Larson Has Done It Again

 Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

Erik Larson (New York: Crown Publishers, 2015)

 Erik Larson has done it again. He has written history that reads like a novel and is complete with notes, bibliography, and index. Published to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, "Dead Wake" adeptly covers the politics, technical details, and most especially, the humanity of the tragedy. With quickly alternating chapters, the author takes us to London, Washington, New York, Berlin, and most importantly, he places us on board the ship. With the use of primary sources, he produces a narrative that also includes the mission and routine of the German U-Boat responsible for the sinking.

     The Great War was in its first year when the liner sailed from New York; headed for England. The atmosphere in Europe was one of total war while the U.S. maintained neutrality. Larson covers the political decisions made by the leaders of Germany, Britain, and the U.S. so as to afford the reader ample understanding of the circumstances under which the ship sailed. Admittedly, there are times when the narrative is slow in nature and I found myself struggling to turn a page. Some of the details surrounding President Wilson are insignificant to the story and tend to drone on for too long. However, the backgrounds of the passengers and crew members of the Lusitania are well-developed and lead to a much more empathetic reading when the torpedo strikes. It is from this point on that Larson is magnificent. He provides an almost minute-by-minute account of the sinking that is vivid and complete. The story does not end there, however, as Larson follows through with descriptions of the make-shift morgues, accounts of the fate of the passengers, and the placing of blame. Overall, this is a truly remarkable account of a truly profound tragedy.