Publisher Description

Published to mark the centenary of the sinking, this book tells the story of the Titanic from a new angle: the role of wireless in the disaster.Drawing on the Marconi Archives in the Bodleian Library, the most extensive record of wireless communications, the book recounts the fateful events of April 1912 using complete transcripts of the messages to re-tell this well-known story from a different perspective.The narrative begins with warnings of ice, including one sent from the S.S. Californian, the closest ship to the Titanic, just hours before the fatal collision. It follows Jack Phillips, the senior operator on board the R.M.S. Titanic, as he begins sending the 'CQD' Marconi distress signals late on the night of April 14th. We see how these urgent calls were received by nearby ships and how news was passed rapidly across the Atlantic, in a desperate attempt to save the lives of the passengers and crew. The story ends with messages from the few lucky survivors safely on their way to New York.The directness and brevity of the messages gives the narrative a compelling impact and immediacy. Titanic Calling brings to life the voices of the individuals in this drama, retelling this legendary story as it was first heard.

Notes

The Marconi Archives in the Bodleian Library provide the most complete record of wireless communications from the first warning of ice to the arrival of the survivors in New York. Brings to life the voices of the individuals involved in the drama, retelling this legendary story as it was first heard.

Author Biography

Michael Hughes is Senior Archivist at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, where he catalogued the Marconi Archives. Katherine Bosworth works at Bernard Quaritch Ltd where she specialises in archives.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Note on Transcripts Preface Wireless Telegraphy and the Titanic Disaster Proc

Review

'This book provides an excellent secondary resource for scholars of early wireless communications and will be of great interest to Titanic enthusiasts on this recent centenary of its sinking. * Choice *
'Informative and quite beautiful.' * London Review of Books *

Long Description

Published to mark the centenary of the sinking, this book tells the story of the Titanic from a new angle: the role of wireless in the disaster.Drawing on the Marconi Archives in the Bodleian Library, the most extensive record of wireless communications, the book recounts the fateful events of April 1912 using complete transcripts of the messages to re-tell this well-known story from a different perspective.The narrative begins with warnings of ice, including one sent from the S.S. Californian, the closest ship to the Titanic, just hours before the fatal collision. It follows Jack Phillips, the senior operator on board the R.M.S. Titanic, as he begins sending the 'CQD' Marconi distress signals late on the night of April 14th. We see how these urgent calls were received by nearby ships and how news was passed rapidly across the Atlantic, in a desperate attempt to save the lives of the passengers and crew. The story ends with messages from the few lucky survivors safely on their way to New York.The directness and brevity of the messages gives the narrative a compelling impact and immediacy. Titanic Calling brings to life the voices of the individuals in this drama, retelling this legendary story as it was first heard.

Review Quote

'This book provides an excellent secondary resource for scholars of early wireless communications and will be of great interest to Titanic enthusiasts on this recent centenary of its sinking.

Description for Sales People

* Hundredth anniversary this year is guaranteed to generate huge interest.* The Marconi Archives in the Bodleian Library provide the most complete record of wireless communications from the first messages warning of ice, to the arrival of the survivors in New York.* Brings to life the voices of the individuals in this drama, retelling this legendary story as it was first heard.

Details