Call of the Titanic

Lindsay Galvin has woven an exciting adventure story around the sinking of the Titanic, unfortunately in the news even today, as the Titan submersible has gone down with loss of life. American Clara, 12 years old, hides away in her cousin’s trunk as he leaves to serve on the RMS Carpathia. Clara is a resourceful young lady and finds herself at the centre of the Carpathia’s rescue of the survivors from the Titanic, aided by the owner of a Newfoundland dog called Rigel. Alongside this is the evidence of a fictionalised third-class steward on the Titanic, based on a real figure who did actually survive, written in the form of his story being given to an inquiry.

This is an exciting read, and Clara’s story told alongside the real time tragedy of the Titanic’s sinking adds extra depth to the inevitability of the ending.  Several real figures appear, the Captain of the Carpathia, and the photographer who captured the state of the survivors as they were rescued. The details of the telegraph messages sent by the various ships rushing to the rescue, which are interspersed through the story adding to the momentum and tension, all make for a riveting story. Even the menus appear. Each chapter is announced as it were through a porthole, and the different type faces used for the evidence and the telegraph messages all show a real care for the presentation of the book.

The author’s notes show the detailed research undertaken and the illustration of the Morse Code, and even the fact that the sea serpent who appears at several points, is rooted in the captain’s belief of such a creature. The end papers showing photographs and illustrations all add to a really good historical novel.