On thenight of April 14, 1912, while the Titanic was sinking, Bruce J. Ismay, the ship's owner, made a decision that would save his life. Ismay boarded a lifeboat meant for women and children. Branded a coward, he became a flesh-and-blood embodiment of Joseph Conrad's legendary character, Lord Jim. How to Survive the Titanic interweaves numerous historical accounts and sources with insights drawn from Conrad's novels. Unlike other survivors, this pivotal figure never spoke about the Titanic.
"Wilson gives an absorbing account of the disaster and its cultural associations...her approach yields a rich meditation on the mere moment's hesitation that separates cowardice from courage."
Publishers Weekly
"It is a pleasure to read a book.that offers something new on this topic. Titanic completists will certainly want this, and also.readers of biography and Edwardian-era history."
Library Journal
"The author demonstrates an impressive knowledge of that night to remember."
