The sinking of the RMS Titanic on the night of 14/15 April 1912 remains one of history's most tragic maritime disasters. Striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic during its maiden voyage, the ship left countless heart-breaking stories of lives lost or changed forever. Greater Manchester, in England's northwest, had strong ties toTitanic, with over thirty local people involved as passengers and crew, most of whom perished. Titanic: The Greater Manchester Connections recounts their stories. John Clarke, a Manchester-born band member, famously played on as the ship sank. Joseph Hyman, a Russian Jewish passenger who survived, later opened a kosher delicatessen in Manchester named "Titanic's." Chemist Adolphe Saalfeld carried 65 perfume samples aboard to break into the American market. Although he survived, his perfumes were lost until recovered in 1985. Thomas Hart missed the voyage after his discharge book was stolen, inspiring the card game scene in James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic. The captains of two ships involved in the aftermath-the Carpathia and Californian-hailed from Bolton. The Titanic tragedy offers a glimpse into late Victorian and Edwardian society. Though the ship rests at the bottom of the Atlantic, its stories and legends continue to captivate worldwide. AUTHOR: James Bancroft has produced more than 100 books and articles, the subjects of which reflect his varied interests. He has contributed a number of articles for The New Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and his book Rorke's Drift: The Zulu War, 1879 has been re-printed seven times. His JWB Historical Library, compiled over four decades, is one of the largest private collections of its kind in the world. When he is not writing, James enjoys singing and playing and listening to music, and being with his growing family. 16 b/w illustrations
