One Sentence Summary
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania is an exploration of the tragic events leading to the sinking of the famed ocean liner by Erik Larson.
Book Genre
Non-fiction, Historical, Maritime/Naval.
Main Topic of the Book
This book is a comprehensive look at the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.
Key Ideas
- Exploration of historical background: by providing an in-depth retrospective of the Lusitania’s voyage, as well as its final fateful crossing, Erik Larson was able to uncover historical information that provides an unprecedented look into the detailed events leading up to and surrounding the tragedy.
- Tracing the threads of cause and effect: through meticulous analysis Larson was able to trace the threads of cause and effect, weaving together the various threads impacting the collision of the Lusitania with the German U-boat, unraveling a chain of events that may, ultimately, have been an unavoidable disaster.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part I: The Lusitania: This section begins with the sailors and passengers boarding the Lusitania and then transitions to its departure from New York and its tumultuous voyage towards Liverpool. Along the way, Erik Larson examines the factors that led the vessel, and its passengers, to its fateful end; such as the threat of German U-boats in the North Atlantic, as well as proper protocol for arming vessels.
- Part II: The U-Boat dives deeper into the strategy of the German Commander, Walther Schwieger, who was in charge of the U-boat U-20 and the torpedo that hit the Lusitania with deadly accuracy. In this part Larson also examines the various weapons used by the Germans, as well as the equipment that was shipped to the Lusitania and why the British thought it was safe to sail a passenger ship in a war zone.
- Part III: The Storm: The final part of the book outlines the events of May 7th, 1915, when the Lusitania was hit by the U-boat. We follow the last hours of the voyage as the passengers attempt to escape the sinking vessel. Larson also details the aftermath of the tragedy, exploring the public reaction and impact of the hundreds of casualties.
Key Takeaways
- The sinking of the Lusitania was a complex chain of events that was both an unavoidable disaster and a mistake of human error.
- The threat of German U-boats was very real in the North Atlantic and proper protocol and precautions were not taken, leading to the disaster.
- The passengers and crew of the Lusitania had no chance to save themselves from the tragedy, but their bravery and courage will never been forgotten.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Erik Larson is the author of six acclaimed, bestselling books, including Devil in the White City, Thunderstruck, Issac’s Storm and Dead Wake – The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. He is a regular contributor to The Atlantic, Smithsonian, and other magazines. He has won various awards, including Pulitzer Prize nominations and a National Magazine Award.
Target Audience
The target audience of Dead Wake is people interested in reading about historical events and maritime disasters, as well as individuals who are passionate about maritime history.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Dead Wake by Erik Larson is published by Crown Publishers and was first published in March 2015.