In twelve chapters, Hoffs explores events and people before, during, and after the fire. She includes some black-and-white photographs, an epilogue, and personal note, as well as appendices that provide a chronology of the corpses and details about them, locations of grave sites and inquests, and a list of medals. In addition, there is a list of names of passengers, stewards, stewardesses, the captain and crew, and some who were aboard other vessels and came to the doomed ship’s aid. A select bibliography and index complete the text. Interspersed throughout the narrative are firsthand accounts and newspaper reports of what happened that day and in the days that followed... an important contribution to collections focusing on shipwrecks and emigrant stories.

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Pirates and Privateers, Cindy Vallar

The author is establishing herself as a specialist in the subject of maritime disasters. This is another memorial account that captures the terrors of maritime disaster, bringing the dead back to life. – Most Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

Shipwrecks were common in the 19th century, so Gill Hoffs' thoroughly researched and engrossing account is a valuable opportunity to understand some of our ancestors' experiences.

WDYTYA?, August 2018 – reviewed by Dr Simon Wills

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Warrington Guardian, 20th June 2018 - words by Lydia Judd

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Warrington Guardian, 28th June 2018

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Waterside, Summer 2018

Very many congratulations!
To handle a dramatic event of such short duration, plus such a large cast, and expand to book length require skill. You have done a lot of research and you pull it off by liberal use of verbatim or journalists' reports. Layout of the book is first class. Significant detail is what makes a scene live - and your use and choice of this is exemplary. I don't know another contemporary writer who does it better. Very many congratulations.

Reader Review

YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN : produced another great book! In your own inimitable style: lots of meticulous research, which you then weave into a story about the real people of the time. You manage to convey the impression that you were actually there. I started the book at the weekend and literally couldn’t put it down... I finished it in 3 days, including one very late night! You must feel (justifiably) very proud. Rest on your laurels for a little while now but don’t leave it too long: I don’t want to wait another 2 years for a good read!

Reader Review