Dead Wake: The Last Crossing Of The Lusitania

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the alternating perspectives between the Lusitania, the U-20 submarine, Room 40, and Washington affect your understanding of how these “disparate forces” (117) converged in tragedy?

2. How does Dead Wake compare to other historical accounts of maritime disasters, such as Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm about a deadly Texas hurricane or Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember about the Titanic?

3. What emotions or reflections did the title’s metaphor of a “dead wake” as a torpedo’s trail evoke for you throughout your reading experience?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Many passengers dismissed the German newspaper warning because they believed the Lusitania was impervious to submarine attacks. When have you witnessed similar dismissals of warnings about potential dangers?

2. What factors would have influenced your decision to travel on the Lusitania during wartime, knowing that it carried ammunition as part of its cargo?

3. Which passenger’s story (such as Theodate Pope, Charles Lauriat, or Margaret Mackworth) resonated with you most powerfully? Why did their experience stand out?