Titanic's Last Secrets New in Paperback

[Andrew Clarkson]

After John Chatterton and Richie Kohler discovered a German U-boat sunk off the New Jersey coast -- a feat celebrated in Robert Kurson's page-turner, "Shadow Divers," the pair turned to the Titanic.

In "Titanic's Last Secrets," Chatterton and Kohler survey the ocean liner's hull wreckage via Mir submersibles and conclude that the ship was structurally unsound and broke in two when almost horizontal, rather than at the steep angle depicted in James Cameron's film.

Once these findings became public, a retired archivist for Harland and Wolff, which built the Titanic, came forward with documents proving that the company was aware of cost-cutting, time-saving shortcuts in construction and covered them up.

Writer Brad Matsen sometimes loses focus, but his portrayal of the golden age of ship building and the larger-than-life men at the helm is engrossing and vivid. Kirkus Reviews called the book "a crowning example of catastrophic hubris."

"Titanic's Last Secrets" may have broad appeal, but readers seeking the thrill of underwater exploration will find "Shadow Divers" a more satisfying read.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com