ANATOMY OF THE TITANIC
by Tom McCluskie
***
Published by: PRC
ISBN: 1-85648-4823
Binding: Hardback
Pages: 160
Price: £16.99.
N.B. I have seen this book priced at much less in several bookshops,
dropping as low as £9.99/$14US
This book was published at the time of the Cameron film, and it's author was the
Technical Liaison between Harland & Wolff and the film makers.
The first thing to say is that this is not an "Anatomy of..." book as
I have come to be accustomed, rather it is a collection of photographs, drawings and
some original plans, with specifications placed in the descriptive text.
Having said this there are some extremely good details which I have not seen elsewhere, such as the plans.
These appear, however, to be of a refit of the Olympic at a later date
(that's my guess anyway) as the Third class areas are named "Tourist
Class."
The book works through each aspect of the ship from the plating to 1st class accommodation, through
such things as refrigeration and ash ejectors on the way, giving various facts and figures.
There are several incorrect photo captions in the book, noticeably comparing Titanic & Olympic when the ships are Titanic and Britannic.
This is quite sloppy for someone of Mr McCluskie's position, although I understand he was ill
at completion of the book and so these may have been undertaken by someone of less experience.
Nicely put together with a wealth of photographs, but with some mistakes
which let it down. On the whole a strong showing.
