9780062115492
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Voyagers of the Titanic audiobook

  • By: Richard Davenport-Hines
  • Narrator: Robin Sachs
  • Category: History, Oceania
  • Length: 11 hours 18 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: March 06, 2012
  • Language: English
  • (843 ratings)
(843 ratings)
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Voyagers of the Titanic Audiobook Summary

It has been one hundred years since the sinking of the passenger liner Titanic in the North Atlantic, yet worldwide fascination with the epic tragedy remains as strong as ever. With Voyagers of the Titanic, Richard Davenport-Hines gives us a magnificent history of the people intimately connected with the infamous ship–from deal-makers and industry giants, like J.P. Morgan, who built and operated it; to Molly Brown, John Jacob Astor IV, and other glittering aristocrats who occupied its first class cabins; to the men and women traveling below decks hoping to find a better life in America. Commemorating the centennial anniversary of the great disaster, Voyagers of the Titanic offers a fascinating, uniquely original view of one of the most momentous catastrophes of the 20th century.

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Voyagers of the Titanic Audiobook Narrator

Robin Sachs is the narrator of Voyagers of the Titanic audiobook that was written by Richard Davenport-Hines

Richard Davenport-Hinesis the acclaimed biographer of W. H. Auden and the Macmillan dynasty. He is also the author of Proust at the Majestic: The Last Days of the Author Whose Book Changed Paris and The Pursuit of Oblivion: A Global History of Narcotics. He is a regular contributor to the U.K. publications Literary Review, Sunday Telegraph, Spectator, and the Times Literary Supplement.

About the Author(s) of Voyagers of the Titanic

Richard Davenport-Hines is the author of Voyagers of the Titanic

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Voyagers of the Titanic Full Details

Narrator Robin Sachs
Length 11 hours 18 minutes
Author Richard Davenport-Hines
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date March 06, 2012
ISBN 9780062115492

Subjects

The publisher of the Voyagers of the Titanic is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is History, Oceania

Additional info

The publisher of the Voyagers of the Titanic is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062115492.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Marie

May 31, 2012

Voyagers of the Titanic starts slow, but the deliberateness of the author in telling his story thoroughly is worth the wait, until the build-up to the actual sinking of the Titanic. Davenport-Hines chose to profile passengers from First, Second, and Third class, and along with biographic information, he included interesting trivia about each person, such as the various breeds of dogs they had on board. Suffice it to say that First Class passengers possessed wealth and privilege beyond belief, Second Class were also well-to-do(but more down to earth), and Third class contended with destitute poverty and unimaginable personal tragedies. There was also an immense amount of talent assembled on the ship, and who is to say what the world lost with the deaths of these 1,517 people? What effected me most profoundly was the description of the sinking, and how the passengers and crew reacted on all three levels of the ship, before and after the ship went down, and after the rescue. I was actually on the edge of my seat reading the amazing depiction of the sinking, almost as if I had never heard about the Titanic's sad story.

Ajla

April 19, 2018

Even though I've been reading and learning about Titanic for more than a decade, there is still a lot of information that I have yet to discover. Therefore I am very happy I read this book.

Ellie

October 04, 2013

This an excellent work, with some fascinating stories about those who sailed and worked on Titanic. It's a book to refer to again and again, because of the numerous facts and anecdotal details which litter its pages. The chapters on migrants and imported Americans were a little dry but overall, I'd definitely recommend it.

Nick

April 24, 2017

Far from being the definitive Titanic account, but a fascinating volume of stories and lives surrounding the famous ship, particularly the less celebrated but equally interesting denizens of second and third class.I appreciate that the author focused heavily on the stories of those on the Titanic, as the human element of this tragedy - and others - has also been the most engaging and interesting for me. However, I found the opening section, which provides interesting but excessive context, overly long and meandering; I would've preferred more time and pages spent zeroing in on the many specific and fascinating people that filled out its passengers, crew, and ownership. I'd give the book 3.5/5 but rounding up to a 4-star review (for Goodreads' system) due to the stirring tales of the disaster's lasting resonance among survivors beyond the immediate aftermath in April 1912 through the rest of their lives. (The chapter title, "The Meaning Shows in the Defeated Thing," is far more pretentious than its sincere content!)

Kathleen (Kat)

April 01, 2012

Now that the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is almost here, I've had the blessed opportunity to be able to review some incredible new books out about the disaster. One such incredible book is called, Voyagers of the Titanic by Richard Davenport-Hines.In this historical non fiction book, Richard takes the readers some place most books have never gone, in depth into the back stories behind everything you've ever wanted to know regarding the Titanic, those who built her and sailed on that fateful voyage. He introduces you to the first, second and third class passengers as if you meet each of the people he describes in detail. From what the menu consisted of, to what they did for entertainment on each of the class decks and most interestingly, where the iceberg may have originated from.While most books that you'll have an opportunity to read on the sinking of the Titanic will often give you an overview of what happened that night and how she inevitably sank, this one brings to life all the souls she lost and even those who survived that night. While did the California not respond to her distress messages, why would a seasoned Captain ignore the warning of an iceberg, how did Margaret Brown become so friendly with John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest men on board, how much did the tickets cost that separated each class from one another, and were second and third class passengers really prevented from escaping aboard the lifeboats as James Cameron depicted in his movie? All these amazing questions are answered in this book along with so much more, that if you are a Titanic fan yourself or know of someone who is, this is the perfect book!Discover what some people died with as they departed the Titanic, what some considered most valuable to them; learn how Titanic was built and what precautions were considered in her building to address three vital factors ship builders at the time had to address; what did Margaret Brown do before she became a wealthy woman; why did the Titanic not have enough lifeboats on board; what items were brought on board the Titanic by all the classes of people; how did fate play a role in people who chose to cancel their tickets and didn't die on the Titanic; why didn't some people when told to get into a lifeboat, instead went back their rooms even though the ship was clearly taking on water?I received Voyagers of the Titanic compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins publishers for my honest review and thoroughly enjoyed reading about this fated ship from beginning to the very end. Being a huge fan of history and the Titanic, I enjoyed reading about Margaret Brown and John Jacob Astor's unique connection as well as chapters dividing into each class of passengers; from whom they were, how much they paid, what their accommodations were like, what they ate, and what happened when each learned that the ship had hit an iceberg, what did it sound like where they were and so much, much more! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and plan to re-read this one again and again. There is even a section of photos that takes the reader back to the ship almost a hundred years ago.

Alla S.

March 20, 2012

“Voyagers of the Titanic” marks the one hundredth anniversary of the Titanic by re-telling the stories of the passengers aboard this ship and the events before, during, and after the sinking. Part One gives a general overview of the Titanic on land, and the shipowners as well as the shipbuilders that were behind it. Separate sections also follow the sailors, and discuss the boarding and the speed. Part Two follows the Titanic at sea and describes the people on the voyage—the first class, second class, third class, and the officers and crew. Part Three follows the collision and the events to happen afterwards. I found it interesting how much detail the author was able to gather about the ship and its accommodations, as well as the huge difference between the social classes. As the author notes, “With the exception of the officers’ quarters on the boat deck, the second-class smoking room at the end of the B deck, and the second-class library and third-class lounge and smoking room on the C deck, most of this superstructure was dedicated to the needs of the first-class passengers. And the first class, as described in this book, with all of its elevators, Turkish baths, gymnasiums, libraries, barber shops, and dark room for photographers, among other accommodations, was certainly striking.However where this book really shines is when it shares the stories of the passengers. Several well-known personalities of the times who had tickets cancelled shortly before Titanic was set to sail—among them Clay Frick, Pierpont Morgan, George Vanderbilt Milton Hershey and Robert Bacon, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to France. Others weren’t so lucky. There were at least seven sets of honeymooners in first class, among them Jack Astor who owned much of New York. Other passengers included the parents of a young woman in France who carried their purchases for her wedding, the sole black man on the Titanic, the confectioner who was sailing to join his brother in Connecticut whose wife and children was supposed to join him separately, the man who was travelling to Canada with his wife and had his entire life savings on him, the husband who had kidnapped his two sons from his wife and boarded the Titanic with them, adulters posing as married couples, “tricksters” looking for victims to rob, and a variety of refugees, clergymen, and working men all seeking to start a new life, among many other passengers. The most interesting part of the book is the last part where the collision is described in detail. The night is moonless and cold. The Captain is concerned about ice, thought doesn’t provide any instructions to the crew beforehand. No extra lookouts are posted. And then the event that made Titanic history happens. There’s a lot of details, research, technical explanations, analysis of events and the moral behavior of the different passengers and the crew. I have read several books on the Titanic, but this is probably the most detailed book on the subject that I’ve come across.

Libby

March 22, 2015

No one not deaf or blind can have missed all the brouhaha about Titanic's Anniversary. It has been 100 years since that great ship went down, taking approximately 1500 souls to rest in the sea. A lot of books have just been published to coincide with the date. So many words, photos, film, etc. Which one should I read? Well alright, lets find the heart of the matter, which of course, is the PEOPLE. They are the story, not tons of steel. This book gives us information, sometimes in their own words, about the builders, engineers, stewards, firemen, Marconi operators, hopeful immigrants, card sharps, titled ladies and wealthy robber barons who built served, owned and traveled in the Titanic. For example, I knew from prior reading and watching films, that there were many immigrants in the steerage class, but I did not know that many of them came from Syria, Lebanon and Armenia, fleeing the Turkish Empire. Among the third class passengers, there were Finns, Swedes, Norwegians, Welsh, Irish, Bulgarians, Italians, French, Germans and just about every other kind of European. There was one black man(from Jamaica) and a single Japanese.Aboard this floating world were travelers for pleasure, businessmen, scam artists, musicians, the humble and the mighty. They brought their life's savings, their jewelry, their hockey sticks, violins, books, pets and even a fancy motor car worth 5000 pounds. Several Pekinese, at least one French Bulldog, an Airedale and several "lapdogs" traveled with the first class passengers. Also with the first class were the assorted maids, valets, nannies, nurses and other employees, most of them traveling in second class.Using letters posted in Queenstown,Ireland by passengers and crew, testimony from hearings following the tragic accident, accounts written by the survivors and some fairly wild and inflated newspaper reporting, the author introduces us to real people who lived through nightmare scenes or died in terror in the sea. Their stories are compelling and heart breaking. This is the stuff of great drama. Aristotle said drama should inspire terror and pity. This account is all that and a pistachio ice cream cone.This one is for Titanic buffs, history lovers and those who relish a great story. I promise you will be affected by it.

Simone

February 10, 2013

If you’ve read as many books and seen as many documentaries about Titanic as I have, you’ll willingly add this book to your list.It’s like a little collection of biographies of people whom you already know a little about. Having seen movies and TV series and documentaries, you’ll recognize most names and already have an understanding of how the main characters relate to one another. This book fleshes that out in more detail by providing additional background information and interesting facts about the key players’ lives.Survivor’s recollections of the sinking itself were compelling, as well as the long cold wait for rescue. (Wouldn’t that make an interesting movie? A couple whose vacation plans are interrupted when their boat (The Carpathia) alters course to rescue Titanic survivors…).I was not expecting to learn anything new, but I did! Not just trivia like how many napkins and nutcrackers and wine bottles were on board the Titanic (LOTS) but about how so many passengers were bound for Canada for example, and what their plans would have been had they survived the sinking.The book also includes a lot of details of the days in New York just after the sinking; I found this the most interesting of all because this part of history is often overlooked. Attention is usually always focused on the boat, very little to the people left behind. I had no idea there were so many imposter-grievers! People pretending they lost loved ones in the sinking!!The “what ever happened to” section at the end where we learn the long term fate of survivors is poignant (although a little ghoulish) because it exposes how an experience like this can impact a person deeply for life.It was a great read – I highly recommend it.

Ed

November 01, 2012

This was quite an excellent book. It has a great deal of research into the social fabric and conventions and the individual lives of those who were involved, with many telling details, including many individuals that were quite obscure. This provides a telling snapshot of the age; its focus is much more on the world of 1912 than on the details of the accident, although giving a good summary of the event.Coincidentally, I was working on a "dead sailor from the Titanic" Halloween costume (since this is the 100th anniversary of the sinking) and I ran across this book in the "new books" section quite by accident. Here's some photos(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

Sarah

April 16, 2012

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of Titanic's sinking, VOYAGERS OF THE TITANIC is one of the better books about the people on board. Richard Davenport-Hines surrounds familiar figures with unfamiliar background and details that pull together into a riveting story. With a novelist's eye, Davenport-Hines sets his first-class passengers against the new Edwardian craze for speed; shows the ship's roots in the labor violence of Belfast; and sets third-class passengers within the great migration from Europe to America. Thomas Andrews comes to life, irascible and dependable; John Jacob Astor ("He was a builder of Titanics on terra firma") also appears in his role as a slum landlord; and includes colorful characters not usually among the Titanic cast of characters, such as J.P. Morgan, who owned the White Star Line. A vivid, immensely readable new look at the enduring tragedy of Titanic.

Margo

April 07, 2012

This book was terrific for details about the time period I am interested in. It is so full of Post-Its the cover is wonked up.

Adam

November 24, 2018

Voyagers of the TitanicBy Richard Davenport-HinesOne of the challenges of studying the Titanic is one of perspective. Is the best way to study it from an outside perspective, taking different accounts and creating an overarching narrative? Or is it better to read the individual accounts of survivors, hearing from their perspective? “Voyagers of the Titanic” takes this latter approach. The narrative follows individual stories and perspectives, and lets the reader take in the overall scope of the event. Combined with these stories is a number of statistics to help readers understand the scale of the voyage. So for instance, readers learn about the many tons of sugar, flour, potatoes, and meat that was on board, about the thousands of plates and forks and glasses that the Titanic carried, but also shared testimony of the elegance of the meals, as told by survivors. The net result of this approach is a book that feels rangy and expansive, if not entirely cohesive. The truth is that there is no singular way to tell THE story of the Titanic. While at times the book feels too much like a series of lists, and falls into a repetitive structure, it does give a more personal perspectives human, personal feel to the telling. Rather than add another analytical, removed perspective of the events, Voyagers of the Titanic finally compiles a number of individual stories, and reminds readers that each victim and survivor of the Titanic was a person with his or her own story.

Logan

March 11, 2021

I thought that this book was really good. Its mainly about passengers, sailors, ship builders, aristocrats and the worlds that they came from. Its about the famous ship Titanic, I really enjoyed this book, its mainly for people who have an interest in nautical history, as well as ships and shipwrecks. This is the first book that I have read by Richard Davenport - Hines. In a nutshell of the Titanic, it departed from Southampton on April 10th, 1912, just 10 days after the final touches were made on the ship. It sailed to the open sea for the first time, but little did the rest of the world know, she would soon be at the bottom of the north Atlantic. Titanic collided with an iceberg on her maiden voyage, on the night of April 14, 1912, the CQD (Come Quick Distress) signal was sent out. In just two and a half hours, Titanic would founder. She broke in two about mid way through the sinking, at 12:20 she disappeared beneath the surface of the ocean taking 1,517 lives with her. Most people don't know the story of Titanic, but this book will definitely help you understand the people that built her, and sailed on her, and really anyone who was involved with Titanic.

Matt

November 15, 2022

An interesting read delving into the class politicking that occurred both onboard and surrounding the ship before and after the maiden voyage. A good cross section of passenger and crew stories discussed throughout, as well as those responsible for bringing the Titanic to fruition including Lord Pirrie and JP Morgan. It was refreshing to see such an in-depth look at the stories of Second- and Third-Class passengers, often overlooked by the opulence of the well known First-Class travelers onboard. One thing sticks out suggesting errors may permeate the book. The author notes correctly that JJ Astor boarded the ship in Cherbourg, France on the evening of the 10th, but oft repeats the claim that JJ Astor was photographed at Waterloo Station in London that morning bound on the White Star boat train to Southampton. A physical and logical impossibility.

Susann

March 15, 2018

Excellent book!I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was so interesting in its details about the people, the ship, the sinking, the recovery of lifeboat survivors and bodies and the aftermath. New nuances in the various stupidities that contributed to the disaster were added to my knowledge of the many others. Fabulous research into the survivors' stories and those that did not survive. Especially sad were the tales of some of the young boys and teens that chose to stay behind or were not allowed into the lifeboats. Lastly, the many early deaths, some on the anniversary date of the sinking, as well as suicides, mental disintegration and guilt of the survivors was especially interesting. A great book to add to one's Titanic reading.

Lyndsy

February 22, 2022

Staying up until midnight to finish the last 25 pages, I feel awash with trivia. I'm still amazed that I'm as infatuated with this story as I was during childhood. Although I had to break up my reading into sections of 20 pages at a time (looking up 3-4 words a page,) I so appreciated the passengers being broken up by class. Learning about those who helped build, steer, serve and walk on this ill-fated liner left me in tears when I turned the final page. Only 9/11 is comparable to the level of grief and confusion the world faced in its wake.

Denise

June 09, 2019

Very good bookI didn't know what to feel about this book. I'm the beginning the book dragged and going On about the head men of the Titanic stinks!! Then when it got into the ship sailing and the iceberg hitting the boat l couldn't take my eyes off this book. The research was excellent,where did he go to get so much information on the 3rd class passengers? This must be my 4th book l read on the Titanic yet l read about the passengers that l never read in the other books. The compassion of the author made tears come to my eyes.

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