Wilful Murder

The Sinking of the Lusitania

De: Diana Preston

Narrado por: Michael Tudor Barnes

On May 7th, 1915 a passenger ship crossing the Atlantic sank with the loss of 1200 lives. On board were some world-famous figures, including multimillionaire Alfred Vanderbilt. But this wasn’t the Titanic and there was no iceberg. The liner was the Lusitania and it was torpedoed by a German U-boat.

Wilful Murder is the hugely compelling story of the sinking of the Lusitania. The first book to look at the events in their full historical context, it is also the first to place the human dimension at its heart. Using first-hand accounts of the tragedy Diana Preston brings the characters to life, recreating the splendour of the liner as it set sail and the horror of its final moments. Using British, American and German research material she answers many of the unanswered and controversial questions surrounding the Lusitania: why didn't Cunard listen to warnings that the ship would be a target of the Germans? Was the Lusitania sacrificed to bring the Americans into the War? What was really in the Lusitania's hold? Was she armed? Had Cunard's offices been infiltrated by German agents? And did the Kaiser's decision to cease unrestricted U-boat warfare in response to international outrage expressed after the sinking effectively change the outcome of the First World War?

Highly readable, highly researched Wilful Murder casts dramatic new light on one of the world's most famous maritime disasters.

©2002 Diana Preston (P)2011 Random House Audiobooks

Excellent book on the Lusitania but-

Of the four I've read, this is easily the most comprehensive, human focused, and well paced book on the Lusitania yet. I learned a great deal of new information and the aspects of the sinking of which I was already aware were handled with accuracy and an impressive balance of rigorous research and compassion for the victims of this tragedy.
The one this I will say was an issue is that every single chapter ends with 15 to 50 seconds of bizarre elevator music. It's disruptive to the flow of the book and exceptionally irritating. I have no idea who decided to add it in but they suck for doing so.
The book is still worth it, but fair warning about the musical interludes.

Diane Preston writes a real winner.

Wonderfully written. Learned an enormous amount. Reader terrific. The time was well spent . I will recommend this to all. Salt water in my mouth.