Dead Wake: The Last Crossing Of The Lusitania

After the Lusitania’s destruction, the British Admiralty claims that Captain Turner is culpable for the ship’s sinking. Do you believe that Captain Turner is responsible for the Lusitania’s destruction? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Erik Larson structures his narrative in short sections, each describing events in a different setting. Why does Larson structure the narrative in this way? How does it help him to narrate the story of the Lusitania?

At the end of the book, Larson suggests that the British Admiralty may have intentionally left the Lusitania unprotected, hoping that an attack on the ship would push the United States to enter the war. Do you agree with Larson’s argument? What evidence in the book supports or disputes this claim?