Transportation

People kid me here at the Northshire about my -- shall we say -- fixation on the Titanic. I'm making a conscious effort not to bring it up in conversations. (You might be surprised at how many connections can be drawn between the ship and any number of current events.) A blog is different and no one has to read it if they don't want to. So there.

We had a Titanic event recently at the store in which I got to share the stage with Katherine Howe, whose intriguing and atmospheric new novel, The House of Velvet and Glass, incorporates the sinking of the liner in 1912 into its narrative.

Our store event took place on the 100th anniversary of the disaster and Ms. Howe graciously devoted most of her time -- and her considerable expertise on the subject -- to the great White Star ship. Her book is a minutely detailed exploration of societal manners, morals, and decor at the turn of the century and it contains a neat twist that I kept reminding myself not to refer to. But that afternoon belonged to the Titanic. (READ MORE)

I would rather die a hundred times than go through such an experience and live. -- Thomas Patrick Dillon, crew member RMS Titanic

There goes your beautiful nightdress. -- Lady Duff Gordon, first class passenger, to her maid.

Among the new books released to coincide with the centennial of the demise of the largest moving object on earth is one by Andrew Wilson called Shadow of the Titanic. Wilson's premise is as elementary as his exposition is persuasive: The survivors of the most momentous shipwreck in history had to go on living with the memory of April 15, 1912 fixed firmly in their minds. It was, to coin a tired phrase, easier said than done for a great many of them. Living with it was difficult, but forgetting it was impossible. (READ MORE)