Structure

Dead Wake” by Erik Larson is a non-fiction work and is separated into five main parts: Part I: Bloody Monkeys; Part II Jump Rope and Caviar; Part III Dead Wake; Park IV: The Black Soul; and, Part V: The Sea of Secrets.

The story is laid out in a basically chronological order beginning on May 1st, when the Lusitania was departing New York Harbor for Liverpool, England. Unknown to anyone, it would be the last voyage of the Lusitania and over half the people on board would perish. There are flashbacks to issues leading up to the day of departure. The author provides back stories for some of the passengers and crew. He describes the background and nature of the two naval captains involved in the Lusitania disaster – the ocean liner’s captain and the captain who commanded the U-boat that sank “the magnificent ship.”

Larson also...