“Wasplike with their long slender hulls, these were ships not seen in these waters before. They approached in a line, each flying a large American flag. To the hundreds of onlookers by now gathered ...”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

history

“There were always those passengers who came aboard bearing grudges against the modern age.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

culture nostalgia perspective technology

“Murder was a fascination as always.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

culture distraction entertainment mortality

“New York's perennial attraction was shopping.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

commercialism culture materialism

“They looked more like day laborers than seamen.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

appearances competence confidence culture

“I always thought a shipwreck was a well-organized affair, but I've learned the devil a lot in the last five minutes.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

anxiety crisis emotion panic

“During World War I, Germany had only 25 of its vaunted submarines sailing at any one time.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

anxiety fear intimidation propaganda

“If you had to jump six or seven feet or certainly drown, it's surprising how far even older people will jump.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

in-desperation perspective priorities resolution

“My prophetic task would be twofold: to stand up to him, and to stand by him. To awaken his conscience, and to salve the pain this would cause him.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

discipleship evangelism graciousness pastor

“My between-books strategy was reading voraciously and on a whim.”

— Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

curiosity leisure writing