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chelseatm's review
3.0
I love Erik Larson but I didn't love this book. While it was engaging and introducing me to a new historical chapter, I didn't feel as engaged as I have with other books from his repertoire. I think it is because of two reasons: the first being that the other books I've read have focused on two specific characters whereas Dead Wake focused on two events or groups. Secondly, I was unfamiliar with the story of Lusitania so there were no new significant events or knowledge for me because it was all new knowledge. However, I think my experience is unique. I think anyone who has loved Larson or is interested in World War One will find themselves riveted by this book.
lindong524's review
informative
medium-paced
Erik Larson is a master storyteller that can bring any historical event described in passing in our history books into gripping, human stories.
On an ocean liner carrying 1,962, as Larson puts it, souls, only 761 survived the torpedo by the infamous German submarine U20. That means 1,201 lives perished. These were civilian lives. To say that war is senseless and dehumanizes human lives is an understatement. That's why Larson's book is all the more perfect and necessary.
In 350 pages, you learn about the people involved in the sinking of this great ocean liner. The political intrigues at play and the scheming leaders from all sides of the war (Allies, Central Powers, and neutral), but more importantly, the people on the liner and the people that torpedoed the liner. Again and again, Larson painstakingly weaves the most minute details together to give his readers, as much as he can, a human profile of Captain Turner, Theodate Pope, Grace French, Charles Lauriat, etc. but also Schwieger, the submarine captain that gave orders to strike Lusitania.
To be certain, Schwieger committed an atrocious act, but I cannot help but wonder, when your commanders turn war into a game where the single individual doing the most harm wins, how fast do humans turn inhuman? Captain Turner's strength and faith in himself after the Lusitania's sinking, while facing blame victims, is admirable but should not be as hard-sought. In reality, the price of 1,962 souls, survivors or otherwise, on Lusitania as well as tens of thousands of more who were lost in the war and then many more who grieved their absence was decided a worthy one by people sitting safely in ivory towers as they ordered more death and destruction.
Loss and grief is in no way unidimensional. There is loss in surviving, loss in uncertain death of a loved one, loss in witnessing a tragedy... Larson paints that remarkably well in the book. An act of evil is a seed of poison planted, it grows, extending its roots as far as it can go. The torpedo left a mark on Lusitania and the hearts of all who had encountered it.
On an ocean liner carrying 1,962, as Larson puts it, souls, only 761 survived the torpedo by the infamous German submarine U20. That means 1,201 lives perished. These were civilian lives. To say that war is senseless and dehumanizes human lives is an understatement. That's why Larson's book is all the more perfect and necessary.
In 350 pages, you learn about the people involved in the sinking of this great ocean liner. The political intrigues at play and the scheming leaders from all sides of the war (Allies, Central Powers, and neutral), but more importantly, the people on the liner and the people that torpedoed the liner. Again and again, Larson painstakingly weaves the most minute details together to give his readers, as much as he can, a human profile of Captain Turner, Theodate Pope, Grace French, Charles Lauriat, etc. but also Schwieger, the submarine captain that gave orders to strike Lusitania.
To be certain, Schwieger committed an atrocious act, but I cannot help but wonder, when your commanders turn war into a game where the single individual doing the most harm wins, how fast do humans turn inhuman? Captain Turner's strength and faith in himself after the Lusitania's sinking, while facing blame victims, is admirable but should not be as hard-sought. In reality, the price of 1,962 souls, survivors or otherwise, on Lusitania as well as tens of thousands of more who were lost in the war and then many more who grieved their absence was decided a worthy one by people sitting safely in ivory towers as they ordered more death and destruction.
Loss and grief is in no way unidimensional. There is loss in surviving, loss in uncertain death of a loved one, loss in witnessing a tragedy... Larson paints that remarkably well in the book. An act of evil is a seed of poison planted, it grows, extending its roots as far as it can go. The torpedo left a mark on Lusitania and the hearts of all who had encountered it.