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Once seen as a prediction of the sinking of the Titanic, this novella was written 14 years before that ill-fated event of 1912— now, on the centenary anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, the striking similarities can be examined again in this new edition John Rowland, a disgraced former Royal Navy lieutenant, has taken employment as a lowly deck hand aboard the largest ship ever to have sailed, the Titan. One night in deep fog, the ship strikes a gigantic iceberg and sinks almost immediately. Written 14 years before the Titanic's sinking, this novella has been hailed in equal measures as a prophetic work and the work of pure coincidence. Certainly the similarities are striking: two unsinkable ships steam ahead in treacherous conditions, carrying privileged passengers, with insufficient lifeboats aboard.
This eerily prescient novella from 1898 — 14 years before the Titanic disaster — tells of an "unsinkable" luxury liner's maiden voyage across the Atlantic and her disastrous collision with an iceberg.
How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About Futility, Or The Wreck Of The Titan by Morgan Robertson Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan is an 1898 novella written by Morgan Robertson. The story features the fictional ocean liner Titan, which sinks in the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg. The Titan and its sinking have been noted to be very similar to the real-life passenger ship RMS Titanic, which sank fourteen years later. Following the wreck, the novel was reissued with some changes, particularly in the ship's gross tonnage. The first half of Futility introduces the hero John Rowland. Rowland is a disgraced for...
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Book Excerpt: there rang out overhead a startling cry from the crow's-nest: "Something ahead, sir--can't make it out."The first officer sprang to the engine-room telegraph and grasped the lever. "Sing out what you see," he roared."Hard aport, sir--ship on the starboard tack--dead ahead," came the cry."Port your wheel--hard over," repeated the first officer to the quartermaster at the helm--who answered and obeyed. Nothing as yet could be seen from the bridge. The powerful steering-engine in the stern ground the rudder over; but before three degrees on the compass card were traversed by the lubber's-point, a seeming thickening of the darkness and fog ahead resolved itself into the square sails of a deep-laden ship, crossing the Titan's bow, not half her length away."H--l and d--" growled the first officer. "Steady on your course, quartermaster," he shouted. "Stand from under on deck." He turned a lever which closed compartments, pushed a button marked--"Captain's Room," and crRead Mor
She was the largest craft afloat and the greatest of the works of men. In her construction and maintenance were involved every science, profession, and trade known to civilization. On her bridge were officers, who, besides being the pick of the Royal Navy, had passed rigid examinations in all studies that pertained to the winds, tides, currents, and geography of the sea; they were not only seamen, but scientists. The same professional standard applied to the personnel of the engineroom, and the steward's department was equal to that of a firstclass hotel.Two brass bands, two orchestras, and a theatrical company entertained the passengers during waking hours; a corps of physicians attended to the temporal, and a corps of chaplains to the spiritual, welfare of all on board, while a welldrilled firecompany soothed the fears of nervous ones and added to the general entertainment by daily practice with their apparatus.
Futility, or The Wreck of the Titan is Morgan Robertson’s 1898 novella about the unsinkable ship Titan, which goes down after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Disgraced former naval lieutenant John Rowland is working as a deckhand on the Titan when it strikes an iceberg and capsizes. Saving the younger daughter of a former lover by jumping onto the iceberg with her, Rowland and his charge are eventually rescued and return to their homes. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.