Life Titanic

A sumptuously illustrated history of the Titanic, her sinking and its aftermath.

Marking the centenary of the Titanic disaster, ‘Titanic Lives’ is an utterly compelling exploration of the lives of the passengers and crew on board the most famous ship in history.

Commander Edward John Smith's career had been a remarkable example of how a man from a humble background could get far in the world. Born to a working-class family in the landlocked Staffordshire Potteries, he went to sea at the age of 17 and rose rapidly through the ranks of the merchant navy, serving first in sailing vessels and later in the new steamships of the White Star Line. By 1912, he as White Star's senior commander and regarded by many in the shipping world as the 'millionaire's captain'. In 1912, Smith was given command of the new RMS Titanic for her maiden voyage, but what should have been among the crowning moments of his long career at sea turned rapidly into a nightmare following Titanic's collision with an iceberg. In a matter of hours the supposedly unsinkable ship sank, taking over 1,500 people with her, including Captain Smith.

The sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912 captured the world's attention a hundred years ago and still holds it today. Although it was bound for New York, more than 100 passengers aboard the ocean-liner were headed for Canada. Titanic Lives delves into the unique stories of ten of those passengers. Some were rich, like railroad tycoon Charles Melville Hays and a scion of Montreal's Molson family. Others were not, and would have been lost to history had they not been a part of this unforgettable story. From the scandalous romance between Montreal's Quigg Baxter and his French showgirl mistress, to one woman's search for her toddler and husband as the life boats were being launched from the decks, this book gives its readers a glimpse into the lives of those who took that fateful voyage on the Titanic. You will hear about Paul Chevre, renowned French artist travelling to Montreal to reveal his latest sculpture, and Arthur Peuchen, the wealthy chemist and lumber king whose last-minute decision to board the Titanic turned him into both a hero and a target. Be it nursemaid, cabaret dancer or ex-soldier, Rob Rondeau weaves together the unique and compelling stories of ten people sharing one common thread -- they were all on board the Titanic, destination Canada.

One hundred years ago, a ship thought to be indestructible suffered the ill fate to strike an iceberg during its maiden voyage across the North Atlantic. The unthinkable occurred, and the Titanic went to the bottom. What happened on that cold and inky night has haunted and entranced us ever since. Goodness knows, there have been other disasters-far too many disasters. But as the initial reception to Titanic, the most popular movie ever, just now being re-released in 3-D, proves: There has never been a disaster that so captivates the human imagination as that of the sinking of the Titanic. Now, on the 100th anniversary of "the night to remember," LIFE revisits this awesome human drama. Heroism is involved, and hubris. Romance and recrimination. A thousand stories spiraling outward-and all of them told in this commemorative LIFE book, in words and pictures. This oversized, deluxe book is visually splendid and exciting on every page. It includes archival photography, past reporting in LIFE and the modern-day explorations of Robert Ballard and others that inspired the James Cameron film. The book will include a special section on the new 3-D treatment of the classic movie, just now being released. We return to first-person accounts, and the words of the survivors are brought to life-with many small stories from steerage told as well as the large, well-known drama from above decks. The book will also include interstitial chapters to lend context, such as a history of famous shipwrecks, and where the Titanic fits in the grand picture. At the end of the story, the fact we entered with is inescapable: The Titanic tragedy is the one we care about, and need to revisit.

Tells the entire story of the Titanic, from the design and building of the ship to the recent discovery and exploration of the wreck in the North Atlantic.

Robert Hichens has gone down in history as the man who was given the famous order to steer the Titanic away from the iceberg and failed. Following this, his falling out with the 'Unsinkable Molly Brown' over the actions of the lifeboats saw him branded a coward and his name indelibly tarnished. A key witness at both US and British Inquiries, Robert returned to a livelihood where fellow crewmen considered him jinxed. But Robert had a long career and was a hardworking, ambitious seaman. A fisherman at 19, he quickly became a junior officer in the merchant navy. In the Second World War he was part of a cargo ship convoy on route to Africa where his ship dodged mines, U-boats and enemy aircraft. To Robert, being at sea was everything but the dark memories of the Titanic were never far away and in 1933 a failed murder attempt after a bitter feud nearly cost Robert his life. Here Robert's great-granddaughter Sally Nilsson seeks to set the record straight and reveal the true character of the man her family knew. This is one man's story of survival, betrayal and determination.