Erik Larson's DEAD WAKE: THE LAST CROSSING OF THE LUSITANIA

Book review by Dennis D. McDonald

DEAD WAKE is well researched but the author's writing style is boring. He inundates us with details of the different people on board the ill-fated Lusitania, which might appeal to some.

I was hoping for more information about the operation of the ship and for more about the less-well-off people in second and third class, but the lack of sources probably influenced the author's decision to focus on passengers on the upper decks.

The detail about what British intelligence actually knew about the path of German submarines was new to me, as was the detail about the long attempt by President Wilson to keep the U.S. out of WWI.

My interest definitely picked up once the ship was sunk and the book's focus shifted to a more strategic view of the significance of the events. In general, though, I was a bit disappointed having really loved DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY.

Review copyright (c) 2017 by Dennis D. McDonald