The prevailing stories around the sinking of the 'Titanic' revolve around social class, gender, & origin. The overall image is one of upper-class British & American men stoically awaiting death whilst dressed in their finest evening suits & waving farewell to their wives. This book examines first-hand accounts from survivors to show it was more nuanced than that.

Whilst titans of industry & banking did die onboard, it may have been the case that for some it was a matter of feeling safer on the 'unsinkable' ship rather than chancing the lifeboats, which led their decision to remain rather than heroically giving up seats for others. The heroic angle was certainly used, however, to bolster the reputations of some who were facing public excoriation for their business dealings or private lives at the time.

The whole 'women & children first' was true to a point, but some male children who were still at a very young age were not allowed to board the lifeboats. Women travelling in all classes, but especially the second & lower classes, chose to stay with their husbands onboard rather than save themselves, whilst it is shocking to think that less than a quarter of staff aboard survived. For example, only 3 out of 69 staff members from the a la carte restaurant survived after they were rumoured to have been locked in their rooms as it was feared they may rush the lifeboats.

This book was very informative - I've read countless books on the subject & this one provided a different angle on the well-known events. The author discusses & gives evidence for the argument that the events onboard played out the social construction of Edwardian society at large & it seems an argument with merit. Recommended if you are an avid reader of all things Titanic.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

"Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions" is a nice addition to the non-fiction books already available that detail the tragedy. Filled with stories of the lesser known victims and the aftermath, those interested in Titanic lore will find this new release worthy of a read.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions: A Floating Microcosm of Edwardian Society by Kevin Brown is a look at the Titanic but from the angle of prevailing norms and societal pressures and how that went into play both during the sinking and afterward, when there was a reckoning over the great needless loss of life. The view of men needing to be chivalrous and self-sacrificing butted heads with a burgeoning voice of the suffragettes, who said the women should decide for themselves whether they wanted to live or die alongside their spouses. The deaths of the titans of industry seen as heroic in many spheres was challenged by reformists who lamented their wealth could not go to save the poor and the needy, many of whom were now arriving on the Carpathia having lost everything. The viewpoint of some that the demise of the men was rather just more names added to a list made longer by their noble side-stepping of lifeboats.

It was an interesting book to read, and would undoubtedly be welcome to either a seasoned Titanic reader or one new to the ship and looking for an easy entry. I’m the former; I’ve been fascinated ever since I could remember and I in fact met Robert D. Ballard (the man who discovered the site of the sinking in 1985) personally when I was a child. It has the little titbits about passengers from their own voices as well as newspaper entries and portions from the inquiry that one would like to read, as well as a smattering of pictures at the end. Those pictures are better suited for the novice for the most part, but still enjoyable.

There was at least one small inaccuracy: Esther and Eva Hart being mentioned as steerage—they were second class.

One thing I took exception to was when the author says Victor Peñasco’s wife Maria Josefa’s “display of grief and raw emotion was put down to her being Spanish. It was perhaps more the reaction of a spoiled, rather immature woman for the first time deprived of the protection of an attentive husband, which for her was the normal relationship between the sexes.” It really rubbed me the wrong way. Even though she and her husband were fabulously wealthy beyond my understanding, I can’t imagine what she went through. It’s pitch black, people are screaming and crying all around, and her husband has just died or is at that moment dying and there’s not a damn thing she can do about it. The man she’s just been inseparable with for a year and a half. The man she’s just lost on their (admittedly extended) honeymoon. And there’s the bonus opportunity they may starve to death or die from thirst or expire from exposure. I think I would be crying and wailing as well.

I enjoyed seeing the description of people striking for more lifeboats to be added to ships after the disaster and again for the added lifeboat accommodations not being up to snuff, and I was surprised to see the accounts of people lambasting both survivors and dead alike; usually books only discuss the heroics. I found it pretty rich Lady Duff Gordon sniffed about American women abandoning their men; it’s easy for her to say that when she’s safe with her husband in an almost empty lifeboat. It seemed impossible to come out unscathed from commentary delivered by the public; if you were a woman you were meant to survive, but you should have done it with your husband, who was supposed to have sacrificed himself.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been fascinated with the phenomenon of the RMS Titanic and its sinking. With the 2023 sinking of the Titan submersible, my hyperfixation on the doomed ship and her legacy was re-kindled. Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions does a beautiful job of delving into the details, big and small, of the lives and deaths of all those aboard the ship on her maiden voyage. Using art references and eyewitness accounts to bring these lesser-known stories to light, Brown highlights the beauties and horrors of what happened on April 14, 1912. While we may never know exactly what happened in every single passenger’s final moments on the ship, this book takes an icy plunge into the waters of Edwardian society and the way the passengers aboard the Titanic lived and died. The book provides insights into societal expectations and standards, as well as fashion, architecture, and how money was regarded and spent. If you enjoy reading or learning about the Titanic, this is an excellent book to add to your arsenal!

Many books have been written about the Titanic. The stories have been told and retold and the facts revealed and refuted. This book takes an unusual tack in that it looks at all the things we believe about the sinking and the people involved and puts it under the microscope of society on both sides of the Atlantic. It looks at the three classes of passenger, which is not unique. But it also looks at the others on board and how the expectations on how they were expected to act had a bearing on what they did or did not do. It goes deep into the differences between what an American might consider the “right” as it relates to how the British looked at it. It is very clear there were people who acted heroically and there were people who acted cowardly. And it goes into what was the standard of “manly” behaviour both by nationality and class.

It further looks at the stories that were told by the survivors and how those same expectations could colour whether actions were perceived to be honourable or not. It even looks into why some of the toffs who remained on board might have done so less from courage and more from confidence that the ship could not sink. It certainly does make the reader examine the various “truths” and hold them up to a new litmus test.

Four purrs and two paws up.

It has been a couple of years since I last read a book on the Titanic, and I am always intrigued when I come across new approaches, perspectives or scholarship on this historic tragedy. Kevin Brown’s "Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions" is a well-researched book that delves into the multifaceted experiences of those aboard the ill-fated ship. While Brown doesn’t make groundbreaking claims or introduce entirely novel insights, his unique focus on all classes and experiences sets this book apart.

Brown organizes his chapters and topics by gender, social class, ethnicity, and occupation, creating a thorough exploration of the Titanic’s journey—from its construction through to the aftermath of the inquests and memorials. His writing is accessible and easy to follow, which makes it suitable for readers new to the subject. However, it often leans heavily on lengthy collections of quotes and eyewitness accounts. This approach, while valuable for its depth and authenticity, sometimes lacks the prose necessary to seamlessly weave these narratives together.

Overall, "Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions" is a commendable resource for those with limited background knowledge who want to learn more about the diverse experiences tied to the Titanic. While it may not offer groundbreaking revelations, there is enough substance to keep armchair experts engaged.

Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions is an unique glance at a topic that many know around the world. Brown does a good job of introducing the reader to the basics of the topic while having them consider the way that class impacted the view of the ship during and after the sinking. The use of primary source accounts strengthened the readers understanding of the ship and how it demonstrated what social life was like in the early 1900s. While at times the book did feel very list like going from one topic or person to another, it really was this new perspective on the ship that made it an easy read. My favorite part of the book was the chapter on the shame of survival as often we focus on the miracle that came from those that survived this large tragedy.

Interesting insight into how particular classes of passengers and well as the women and children vs. men were treated/ dealt with during the Titanic’s short voyage and the night of the sinking. Very much a research/ textbook type read. Personally have always found the Titanic very interesting and am grateful to the author and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

This was an incredibly emotional read for me. So much so that I ended up having to take brief breaks and go read something more cheerful before picking up the next chapter.

The book does more than recount the tragedy. It immerses the reader in the human stories of loss and survival as well as reveals the stark realities and influences that were in play before the ship ever started on its fateful journey. It places the Titanic disaster in a broader historical and social context. It exposes not just the failings that took place leading to the sinking, but also the deep-seated inequalities that defined the era.

Peeking behind the facade of both the society and the ship itself reveals a lot of ugliness. From misogyny and false pride influencing decisions before any passenger ever stepped onto the ship, to racism influencing quite literally who is left behind, as well as media and society erasing individuals from the mainstream narratives while glorifying others who've long harmed their communities.

It was a heartbreaking yet necessary read that left me reflecting on the lessons we still need to learn today and asking: Would things play out any differently had this happened in more contemporary times?

At the start of this book, the historian mentions that readers are probably wondering why there should be another book about the Titanic. Then Kevin Brown continued on making me realize, Why do we have another book about the Titanic? Especially this one. It gives basic overviews with little argument to its content to the point, I found myself distracted since the author himself put the idea into my head that I should read a different book on the topic.

This was a did not finish for me. The lack of quotation marks was bothersome for me and I found the content repetitive and dull.

I love reading about the Titanic. Every auth Seems to bring out a different perspective to the ship and it’s wreck. This was very well researched.

I love reading about the Titanic and don’t mind revisiting the same stories again and again.

However, this book was special. It focuses not on the technical or chronological details of the sinking but on the experiences of the passengers and crew members. It explores their roles in Edwardian society and explains why they acted as they did. I enjoyed learning about the common beliefs and prejudices of the time and how these influenced people's views of others and shaped the concept of "heroic" behavior.

The book analyzes the actions of well-known passengers while also highlighting lesser-known individuals and their experiences, which I appreciated. I discovered a wealth of new information and plenty to think about in this book. I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in the Titanic.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy!

So much has been written about the Titanic, it’s difficult to imagine anything fresh being brought to the table. Kevin Brown has taken a totally different slant in Ship of List Illusions, focusing more on the social aspects of class, gender, social divisions, custom and more. That makes this book a truly fascinating insight into Edwardian social history and values, in the context of the terrible tragedy. I’ve read a number of books about the ship and events. This is one of the best with a narrative that being people and their actions to life. I’ve visited the cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia where some of the victims, including the unknown baby, are buried. It was one of the most moving and haunting places I’ve ever been to. Strangely calm and silent with an almost palpable air of tragedy.

Kevin Brown’s book has a similar impact because he writes with a real feel for the people, regardless of class, gender or occupation. Many myths have become ‘fact’ over the years and his extensive and informed research has put many of those to bed. His bibliography and primary source references are incredible. His research was clearly meticulous and many contemporaneous sources were trawled. There’s a comprehensive index and a large number of images, many of which were new to me. Individual, passengers and crew on board, places involved and each annotated. It’s difficult to say I enjoyed the book because of the subject matter. It’s an event which, for some unknown reason I find troubling and upsetting.. But, it’s really well written and it’s added considerably to my understanding of what happened and to some extent, why. A truly great read from both the social history aspect and the actual disaster.

Well-researched and a unique take on Titanic books. I have read many books on the Titanic and I learned so many new things with this book and explored so many aspects of the story that never get told. It was almost as if I was reading about the Titanic for the first time. It has now become one of my favorite books on the Titanic.

Kevin Brown's study of the tragedy as being a microcosm of classism, sexism, racism, xenophobia, etc. was absolutely fascinating. Personally, I was glued to this book.

With that said, the book reads like a research paper. It does not add any drama or play to emotions. There's no buildup. I honestly don't think it needs it because some of the stories are just so heartbreaking-- even in their most straight-forward approach-- that I found myself crying several times.

I received a free copy of, Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions, by Kevin Brown, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There have been so many books about the Titanic. This books talks about the time period, politics, money, how women were treated. This was an interesting take on the Titanic.

The book had an undeniably captivating premise and was filled with thought-provoking ideas that kept me engaged throughout. The author’s ability to weave intricate themes and create compelling characters was impressive, making it a truly interesting read. However, the repetitiveness in certain sections detracted from the overall flow. Key points were revisited multiple times without adding much new insight, which occasionally made the narrative feel redundant. Additionally, the structure felt uneven at times, with shifts in pacing that disrupted the immersion.

Despite these drawbacks, the book’s strengths—its originality and depth—outweighed its flaws for me. It’s a work that will resonate with readers who enjoy an in-depth dive into this tragedy, even if they might find themselves wishing for a tighter edit. If you can overlook the structural hiccups, this is a book worth exploring for its unique perspective and engaging content.

It was interesting to read about the Titanic with these perspectives. There are many books about Titanic, but this was one of the ones that most heavily focused on class, race, and gender. The manliness was something that I never thought about. It was informative and introspective.

I'm always interested in having the opportunity to read a new book about the Titanic. With Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions, you'll get a wider perspective on the ship through the time era. It's well researched and well written. Titanic enthusiasts will find this a fascinating book to add to the collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital review copy.

I have always been fascinated by the Titanic and have tried to read everything I can about the tragedy. I never understood why I was so fascinated until recently I found out I had ancestors that had been on the boat and sadly perished, so it hits slightly differently now.
This book was well written with a lot of information without being hard to read. I liked how the author looked at the social attitudes of the time and how that impacted the Titanic, the people aboard it and the tragedy that unfolded.
I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend