This was a did not finish for me. The lack of quotation marks was bothersome for me and I found the content repetitive and dull.

I love reading about the Titanic. Every auth Seems to bring out a different perspective to the ship and it’s wreck. This was very well researched.

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.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy!

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.

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.

With that said, the book reads like a research paper. It does not add any drama or play to emotions. There's no buildup. I honestly don't think it needs it because some of the stories are just so heartbreaking-- even in their most straight-forward approach-- that I found myself crying several times.

I received a free copy of, Titanic: Ship of Lost Illusions, by Kevin Brown, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. There have been so many books about the Titanic. This books talks about the time period, politics, money, how women were treated. This was an interesting take on the Titanic.

The book had an undeniably captivating premise and was filled with thought-provoking ideas that kept me engaged throughout. The author’s ability to weave intricate themes and create compelling characters was impressive, making it a truly interesting read. However, the repetitiveness in certain sections detracted from the overall flow. Key points were revisited multiple times without adding much new insight, which occasionally made the narrative feel redundant. Additionally, the structure felt uneven at times, with shifts in pacing that disrupted the immersion.

Despite these drawbacks, the book’s strengths—its originality and depth—outweighed its flaws for me. It’s a work that will resonate with readers who enjoy an in-depth dive into this tragedy, even if they might find themselves wishing for a tighter edit. If you can overlook the structural hiccups, this is a book worth exploring for its unique perspective and engaging content.

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.

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital review copy.

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

‘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.

Very informative.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

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.

I should have known that with all the books about the Titanic, someone would come up with something totally new and different. Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for providing this book, with my honest review below.

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.