Beryl Bainbridge's incredibly evocative novel of the Titanic, reissued with a new introduction.

For four fraught, mysterious days of her doomed maiden voyage in 1912, the Titanic sails towards New York, glittering with luxury, freighted with millionnaires and hopefuls. In her labyrinthine ppassageways are played out the last, secret hours of a small group of passengers, their fate sealed in prose of startling, sublime beauty, as Beryl Bainbridge's haunting masterpiece moves inexorably to its known and terrible end.

'Brilliant . . . do not miss this novel' Victoria Glendinning, Daily Telegraph

'Extraordinary . . . both a psychologically convincing re-creation and a wholly new and highly individual work of art . . . beautifully written' Independent

'A moving, microcosmic portrait of an era's bitter end' Erica Wagner, The Times

'Marvellous . . . exquisite pacing . . . stunning descriptions' Independent on Sunday

'Darkly Brilliant . . . a rare and remarkable novel' Observer

'Bainbridge's masterpiece' Evening Standard

WINNER OF THE WHITBREAD PRIZE FOR FICTION 1996
WINNER OF THE COMMONWEALTH WRITERS' PRIZE 1997

'A narrative both sparkling and deep . . . the cost of raising [the Titanic] is prohibitive; Bainbridge does the next best thing' Hilary Mantel

'Brilliant . . . do not miss this novel' Daily Telegraph

'A moving, microcosmic portrait of an era's bitter end' The Times

For the four fraught, mysterious days of her doomed maiden voyage in 1912, the Titanic sails towards New York, glittering with luxury, freighted with millionaires and hopefuls. In her labyrinthine passageways the last, secret hours of a small group of passengers are played out, their fate sealed in prose of startling, sublime beauty, as Beryl Bainbridge's haunting masterpiece moves inexorably to its known and terrible end.