The sinking of the largest ship afloat after a collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic in April 1912 has sparked the interest of the general public ever since.  The 2,224 people on board included some of the wealthiest people in the world, on hand to celebrate the maiden voyage of the celebrated vessel, as well as hundreds of European emigrants, most relegated to second class status that would prove fatal.  While Titanic boasted numerous advanced safety features, she was equipped with lifeboats for only 1,178 people, just over half of capacity. The disaster was greeted with shock and outrage at the systemic failures that caused such huge of loss of life and led to public inquiries that resulted in significant maritime safety improvements. Lawrence Beesley was a passenger on the voyage who managed to survive and was soon after requested to recount his experiences to a group of Boston lawyers. The editor of the Boston Herald persuaded him to publish his account of the event to counter the misinformation already stemming from the piecemeal accounts by those who were not present.  Although reluctant at first, Beesley felt a duty to bring the need for reform to public attention in recognition of the many that died needlessly as a result of management shortcomings.  His memoir is a gripping story that stands the test of time.