Titanic was meant to be another success in a litany of past glories for the White Star Line. Weaving together images from the evocative albums of White Star crew member Philip Bell and Harland & Wolff engineer John Kempster, it is a revelatory portrait of this iconic vessel.
As the Titanic was swallowed by a freezing sea, over 800 miles from the nearest land, her 2,200 passengers and crew attempted desperately to advert tragedy. Lifeboats were lowered, and constant SOS signals sent, but most realised they would require a miracle to avoid their doom. And then it came. Approaching over the horizon was a ship, coming ever closer and then stopping within five or six miles of the Titanic. The joy on board the sinking ship was unimaginable; the crew even reassured passengers that rescue was imminent. Agonisingly, however, the vessel did not come to the rescue - despite rockers of appeal - but gradually turned and moved away, abandoning over 1,500 people to their fate.The search for the 'Mystery Ship' began immediately, and both Britain and the USA accused a ship called the Californian of deserting the Titanic in her hour of need. But was the 'Mystery Ship' the Californian? For the first time, this book explores the totality of evidence, with the discovery of the Titanic's actual wreck site in 1985 allowing crucial insights not available during official investigations seventy-three years earlier. Combining a penetrating argument with an extensive collection of archive photographs and materials, this book aims to find clear answers to the many riddles of the Titanic's 'Mystery Ship'.
As Titanic sank, a `mystery' ship was spotted some distance away. Rockets were fired but the ship ignored them. The Californian was blamed but was the mystery ship really the Mount Temple?
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Ireland, this true story unfolds the chilling events of the Phoenix Park Murders, where assassins brutally killed two prominent figures: Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. As the government scrambles to solve the crime, they face a lack of evidence and the challenge of infiltrating the elusive Fenian underworld. The narrative delves into themes of political tension, revenge, and the complexities of identity within a nation grappling with its colonial past.
The book delves into the heroism associated with the Titanic disaster, questioning why society glorifies this tragedy and examining the narratives that emerged from it. It scrutinizes the roles of various figures, including the overlooked real heroes and the controversial Captain Stanley Lord of the Californian. By analyzing societal prejudices, public values, and the media's quest for blame, it offers a fresh perspective on the shipwreck. Enhanced by a new photographic archive and contemporary extracts, it reinterprets Titanic history in a compelling and authentic manner.