ONE of the major events of the 1910s most people cannot forget is the sinking of the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) ‘Titanic’ in 1912. Then, in 1997, James Cameron, gave the world the box-office movie, ‘Titanic’, which is still relatively fresh in our minds. Interestingly, the freshest narrative of the ‘Titanic’ saga is from a young writer who was not even born in the 20th century.
The book, ‘Adventures from the 1910s – Unsinkable’ written by 12-year-old Danielle Anyanwu and published by Faunteewrites Books, London, is a 48-chapter, 120-page novel that brings another vibe and perspective to the ‘Titanic’ story.
The story simply begins on April 10, 1912, a day many people, just like the Norflook family, are anticipating to board the newly launched ‘Titanic’ ship.
The Norflooks — a family of four from London — are relocating to America to have a better life and to also give their two children, James (15) and Isabella (nine), a better future. However, Isabella is not interested in the trip. She is reluctant to embarking on the journey because she does not want to leave her best friend, Anastasia, behind.
But, as luck will have it, the two friends later meet in the ship, and are happy for the reunion. The Norfolks meet the Mantoos and the Andersons’ families and befriend them. Mr and Mrs Mantoo have three daughters, but only two are always with them. The other, their first daughter, Alice (19), volunteers as a maid in the ship, and fortunately, she works in the first-class suite of the Norflooks.
Most times, when the Norflooks and the Mantoos meet to dine, instead of it being a peaceful and nice dinner, it ends up getting ruined, with the opposite sides bickering or attacking one another. On the other hand, James meets Alice and is attracted to her, but it does seem like a one-sided attraction.
One day, Isabella has a dream of the ship sinking. Few days later, Maggie and Jasper — younger cousins of Anastasia and children of Mr and Mrs Anderson — go missing. The cousins lost their way from their first-class deck to third-class deck, and are surprised to see people sleeping on bunk beds. They later drift deeper into the ship to the engine room, where they are apprehended by some crewmen who cajole them to work with them till they get to America as punishment for straying.
Hours later, water starts getting in the ship from the bottom where Maggie and Jasper are held hostage. The ‘unsinkable’ ship is sinking. Within minutes, people are running amok, looking for their families. Some people, especially women and children, must be saved through the limited lifeboats available. Unfortunately, however, some wealthy men, like Mrs Mantoo and Anderson, find their ways in to the boats. Those that can not make the boats sprint for places to anchor themselves as they prepare for their deaths.
Fortunately, Mrs Norflook, Isabella, Anastasia, the Mantoos and the Andersons, make it to the boats. Mr Norflook and James do not make it. Amid the commotion and fear, the ship sinks and many people die. After some hours, a rescue ship comes and some of the people who sink with the ship — including Mr Norflook, James, and another friend of Isabella, Dixie, whom they do not know is on-board the ship — are rescued.
The book reminds one of Charles Dickens,’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’ whose famous opening paragraph reads: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” The book mirrors the radical stratification in class and status in 1910s’ London as is reflected in the partitioning of the ship into first-class to third-class decks, and the best times and merry the passengers on-board the ship enjoy, and the worst times and doom they experience in the sinking ship.
Furthermore, in the book, the young author portrays the duality of life — wisdom and foolishness, strength and fallibility, and how love and sacrifice unite them in satiric and fluid ways.
In writing this book, Anyanwu demonstrated some nerves by revisiting histories many people prefer to leave unperturbed.
- Oyenekan is a writer and student of Teacher Education, University of Ibadan.
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