Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was an incredibly emotional read for me. So much so that I ended up having to take brief breaks and go read something more cheerful before picking up the next chapter.

The book does more than recount the tragedy. It immerses the reader in the human stories of loss and survival as well as reveals the stark realities and influences that were in play before the ship ever started on its fateful journey. It places the Titanic disaster in a broader historical and social context. It exposes not just the failings that took place leading to the sinking, but also the deep-seated inequalities that defined the era.

Peeking behind the facade of both the society and the ship itself reveals a lot of ugliness. From misogyny and false pride influencing decisions before any passenger ever stepped onto the ship, to racism influencing quite literally who is left behind, as well as media and society erasing individuals from the mainstream narratives while glorifying others who've long harmed their communities.

It was a heartbreaking yet necessary read that left me reflecting on the lessons we still need to learn today and asking: Would things play out any differently had this happened in more contemporary times?

NetGalley, Mona M

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Interesting insight into how particular classes of passengers and well as the women and children vs. men were treated/ dealt with during the Titanic’s short voyage and the night of the sinking. Very much a research/ textbook type read.

NetGalley, Jenifer Jarrett

I love reading about the Titanic and don’t mind revisiting the same stories again and again.

However, this book was special. It focuses not on the technical or chronological details of the sinking but on the experiences of the passengers and crew members. It explores their roles in Edwardian society and explains why they acted as they did. I enjoyed learning about the common beliefs and prejudices of the time and how these influenced people's views of others and shaped the concept of "heroic" behavior.

The book analyzes the actions of well-known passengers while also highlighting lesser-known individuals and their experiences, which I appreciated. I discovered a wealth of new information and plenty to think about in this book. I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in the Titanic.

NetGalley, Karin Colfer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

So much has been written about the Titanic, it’s difficult to imagine anything fresh being brought to the table. Kevin Brown has taken a totally different slant in Ship of List Illusions, focusing more on the social aspects of class, gender, social divisions, custom and more. That makes this book a truly fascinating insight into Edwardian social history and values, in the context of the terrible tragedy. I’ve read a number of books about the ship and events. This is one of the best with a narrative that being people and their actions to life. I’ve visited the cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia where some of the victims, including the unknown baby, are buried. It was one of the most moving and haunting places I’ve ever been to. Strangely calm and silent with an almost palpable air of tragedy.

Kevin Brown’s book has a similar impact because he writes with a real feel for the people, regardless of class, gender or occupation. Many myths have become ‘fact’ over the years and his extensive and informed research has put many of those to bed. His bibliography and primary source references are incredible. His research was clearly meticulous and many contemporaneous sources were trawled. There’s a comprehensive index and a large number of images, many of which were new to me. Individual, passengers and crew on board, places involved and each annotated. It’s difficult to say I enjoyed the book because of the subject matter. It’s an event which, for some unknown reason I find troubling and upsetting.. But, it’s really well written and it’s added considerably to my understanding of what happened and to some extent, why. A truly great read from both the social history aspect and the actual disaster.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas

It’s a work that will resonate with readers who enjoy an in-depth dive into this tragedy.

NetGalley, Simone Vogt

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Well-researched and a unique take on Titanic books. I have read many books on the Titanic and I learned so many new things with this book and explored so many aspects of the story that never get told. It was almost as if I was reading about the Titanic for the first time. It has now become one of my favorite books on the Titanic.

Kevin Brown's study of the tragedy as being a microcosm of classism, sexism, racism, xenophobia, etc. was absolutely fascinating. Personally, I was glued to this book.

NetGalley, Yesenia Lauzurique

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I'm always interested in having the opportunity to read a new book about the Titanic. With Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions, you'll get a wider perspective on the ship through the time era. It's well researched and well written. Titanic enthusiasts will find this a fascinating book to add to the collection.

NetGalley, Kathryn Tam

It was interesting to read about the Titanic with these perspectives. There are many books about Titanic, but this was one of the ones that most heavily focused on class, race, and gender. The manliness was something that I never thought about. It was informative and introspective.

NetGalley, ALEXIS DAVIS

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I have always been fascinated by the Titanic and have tried to read everything I can about the tragedy. I never understood why I was so fascinated until recently I found out I had ancestors that had been on the boat and sadly perished, so it hits slightly differently now.
This book was well written with a lot of information without being hard to read. I liked how the author looked at the social attitudes of the time and how that impacted the Titanic, the people aboard it and the tragedy that unfolded.
I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend

NetGalley, Kirsty Montgomery

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

‘But if you make your boat so large that it does not even look like a boat, but like a sort of watering-place, it must, by the deepest habit of humane nature, induce a less vigilant attitude of the mind.’

This is defiantly up there with one of my favourite reads on Titanic. Consumed from start to finish, I was really sad when I realised I was on the last page!

I didn’t realise how prejudice the Edwardian era was towards people of “lower” status, how 1st class were given so much more respect not just in life but even in death.

A lot of people on the Titanic were unfairly treated when it came to the sinking and when it came to rescuing/recovering bodies. Very eye opening and engaging.

HIGHLY recommend for Titanic enthusiasts.

‘Yet, the wealthy received all the attention, with only the names of the first and second class survivors being posted.'

NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I loved reading about the Titanic in the book Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions by Kevin Brown. It's very well written and goes into great detail. I like the cover they went with as well.

NetGalley, Kourtney Reilly

Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions is a well researched book that explores society at the time of the sinking of the ship as well as the people on board, the expectations and behaviors of the men and women on board (with broader context given to the time and class lines) along with the wider world’s reaction after the sinking. While the author, Kevin Brown, acknowledges that much has been written, perhaps to the point of over saturation, his book gave a unique perspective based on my own readings and provided more than just a view of Titanic but a wider historical view of the time.

If you’re a history buff and fascinated by the wider context of the time period around historical events and the less known details of them, this will be a digestible and fascinating book to pick up.

NetGalley, Meryl Soh