Dead
Wake
by Erik Larson
Whatever Erik Larson writes, I am sure to read
it. With his proverbial wit and
historical detail, his new book, Dead Wake covers the travels of the Lusitania
and the German U-boat that sunk it down.
With a careful handling of the events that took place before and after
the Lusitania’s plight, Erik gets into the momentous event and the
circumstances surrounding the massive Cunard passenger boat. You get a behind the scenes look into the
captains, the personalities on the ship, including a book dealer and people of
some means.
One of the great strengths of the book is Larson’s
detailed account of Charles Lauriat, Boston bookseller and collector of rare
copies of Dickens and other fine works.
We get the sense that Larson was interested not only in the occupation
of Lauriat, but his desire to find the most ornate copies of great author’s
works and present them to others for sale.
For Lauriat, this voyage on the Lusitania was as much a business venture
for profit as it was for enjoyment on a mighty vessel.
Larson paints a very complete picture of Walther
Schwieger as well, the captain of the German U-boat which sunk the
Lusitania. The Lusitania for Schwieger
was a prized possession, a boat to put on his record with the others he manned
down. Schwieger was a man of some skill,
notching his destructive efforts in a detailed diary that was the glory of his
possession. Schwieger was competent,
deft at patrolling the U-boats at his command and careful to jot down every
ship he gunned down.
Dead Wake is a wonderful book, Larson gives us a
vivid picture of Room 40 and Churchill, and the relationship that German
commandeers had with ships coming into their area.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for the copy of this
book in exchange for an honest review.
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