For the four fraught, mysterious days of her doomed maiden voyage in 1912, the Titanic sails towards New York, glittering with luxury, freighted with millionaires and hopefuls. In her labyrinthine passageways are played out the last, secret hours of a small group of passengers, their fate sealed in prose of startling, sublime beauty, as Beryl Bainbridge's haunting masterpiece moves inexorably to its known and terrible end.
Every Man For Himself (FA)
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After taking on the ill-fated Scott expedition to the South Pole in her previous book, The Birthday Boys, the novelist tackles a much larger 1912 disaster: the sinking of the Titanic. The narrator, a 22-year-old named Morgan, brushes up against real-life victims such as John James Astor early in the voyage, while falling in love with the beautiful and unobtainable Wallis Ellery. The deadly maiden voyage of the world's largest ocean liner becomes a journey of self-discovery in this portentous, postmodern work, short-listed for the 1996 Booker Prize.
Review
Extraordinary... a wholly new and highly individual work of art... beautifully written (INDEPENDENT )
Marvellous... exquisite pacing... stunning descriptions (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
A narrative both sparkling and deep... the cost of raising [the Titanic] is prohibitive; Bainbridge does the next best thing (SUNDAY TIMES )
Bainbridge's masterpiece (EVENING STANDARD )
Marvellous... exquisite pacing... stunning descriptions (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
A narrative both sparkling and deep... the cost of raising [the Titanic] is prohibitive; Bainbridge does the next best thing (SUNDAY TIMES )
Bainbridge's masterpiece (EVENING STANDARD )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Phoebus
Format:Paperback
Whilst I would only give five stars to a handfull of books that I've ever read, this one merits it.
About the Titanic with an ending that could never fail to surprise, it was a riveting read. Bainbridge got beneath the skin of the characters and one felt more present at the scene than watching any film. The remarkable thing about reading it, though, was how it reminded me of Oscar Wilde's works. There really is a quotation to take from every page.
About the Titanic with an ending that could never fail to surprise, it was a riveting read. Bainbridge got beneath the skin of the characters and one felt more present at the scene than watching any film. The remarkable thing about reading it, though, was how it reminded me of Oscar Wilde's works. There really is a quotation to take from every page.
As Hilary Mantel said in the Sunday Times " ... the cost of raising the Titanic is prohibitive: Bainbridge does the next best thing." And it's true! I'm not on commission, I just love the book.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I found the early chapters of this book dull. I could not see the point of yet another book about that damn boat and was irritated by the author's apparent obsession with trivial boring toffs. This short novel is even padded out with lists of names of these dull people, even though most have no relevance to the rest of the book. BUT gradually Bainbridge drew me in, made me care more and long before the end I was engrossed. After I had finished I even cruised the Net for more biographical information on some of the real-life characters she had brought back to life with her beautiful prose. Her style of writing is easy to read and the book has many striking images. Even for a Titanicophobe like me who would support a ban on books and films on this overworked subject for the next millenium, it was an intersting and fairly enjoyable read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This short, almost restrained, novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Whitbread Prize when published in 1996. It tells the story of Morgan, a relative of J.P. Morgan, who feels, "destined to be a participant rather than a spectator of singular events". When a man dies in his arms shortly before he is to return to the States, he leaves his uncle's house almost secretly (a stolen picture of his mother tucked away) and gets the milk train to Southampton. For the young man is surely about to participate in a major world event by boarding Titanic on her maiden voyage.
Although we are soon aware that Morgan is not quite the same as his upper class friends, he fits seamlessly into first class. His family background is slightly troubled, unknown, but then other passengers have their secrets too. What is interesting about this novel is the way Bainbridge shows how all these people are almost trapped together - a large, unhappy family. They travel to the same places, went to the same schools, shared social lives and even mistresses. The novel cleverly tells the story of life aboard, with all the little intrigues, love affairs and gossip. The author uses many real life characters - Lady Duff Gordon, Thomas Andrews, Bruce Ismay and Astor populate the pages, but as we know what is coming that overshadows everything that happens. This really is a clever read, which recreates life on board and the pressure these young men were under when calamity happened to be brave and not get in a 'funk'; when to be a man was to feel shame at surviving.
Although we are soon aware that Morgan is not quite the same as his upper class friends, he fits seamlessly into first class. His family background is slightly troubled, unknown, but then other passengers have their secrets too. What is interesting about this novel is the way Bainbridge shows how all these people are almost trapped together - a large, unhappy family. They travel to the same places, went to the same schools, shared social lives and even mistresses. The novel cleverly tells the story of life aboard, with all the little intrigues, love affairs and gossip. The author uses many real life characters - Lady Duff Gordon, Thomas Andrews, Bruce Ismay and Astor populate the pages, but as we know what is coming that overshadows everything that happens. This really is a clever read, which recreates life on board and the pressure these young men were under when calamity happened to be brave and not get in a 'funk'; when to be a man was to feel shame at surviving.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Every Man for himself.
I enjoyed the story and got involved with the characters but it ended too soon, I wanted to know a bit more
Published 2 days ago by Lizzibizz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Although a horrible event, well written and understated to advantage
This is an event much written about but Beryl Bainbridge brings the characters to life in her own inimitable way so that we feel their terror and their heartache fully and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Liz
2.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't float my boat.....
I was hesitant to read this book, as I hate knowing the outcome of a story, so knowing the inevitable sinking of the Titanic, I didn't feel as enthusiastic and open-minded as I... Read more
Published 8 months ago by BlueHippo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beryl Bainbridge Brings The Titanic To Life
`Every Man for Himself', to summarise succinctly, is the tale of a young american man Morgan and the four fateful days that he sails on the Titanic. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Simon Savidge Reads
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gripping version
I am a little obsessed with the Titanic disaster and only recently discovered this book which I found very readable from the off and gripping right through to it's inevitable... Read more
Published 15 months ago by ba Francis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Brings nothing new to the party...
This book starts with a major handicap. Two, actually. The first is that you already know how it will end. It's about the voyage of the Titanic, so of course you know. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2010 by bloodsimple
2.0 out of 5 stars
OK up to a point, then it falls apart (spoilers!)
This novelisation of life in the Gilded Age, centred on the 'Titanic' disaster, was quite intriguing to start. Read more
Published on 2 July 2010 by Enoch Sneed
5.0 out of 5 stars
The 100 metre sprinter of the literary world
Beryl Bainbridge has invented her own writing style - no one else writes with such wit and acuity or with such brevity, which is her watchword. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by Eileen Shaw
5.0 out of 5 stars
A first class tale of icy disaster
This novel is a masterpiece, and infinitely more rewarding than the film 'Titanic' with which it shares its subject matter. Read more
Published on 11 April 2008 by Annabel Gaskell
5.0 out of 5 stars
magnificent
A book I buy and give to my friends and await their response. The writing is simply fab. I felt complelled to underline bits and keep them forever. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2008 by SWH
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