Unsinkable: The Full Story of the RMS Titanic

Really excellent! This book must have taken a crazy amount of research. The author essentially synthesizes every book, diary, inquiry, and research project about the Titanic into a clear and readable storyline. The book reads like a novel, but is well-footnoted and is clearly grounded in the facts. One of the best features of this book is the way Butler takes quotes and memories from all (credible) sources and goes back to put them in the mouths of people as the events take place. For example, instead of writing that someone remembers John Jacob Astor saying something as the crew was loading life Boat #6, the author actually has Astor say it when he gets to that part of the story. This keeps the story's timeline much more linear and makes it easier to process. It follow the Titanic from her design and building through the investigations of her sinking. Butler wraps up with a "where are they now" synopsis of survivors and details the continuing salvage controversies. Butler also takes time to explain historical contexts, such as class divisions and social expectations of the era, when he feels it will benefit the readers. These asides really help bring the motivations and behavior of the people involved in this tragedy to life, in a way some caricatures of poor schmucks stuck in steerage fail to do. My only issues with the book are fairly minor. There is a glossary at the end, but I wish it were at the beginning (or at least referred to). If you aren't the seafaring type, it will help to learn the terms (like greaser, starboard, and bulkhead) before you start reading so that you can understand Butler's descriptions of the ship. You can get by without this, but it would help to know. I also highly recommend finding a map of the Titanic online and keeping it close at hand while you read. There are a lot of descriptions of the various decks, sections, and design components in the book and they are hard to keep straight without some sort of illustration. If you really want to understand the way the night unfolded, you'll need a map to keep it all straight.

Just the type book I like to read. Starts at the beginning and follows the details to the end. No jumping around. All facts documented with footnotes. Very emotional, you can get right into the lives of the principals.

I have studied Titanic for over 32 years, and have read over 100 books dealing with the tragedy. Daniel Allen Butler's book ranks with the best, ever. I place him up with Walter Lord, the man who remembered. The research Butler did was thorough and factual. While it may never be possible for any one person to know the whole story of Titanic, Daniel Butler has come so very close, and it is an entertaining read as well. I highly recomment this book for any Titanic library.

Review written by Donald Hyslop, co-author of TITANIC VOICES. The story of the supposedly unsinkable TITANIC has been told many times and from many perspectives since her tragic sinking 85 years ago. But as many children will testify, a good story well told can be recounted many times without ever tiring of hearing it. Daniel Butler has retold the story of the TITANIC in the finest tradition. Extensively researched, well written and eminently readable, "UNSINKABLE" tells the story of the TITANIC from the money men who concieved her through to the money men who today try to raise her from the seabed. As well as attention to detail Butler attempts to analyze situations and actions from the social of the time rather than with hindsight. This leads to some interesting perspectives on, among other subjects, the Third Class passengers and the often overlooked crew. He also brings some modern investigative methods to explore issues--for instance--enlisting the help of a clinical psychologist to analyse Captain Smith's possible unravelling as the drama unfolded. Butler has strong, sometimes passionate, views on many issues relating to the TITANIC and pulls no punches in putting these forward, his championing of Senator Smith and contempt for Captain Lord of the CALIFORNIAN, for instance, will be questioned by some. However, teh arguements he puts forward are well constructed and researched, yielding an approach much preferable to a dry facts and figures account. The chapter "Requiem," based on Butler's visits to victims' graveyards in Halifax is particularly moving, bringing home all too clearly the human tragedy of the disaster. Just as TITANIC slwoly deteriorates and disappears on the seabed, the harsh climate on the Canadian coast is also taking its toll on the gravestones of the victims. No doubt the new Hollywood blockbuster film "TITANIC" will introduce a whole new generation to the story. When they come to seek more information on the subject I am sure that "UNSINKABLE" will become one of the texts they will turn to.