The Lowdown on “Dead Wake” by Erik Larson

In a riveting account of one of history’s most tragic maritime disasters, Erik Larson’s Dead Wake takes readers on a harrowing journey aboard the ill-fated luxury liner Lusitania, weaving together the stories of its passengers and the political intrigue that led to its devastating demise.

Lusitania, a majestic ocean liner setting sail from New York.

Set during the tumultuous years of World War I, Dead Wake delves into the fateful voyage of the Lusitania, a British ocean liner that became a casualty of war when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland in 1915.

Erik Larson meticulously reconstructs the events leading up to the ship’s sinking, intertwining the lives of the passengers and crew members with the high-stakes political climate of the time.

Through vivid storytelling, Larson introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, from the wealthy and influential to the ordinary and hopeful.