Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the LusitaniaDead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
Score Modern
What it's about
Erik Larson tells the story of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915: the luxury liner, its passengers, the German submarine that hunted it, and the decisions, from President Wilson to the British Admiralty, that led to the tragedy.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Larson makes history read like a thriller.
You'll love it if you liked
The Devil in the White City
In the Garden of Beasts
The Guns of AugustGood to know
Even knowing the ending, it's suspenseful. It's a good entry point to Larson.
By the numbers
- Readers59 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller72 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #121 of the 198 history books we rank
- #441 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #849 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Erik Larson
The Splendid and the Vile
The Demon of UnrestThe Devil in the White CityIn the Garden of BeastsIf you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book Thief
AmericanahExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania worth reading?
Yes. It spent 3 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #849 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania about?
Erik Larson tells the story of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915: the luxury liner, its passengers, the German submarine that hunted it, and the decisions, from President Wilson to the British Admiralty, that led to the tragedy.
How long does it take to read Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania?
About 11 hours (430 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania?
If you liked it, try The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson or The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman.