The Man Who Sank Titanic: The Troubled Life of Quartermaster Robert Hichens

To say my partner is a Titanic enthusiast is like saying Mo Farah jogs as a hobby! My partner could tell you the detail of each and every rivet used on the Titanic, if you were so taken. So, this book has proved to be a star purchase!He is almost through reading it and has found some of the 'new' information very enlightening, particularly in terms of which crew members were doing what at the memorable time and why they weren't necessarily where they said they were. And, why the two boards of enquiry (New York and London) were apparent whitewashes on the part of the White Star Lane and how certain witnesses were allegedly 'knobbled'.I'm glad I bought this for him, even if he has tried to read it out loud to me at any given opportunity!!

The aims of this book are laudible in that it is intended to present a corrected history of the Titanic Helmsman, Robert Hichens. Robert and many others who had a part to play in the tragedy have suffered for years by the imagination of many historians, writers and film makers. Unfortunately the book is flawed, as the author does not extend this desire for accuracy to the other people involved in the life of Robert Hichens.Recorded facts are subject to extensive interpretations mixed with embellishments. These include unsubstantiated descriptions of the circumstances of the other people he knew, the tone and appearance of face to face exchanges, and about what was going through peoples' minds. These combine to present a biased account that builds the reader's sympathy in favour of Robert Hichens. Throwing in the odd acknowledgement of Robert Hichens' own undesirable traits and actions does not justify the imbalanced presentation.An academic review of this book elsewhere explains that it has many inaccuracies and inconsistencies. It is a good read, but it is not an authoritative historical account.

Read the review and bought this as a Xmas pressie for my wife (Titanic bonkers) thank you

If people follow the Titanic story's this adds a bit more to some of the people

A subject for a specialist of the Titanic really - well researched and very important in the 'Big Picture' of this ship. Maybe not a book that everyone might go for but they should, this is the sort of stuff they need to know, honestly buy it and then tell me I am wrong. You won't be doing that when you have read it.RegardsHarry123