Hugh Brewster

Book Description: "Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage takes us behind the paneled doors of the Titanic’s elegant private suites to present compelling, memorable portraits of her most notable passengers. The intimate atmosphere onboard history’s most famous ship is recreated as never before.

The Titanic has often been called “an exquisite microcosm of the Edwardian era,” but until now, her story has not been presented as such. In Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage, historian Hugh Brewster seamlessly interweaves personal narratives of the lost liner’s most fascinating people with a haunting account of the fateful maiden crossing. Employing scrupulous research and featuring 100 rarely-seen photographs, he accurately depicts the ship’s brief life and tragic denouement, presenting the very latest thinking on everything from when and how the lifeboats were loaded to the last tune played by the orchestra."

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"It was a brilliant crowd...a rare gathering of beautiful women and splendid men." ---Lily May Futrelle

This quote at the very beginning of the book is probably why so many of us love Titanic stories: we are sad that these beautiful people had to experience such horrible tragedy. We are also the tiniest bit reassured when we are reminded that tragedy is not a respecter of persons and is often left to chance. Horrible things can happen no matter how rich and famous one is.

Books like this take me forever to read, not because they're dull but because I usually can't go two pages without finding a reason to stop and research something. I really enjoyed reading the mini biographies constructed around an in depth look at high society before WWI destroyed the Gilded Age of America and Great Britain.… (mer)

Lejos de ser la típica historia sobre el hundimiento del Titanic, este libro indaga por primera vez en la sociedad que iba a bordo del barco de lujo y que se hundió para simbolizar el tránsito al siglo XX. El autor narra, con admirable pulso narrativo, la historia íntima del naufragio, con el entramado social, político y económico que sustentaba al efímero prodigio. Vemos desfilar a las grandes fortunas europeas y norteamericanas del momento "los Astor o los Guggenheim", a artistas, periodistas y escritores, conocemos la moda de la época a través de una de las grandes damas de la alta costura e incluso se nos muestra el equipamiento tecnológico del barco, pionero en su época. Más que la historia de un hundimiento, Titanic es el fascinante relato de una sociedad y de un mundo que estaba a punto de desaparecer, justo en el momento más álgido de su esplendor.… (mer)

Well documented bios of the First Class passengers, as well as bios of certain Crew Members, the Captain, etc. Numerous
photos - all in B&W- are well presented to show the fashions, and decor of the day. Experiences aboard the Carpathia and upon arrival in New York finish the main story. Excellent resources for further reading are included in the back of the book, as well as further info on already introduced Personell. Not the best source for the Titanic, but very well written, and informative. Recommended for History buffs!… (mer)