The definitive New York Times–bestselling account: “One of the most intriguing and thought-provoking books about shipwreck since A Night to Remember” (The Detroit News). One of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships in the world, the Andrea Doria was on her way to New York from her home port in Genoa. Departing from the United States was the much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of … much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of July 25, 1956, fifty-three miles southeast of Nantucket in the North Atlantic, the Stockholm sliced through the Doria’s steel hull. Within minutes, water was pouring into the Italian liner. Eleven hours later, she capsized and sank into the ocean.
In this “electrifying book,” Associated Press journalist Alvin Moscow, who covered the court hearings that sought to explain the causes of the tragedy and interviewed all the principals, re-creates with compelling accuracy the actions of the ships’ officers and crews, and the terrifying experiences of the Doria’s passengers as they struggled to evacuate a craft listing so severely that only half of its lifeboats could be launched (Newsweek). Recounting the heroic, rapid response of other ships—which averted a catastrophe of the same scale as that of the Titanic—and the official inquest, Moscow delivers a fact-filled, fascinating drama of this infamous maritime disaster, and explains how a supposedly unsinkable ship ended up at the bottom of the sea.
In the New York Times Book Review, Walter Lord, author of A Night to Remember, said of Collision Course: “More than a magnificent analysis of the accident and sinking; it is a warmly compassionate document, full of understanding for the people on each side.”
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This was a well researched book, the narrative was written in an informative, but entrancing way. So many of these types of books are dry and tend to read like textbooks. This book does not and avoids the trashy sensationalism of lesser books.
Very detailed account of the events leading up to and following the collision of the Andres Dorria and the Stockholm
I liked the interaction of the characters both young and old. We all have fears of one sort or another and too often take the pain of those fears out on those the nearest to us or even on ourselves. If you cant handle foul language then don’t read this book as it is filled with it as a means of displaying this pain. As it’s said ‘there is a thin line between love and hate’, or as I say, ‘a thin line between love and fear of being unloved’
Excellent, well-written, in-depth study of the collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm.
Heart pounding and many times I felt I was on the Andrea Doria. It was a monumental disaster that will not be forgotten. I still don’t know who was to blame!
Riveting read of a great American tragedy. Worth your time.
Fascinating account of devastating tragedy.
Written so well, I felt I could have been on one of the ships.
A little wordy, but a fairly accurate account.
Exacting version but never boring
A little too technical for my taste. However, for the history buff it gave a lot of details of the sinking.
As dramatic as the Titanic but less publicized. Very fact packed without being “dry”. Extremely readable
I was happy to discover this book. My husband’s grandmother was on the Andrea Doria. My mother-in-law got weepy every time she retold the story from her recollection of what her mother-in-law recounted. It is amazing to think how miscommunication and, to a certain extent, stubbornness can have serious and long lasting results.
Although the book omits a discussion of the fates of many of the passengers after the collision it is interesting and well written.
Always wondered how this could have happened. Now I know.
I couldn’t put this story of the collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm. I remember this being in the news when I was in high school. This a very detailed account of the collision and the aftermath. It made me feel as though I had been there. Very vivid descriptions. Highly recommend.
History that came alive.
Loved the first half. Didn’t know much about the collision. Very interesting regarding ship navigation and ship-to-ship rules, protocalls, etc. Got a little bored at the last part which was about diving attempts at recovery of valuables. That part was OK at first, but went on about it for too long.
Growing up, we all knew of the Andrea Doria sinking. Nowhere did we get the details and play by play of how the collision occurred. If you liked A Night to Remember about the Titanic, you will love Collision Course.
I like anything about maritime tragedies. This book was very good but wayntoo much technical jargon.