The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

Erik Larson writes dense books filled with minutia that somehow always feel poignant and relevant. This time the story is about World War I u-boats and the end of the great age of Ocean Luxury Liners.

The Lusitania was a large ship and had close to two thousand souls on board. Erik does a great job of bringing many of those two thousand people to light. Celebrities of the day and people working their way across alike. Everyone has a story. Of course, the rich and famous get a bit more attention as a good deal more is known about them. One of the more interesting aspects of the tale is that everyone knew the German’s were gunning for the Lusitania, but none of the passengers were at all concerned. Much like the good folks on the Titanic, they had more faith than common sense. The ship sank in 18 minutes. Killing 1,198 passengers and crew.

Dead Wake is not just a tale of the Lusitania though. It is also the tale of u-boat SM U-20, Room 40, and the government of Great Britain’s willingness to do anything to get the United States in the war. We also spend a good deal of time in the company of a broken hearted/love struck President Wilson. There are countless people that you want to use a time machine to go back and give a good slap.

Among the more amazing bits are how long bodies can remain at sea before washing ashore. The tales of identifying corpses and how they gave up trying. How hundreds of bodies end up in a mass grave and have to remain there even after they are later identified. It is a heart wrenching story.

Scot Brick, one of the best audio-book readers of the age, does his usual brilliant work here. He gives each sentence the attention it deserves and offers just a hint of outrage or sorrow when needed.

Like Devil in the White City, it is a vast story with a cast of thousands. I didn’t even try to keep track of who was doing what. Erik does a good job of reminding us every time someone is mentioned.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania is an amazing book. I highly recommend it.