact that the sinking was one of the major happenings to involve American (along with the belligerant and sneaky behavior of the Germans) was enough to make me dislike him intensely, inspite of the good he did later. Kudos for Preston!!! I am seeing more women involved in military and historical research, and doing an excellent job of it! Keep it up. Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: Very Informative and Descriptive
Review: This is a very vivid account of the actions surrounding and leading up to the sinking of the Lusitania by one of Germany's U-Boat fleet during WW I. Ms Preston does an excellent job at the end of the book dismissing certain theories and even creating a few of her own without being too overly biased. This is an excellent historical account of that tragic day, which unfortunately, gets overshadowed by the sinking of the Titanic and would definitely recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Intense
Review: What can I say other than that? The backstory that precedes the Lusitania and her fate isn't especially interesting to me, but getting to know the "cast" of passengers and crew that sailed on the liner and took part in the disater... it certainly got me wanting to see more of what happened!
Truth is stranger (and more shocking) than fiction, I'll give you that! The personal accounts of the sinking are quite gut-wrenching!
The dramatic list, the lifeboats flipped or smashed, the panic, the mortality and injuries... grim! I felt that I was right there witnessing it all!
Miss Preston really outdid herself in writing this book! Well-researched, human, gripping... and delving into the subject of what caused the second explosion. I highly doubt that it was the war materials that Lusi was carrying, since the torpedo hit well aft of the magazine... the coal explosion seems most likely, but there are some contradictions there too.
We'll probably never know what caused the second explosion... it was just bad luck, in my opinion... but we do know what happened as this elegant lady sank.
I know that Deutschland felt it perfectly legitimate to attack an enemy ship carrying war supplies... but this?! It's bad enough that soldiers were being killed, and they attack civilians?! Robert Ballard was right when he commented "It was not a good performance on the part of the human race."
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