Titanic

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0946184682 ISBN 13: 9780946184682

Publisher: Waterfront Publications

This illustrated biography of Millvina Dean, the last Titanic survivor alive today, tells the fascinating story of Millvina's life from 1912 until the present day. The youngest passenger on the Titanic, at nine weeks old, Millvina's life has been shaped by her association with one of the most appalling tragedies of the 20th century.

Since 1987, when Millvina was `discovered' her travels have taken her all over the world, sharing her story with thousands of interested people.

Hours of interviews and research through historical archives, has meant that for the first time her extraordinary life story can be told in this lavishly illustrated book.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

In 1920, when I was eight years old, my mother decided to get remarried. I never knew my real father and lived in blissful ignorance as to what had happened to him so my mother's news didn't particularly bother me. Besides, the only father figure I had ever known or wanted was my grandfather whom I loved dearly. Since I wasn't a terribly curious child I never thought to ask what had happened to my real father. Then she told me.

The Titanic meant very little to me at the time. Nobody seemed to talk about it very much and the fact that my father had died on the ship didn't really make a huge impression on me. After all, what was the Titanic to me? It didn't seem to have any bearing on my world at all. That I had been the youngest survivor of the disaster meant even less! My mother told me the bare facts and that was that. It was something buried deep in her past and a subject that she didn't seem to want to discuss.

The Titanic hardly touched my life again until the wreck was discovered in the mid `eighties. Until then, I hardly gave it a thought. Suddenly however, complete strangers wanted to interview me for television and newspapers, I was asked to sign autographs, give talks and make personal appearances. At first it was rather bewildering but it's amazing how quickly one can adapt to new experiences. Since I love meeting new people I have, by and large, thoroughly enjoyed the last twenty five years and am still continually amazed at how the Titanic disaster still touches people.

Anthony Cunningham and Sheila Jemima have produced an admirable book which will please anyone with an interest in my life story. Between them the authors have spent many hours chatting with me to get the facts straight. In addition, they have dug out old newspaper reports, letters, magazine articles and photographs to make this biography as accurate as possible. I do hope you enjoy it. Millvina Dean October, 2008