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I Was
Shipwrecked on the Andrea Doria! The Titanic of the
1950’s
Who will survive the most
catastrophic collision ever between two ocean liners?
On July 25, 1956, after nine days of blissful
travel, passengers on the Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria are hurled into a
struggle for survival. As the murky fog lifts on the black Atlantic, the sea
becomes a mirror in which passengers stare at death in the face. Their destinies
are literally suspended on a rope—and in the hands of their fellow passengers
and crew.
“Don’t jump!” we heard the crewman beg from above.
“Wait your turn for the rope! Everybody, wait your turn!” Read more
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Written by a survivor of the catastrophic
Andrea Doria-Stockholm collision, the
novel is an up close and personal anatomy of a shipwreck on the Atlantic Ocean
on July 25, 1956.
Life on board the safest and most beautiful
passenger liner after World War II opens new portholes to the world for
passengers of every age and background. We meet nine-year-old Piera (the
author), shy and overly protected, immigrating to the New World with her
grandparents—where she will finally “meet” her mother. The reader then “travels”
First Class, where Daniel, a sixteen-year-old would-be naval architect is doing
an internship with the help of his father. There is also a mysterious and
fearful elderly passenger on board. Through him, all the characters intersect at
the finale, in a most miraculous way.
The voyage itself sets the foundation for surviving
insurmountable odds during the collision and rescue operations. Premonitions,
excerpts from Moby Dick, discussions
on the Titanic, and a terrible sea
storm, prepare the reader for the inevitable.
“Simpson’s
telling is a well-paced account of the ship’s decline and the families the
catastrophe affected. Her female perspective helps mold a heartily compelling
tale...A pleasant voyage for anyone seeking a personal history of the ocean
liner.”—Kirkus Reviews [this is a very critical Library reviewer]
"A fascinating
and cinematic novel about one of history's greatest maritime rescues. Author
and survivor, Pierette Simpson, reconstructs a suspenseful path to the actual
collision that is beyond haunting— it’s chilling! Yet, through 9-year-old Piera
and her grandparents we relive a story of courage and survival. A book sure to
inspire young readers toward maritime science."—Ruta Sepetys, New York Times
bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray
Alive on the
Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue in History
On July 25, 1956, the
catastrophic ramming of the Stockholm into Italy's crown jewel, the luxury liner
Andrea Doria, sent shock waves around the world. With ALIVE ON THE ANDREA DORIA,
Simpson becomes the first survivor to publish an eyewitness account of a
calamity that could have been another Titanic.
IIn addition to vivid survivor
recollections, the author methodically resolves a cold case and presents an
irrefutable legal defense on behalf of those who had been unjustly accused.
ALIVE ON THE ANDREA DORIA discloses never-before-published, scientific data
compiled in both Italy and the U.S.
“…a riveting
firsthand account of the sinking of the Andrea Doria…a real pleasure to
read.”~~~Kevin McMurry, N.Y. Times journalist and deep-sea diver
Alive on the Andrea Doria! reads like a real-life version of the suspense-packed novel/film
The Poseidon Adventure. Switch Poseidon's locations, era and give
fictitious characters real names and you have the makings of a first-class read
from cover to cover.~~~Sea Classics Magazine
I am a big fan
of this book. Ms. Simpson has delivered a well-researched, entertaining and
exciting book. Fans of nautical history or just people looking for a good read
should go out and find a copy of Alive on the Andrea Doria.~~~Chris Gerrib,
journalist/reviewer
For complete details about the book, the
shipwreck, and the author, visit
wwww.pierettesimpson.com
Read an excerpt
Alive on the Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue History
is available in
print, audio CD, and Kindle formats.
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
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