“The Titanic Pocketbook: A Passenger’s Guide”, compiled by John Blake

 

128 pages, Naval Institute Press, ISBN-13: 978-1591148623 

I bought The Titanic Pocketbook: A Passenger’s Guide (compiled by John Blake) on June 17^th, 2012; I know this because I kept the ticket for the “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” when it came to The Henry Ford on the 100^th anniversary of the sinking (as I was an employee of the museum at the time, the ticket was free, to boot. Nice). The Pocketbook’s conceit is that it is a complete guide “such as could have been given to a passenger on board the RMS Titanic of the White Star Line on her maiden voyage from Southampton Docks on 10^th April 1912, to be read at leisure during the Atlantic crossing”. As such, the caveat that Blake has merely compiled the information therein is important, as the text has been reproduced from various primary sources from the era, such as technical publications and White Star Line publicity brochures. For such a small book (really, it’s not only 128 pages, it is also a mere 7.5”x5”; and the print is tiny!) it covers a ton: the design, construction and operations of RMS Titanic, as well as First and Second Class accommodations, facilities and services and countless period illustrations of the ship and her furnishings. A wonderful little collector’s item that is also jam-packed with useful information on the world’s most famous shipwreck.