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This book comes across like a listing out of Who's Who of the era. Maybe the captain believed that 'watertight' description was accurate, and didn't bother to look himself. Incidentally, Lord's description would lead you to believe the Captain was chosen because of his popularity, not ability, and he bears no blame because the rich people liked his affable personality.
Lord takes great pains to avoid offending the reputation of anyone on the ship, including the captain, the designers, and the builders of the Titanic, even though their collective and individual negligence was responsible for the disaster. No, they were *not* watertight, or the ship wouldn't have sunk. Extremely light on technical detail, it has almost no information about the building of the Titanic, or about the hearings held after the sinking.
The construction of the Titanic is described as 'watertight compartments'. The captain is portrayed as a stalwart, steady individual, though he was ultimately the individual most responsible for the sinking and deaths of quite a number of people. There's no mention of why he was running full steam through an icefield, despite half a dozen radio warnings concerning ice in the area.
There were watertight bulkheads between compartments, essentially dams until the water level rose higher than the top of each bulkhead. Maybe that's why the disaster happenned.Lord doesn't do anything to clarify the 'why', only the 'who'.
There were sixteen life boats on the Titanic, all together the life boats could hold 1,178 people, on that Sunday night there were 2,207 people onboard the Titanic. One of my favorites is when someone asked if the ship was really unsinkable one of the crew members said "Even God himself could not sink this ship". Jacket BlurbThe author did fantastic job on writing this book. Yes because it is extremely vivid. He had referred to sources like magazines that had considered the ship unsinkable and he had many quotes from the crew and passengers aboard the ship.
No because I found it hard to get interested in the book. Theme ApplicationOne theme of this book is that the crew did not prepare the boat for the correct amount of people going on the Titanic's maiden voyage. One example of this is that they only brought enough life boats for 1,178 people. Captain Smith thinks everything will be ok, like Tobias, but Captain Smith knows when something is not right or when he shouldn't do something.
One way is Captain Smith has a boat so Tobias could ride up the Kissimmee River to trade. One example of them not being prepared is the lifeboats. Almost as if it was too vivid or had too much description. One of the officers even said "Even God himself could not sink this ship." So everybody was positive that the boat could not sink, because of this they were unprepared if the ship did sink. Yes and no. I think these two people would get along because Tobias is a very nice person and I think the relationship between them would be a lot like Tobias and Skillet's (former slave from Land Remembered) relationship.
There were obviously not enough life boats for all guests on the ship. Another thing the author put in the book was a labeled map and timeline of the ship. Major ConflictThe biggest conflict in the book was that the Titanic was considered unsinkable by "Shipbuilder Magazine" and many other people and sources. I think one of the problems for me was that it seemed like more of a list. A list of like what people wore and what people did.
Someone who would like this book is someone who likes history or someone who enjoys reading about history.
This was very helpful because he talks about certain thing that happen in specific rooms so it helps you see exactly what flooded first and when they flooded.
One reason they did not bring enough life boats was because everybody insisted that the ship was unsinkable.
Character ComparisonTobias McIvey(from Land Remembered) and Captain Smith could help each other.
Something I have learned from this situation is to always bring enough or more than needed.
He also told the reader just about everything that happened even down to when they shot the flares up and how many lifeboats there were and how many people they could hold.
RecommendationWould I recommend this book to others.
Considering that there were 2,207 people on the Titanic's trip.
Also to never say never and always expect the unexpected.
It would be a great book for children to read because its not to long and the words aren't to big. The story has a few climaxes and conflicts but I think the best one is when the Titanic started to sink. If your into non-fiction books this is the for you. The Titanic had very high losses of lives because of the simple little fact that the Titanic only had enough life boats for half the people on board. Walter Lord really out did himself with this book.I would recommend this book to anyone any day. Thankfully for the survivors of the Titanic the Carpathia was prepared to save their lives.I would compare Captain Smith to Gabriel in "Gabriel's Horses". Walter Lord makes you feel like your right there when all the action is taking place.
These two characters would get along great because both have a passion for what they do and they're both determined at what they do. The Carpathia was the first ship to arrive on scene of where thr Titanic had sunk. They would be able to help each other out because both are quick on their feet and both are very clever. Also I can apply this theme by just being happy with what I have.
One major conflict in "A Night To Remember" is when the Titanic and all its passengers and cargo started to sink. This book deserves two thumbs up just for the amazing detail. You can really tell Walter Lord did tons of research, and it really shows. It is very educational, and jammed pack full of facts. The statistics will just take your breath away and leave you speechless. I can apply this theme to real life by not trying to out do myself. Although many lives were lost some were saved by the Carpathia. "A Night To Remember" is very understandable so people of all ages will be able to read it and comprehend what they read.I think the theme of the story is don't be to sure of yourself.
The only problem is Gabriel is a lot younger than Captain Smith.Walter Lord made "A Night To Remember" extremely suspenseful. Incredible details, for example the book tells the exact time things were happening. For example the Titanic was supposed to be unsinkable but it sank on the first voyage. I hope Walter Lord creates another book like "A Night To Remember".
I set out a while ago to try to find the book. I remember reading this book when I was a teenager. I was pleased to have found it through Amazon. My mother had it (can't find it anymore) - and I recall being struck by the personal nature of this monumental news item, occurring many years before I was even born. Out of 2200+ people, so many were lost - and recorded in this book by name. It arrived in a timely manner and in very good shape. Now I discuss the long-ago event with a grandson and discussed some of the things in the book.R.McMillenMassillon, Oh
A Night to Remember is my first book about the Titanic, and I must say that I didn't really learn very much what I had already seen on the movie. Sometimes, the language is needlessly dense which caused obfuscation of the events. Surely, the book offers a much more dramatic account of how it had happened. But somehow, several of the details in A Night to Remember are either murky or absent. The later chapters are much worse especially after the Titanic sank. All in all, there has to be a much better book than A Night to Remember.
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