Titanic. "Waiting For Orders"

TITANIC "WAITING FOR ORDERS"
by Philip Littlejohn
****

Published by The Crescent Company
ISBN: 0-9535436-0-9
Binding: Hardback
Pages: 64
Price: Ł9.99

This book tells the story of Alexander James Littlejohn, who was a First Class Steward on board Titanic. It is written by his grandson.

The opening chapter tells the story of Alexander's life upto boarding the Titanic. We are then taken through his version of the disaster, and the book ends with a chapter on Littlejohn's life after the Titanic. It is well illustrated throughout, and is one of the best designed publications I have ever seen, very crisp and easy to follow text with some wonderful photographs. Indeed the majority of these photographs have not been published previously, and give a wonderful idea of what life must have been like at the time.

The text is a little shakey in places, but this is I suspect due to the fact that it is the authors first book,the writing style improves immensely as the story is told.

There is no other criticism I could justly level at this book.It is beautifully made and well written. A marvellous addition to a Titanic Library.

There is a pack available, limited in number to 705. This contains the book signed by the author and the youngest Titanic Survivor: Millvina Dean, three postcards showing Littlejohn throughout his life, a facsimile reproduction of a postcard depicting Titanic in dry dock, that was mailed by Alexander to his son, complete with inscription on the back. This is wonderfully done, and the only way to tell it is not original is to rub your finger across what appears to be the stamp. A bookmark showing an embroidered 'Nearer My God To Thee', a facsimile reproduction of the front page of a newspaper giving Alexander's account, and the star attraction, a facsimile reproduction of Alexander's Continuous certificate of discharge. This again is superb, and the only way to tell that it is not authentic is that the back flap has been left off. This is deliberate on the publishers part to stop these turning up as "authentic" in 6 months time. The total cost for this pack is Ł29.99, and in my view it is well worth it. Available from the publishers