
Titanic and Liverpool
Alan Scarth(Author)
Liverpool University Press
Published on 2. December 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-84631-222-9 (ISBN)
Description
If 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.
Reviews / Votes
a carefully researched, appealingly written, beautifully designed and illustrated short book that brings a new perspective to a very oft-told story.History Today The 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 Today A 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 159 This 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' Advocate
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Liverpool
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 240 mm
Weight
801 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84631-222-9 (9781846312229)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dr Alan Scarth is Curator in the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
Content
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
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