Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Dead Wake by Erik Larson is an
engaging account of the sinking of the Lusitania. Using both primary and
secondary sources, Larson tells the story from all sides. Once finished, the
reader better understands not only what happened on board, but inside the U-boat
that sunk her, as well as the broader historical context.
This is the first
book of Larson's that I've read, and it officially made me a fan. His narrative
style is smooth and entertaining. He was able to tell the story of a huge event
using the little moments that better help us connect to history. Another great
feature of this book was getting to understand what was happening not just on
board the Lusitania, but also on U-20, the U-boat that sank her. Learning about
that particular tour reinforces one of the themes of this account - that a
million little things happened that led to the sinking. If just one of these
many things had changed, on either side, the Lusitania would simply be the name
of another ship from a bygone era.
Anyone interested in history, WWI, maritime
history, U-boat history, or the politics of war will enjoy Dead Wake. It is
extremely well written and just as important, accessible to the average reader.
Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
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