EXTRA TITANIC
by Eric Caren & Steve Goldman
***
Published by Castle Books
ISBN: 0-7858-1030-7
Binding: Hardback
Price: £30.
N.B. I have seen this book priced at much less in several bookshops,
dropping as low as £5/$8US
This very large format book (certainly the largest Titanic book I have come across, except perhaps
"INSIDE THE TITANIC") consists of facsimile's of many American newspapers, such as the 'New York Herald', the 'Denver Post'
and 'The Minnesota Red Wing Republican' as well as a reprint of the entire 'Daily Graphic' in memoriam Titanic edition.
Such sources as these provide an interesting look at how the event struck home
to the public at large, and whilst one should not take anything written in a newspaper
as being of cast iron truth, snippets of correct information can be gleaned from these pages.
The only criticism of the book is that it is not of a large enough format to display the
text in an easily readable size. The papers from the collection of the two compilers appear to have
been broad sheets in the majority, and thus have been reduced by 50%, making it very
difficult to read without giving yourself a headache sooner or later.
Aside from this small gripe, it does present another glimpse of history as it unfolded,
in a similar fashion to Bryceson's "Titanic Disaster as Reported in the British National Press"
or Boyd-Smith's "Titanic from Rare Historical Reports"
I have seen several copies on the shelves which have come away from their binding, so beware of that
and do check them before you buy on the high-street. Having said that I picked my copy up in a bargain
basement style shop, and it is in mint condition with no sign of wear.
In all a worthwhile addition to the library that is let down solely by the fact that it is sometimes
difficult to make out the text.
