Dead Wake by Erik Larson

Introduction 

Dead Wake is non-fiction account written by Erik Larson regarding the final and ill-fated voyage of the Lusitania. Lusitania was a British luxury steamship believed to be unsinkable. The ship was a fabulous example of human advancement in shipbuilding. Lusitania was the only steamship that was not converted for war like other British private steamships. It was commercial vessel for carrying cargo and passengers. The steamship made an important part of world history because of its size, which was frightening; its image could fright most warships that were smaller and slower than the swift steamship. It had the capability of hitting and destroying a smaller ship. Larson’s storytelling offers readers more details about “history book’ accounts of the Lusitania disaster (Larson, 2015). 

Analysis 

The story of Lusitania starts with confidence that eventually result in its demise. Various alerts about the ship being the target of war were dismissed due to various reasons. For instance, it was believed its size and speed would intimidate any potential attackers. In addition, there was unwritten understanding in the war between Germany and Britain that non-military vessels were not supposed to be attacked. A New York Times edition published in May 1, 1915, warned that commercial vessels were at risk of being attacked. Nevertheless, these alerts were largely ignored; the ship was loaded and boarded as planned and set off. Lusitania was designed to offer the best ocean-going travel in terms of safety, speed, and luxury, and these factors provided people with confidence in boarding the ship, thus did not give much attention about the alerts issued (Larson, 2015). 

A week into the transoceanic voyage, the ship was attacked by a German U-20 submarine within sight of the coast of Ireland. The power systems in the ship was lost and the rudder could not function anymore. The elevators stopped and the passengers were frightened. The baggage workers in the hull dead on the spot and the water began to trickle through the unbolted portholes. Larson points out that a single open porthole could admit water a rate of 3.75 tons a minute, and this in itself is a terrible fact. Lusitania was submerged in less than twenty minutes after the torpedo was launched claiming 1,198 lives. Among the lives lost, 12 Americans died in the attack, and this served as entry of America into the war, which paradoxically it was considered a success to both Britain and Germany. Britain wanted the U.S to be its ally while Germany wanted to lure the U.S into the battle for a while (Larson, 2015). This tragedy signified an extraordinary convergence of the goals of these two countries. There remains mysteriousness about Lusitania, many questions remain unanswered that have never been addressed over a century and it seems like it may never be resolved. 

The German crew of the U-20 were thrilled about attacking Lusitania, which was a vital symbolic of victory. The steamship was too big to sink and the fact that it sunk within eighteen minutes after the attack was victory to the U-20 crew. The Lusitania tragedy was a key incident in the war and a factor that prompted the then U.S president, Woodrow Wilson to leave his neutrality policy and finally enter the war. 

Although the German warning did not shake anyone regarding the risks of commencing the transoceanic journey from New York to Liverpool, it would have been important maybe if the passengers, crew, and the captain in the ship were to determine that a top-secret unit was tracking the movements of the U-boats in British waters. The U-20 was known to be the most disreputable and brutal of the German submarines. There was a significant amount of concern about the likelihood of the submarine attacks on British ships and it would rattle people who boarded Lusitania, if they had knowledge that the Germans had explicitly mentioned the ship in some of their captured messages. However, the British intelligence did not want to share this message with the Lusitania captain and crew because they did not want to reveal about the existence of the top secret submarine surveillance team known as Room 40. Larson tells his story in a watertight manner whereby he does side with either nation, Britain or Germany in their endeavors. 

It is evident that Larson intertwines intimate details and emotions as well as historical facts into a material that adds value to the context. His work has been highly acknowledged and he is regarded as the modern masters of popular non-fiction narrative. He is both a subtle stylist and a resourceful reporter who comprehends the complicated art of various narrative strands and turn it into an attractive story. He allows his readers to experience history through his attention to details and narrative prowess. He narrates the events of the sinking unsinkable ship in an engaging and inclusive way where despite knowing the outcome, it does not undermine the experience. Rather than making the story sad due the tragedy that struck the Lusitania ship, Larson chose to make it interesting. He makes his characterization of the passengers interesting as well as the narration of this historical event. The May 7 has been marked as the anniversary of the sinking ship. However, because many Americans died among other passengers aboard, the event has always been welcomed wrongly. However, it should be celebrated positively because the day eventually awaken the United States from its isolationist slumber. 

Many readers might think that they know the story but in real sense, they do not. Larson tells the story in an interesting manner, exchanging between hunter and the hunted while bringing out a bigger picture of the United States at the time of its Progressive Era. The story comprises of real-life suspense, mystery, and glamour, thus bringing life to evocative characters including President Wilson, Theodate Pope Riddle, a pioneering female architect, and Charles Lauriat, the Boston bookseller. The book captures the complete drama and the emotive power of the steamship disaster, which assists in placing America on the path to war. Larson indicates that he wants readers to have an experience of the sinking ship just as the people who lived through the time did. However, having a firsthand experience can be dreadful because seeing the gigantic vessel sinking fast into the ocean with thousands of people on it can be tragically unforgettable. Nevertheless, Larson provides as with imagination of the scene, which is thrilling, dramatic and powerful. 

Conclusion 

Erik Larson tells the story of the fastest cruise ship, Lusitania, in his book, Dead Wake , to remind us of history. He is able to bring the past alive by providing an intimate details and emotions regarding the disaster. The torpedo launched by the German U-20 resulted in the sinking and disappearing of the gigantic ship into the ocean claiming the lives of people including Americans. He offers intriguing details by drawing upon the war logs among other things that provide readers with adequate information. The anger at German betrayal and the agony of the sinking ship finally helped to push President Woodrow, who was determined to remain neutral, to enter America into World War I. Therefore, the story of Lusitania brings us to the firsthand experience of the event that took place in a thrilling and powerful way and Larson proves to be a consummate researcher. 

Reference 

Larson, E. (2015).  Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania . Broadway Books. Crown Publishers: New York.