Officer Merry - An Officer of no Rank or Reason Stacey Lee, Luck of the Titanic (2022)

Cover of my copy of the book

In a novel narrated by a passenger that uses the dramatic events of the journey and sinking of the Titanic as a well-known backdrop to its main story it is not necessary to include the names of all officers or indeed even any of them, as many passengers did not know and did not care who these people exactly where. - Just think of whether you actually remembered the name of the captain of the last flight you took even five minutes after they introduced themselves. Captain Smith was certainly well known, but I do wonder how many people in steerage knew who he was.

In this novel only a few passengers or crew are mentioned by name, namely Captain Smith, J.J. Astor and Lucy Duff-Gordon. Because, as the author notes, 'the Titanic would just not be the Titanic without them'. Interestingly, she also introduces a fictional officer called Merry right at the start of the book. Having made a hobby out of studying fictional officers, I was wondering why a fictional officer was introduced. Was it because he was a murderer or was he about to be murdered?

As it turned out, Officer Merry is only a very minor character in book. He appears only twice, right at the start and during the sinking of the Titanic. He is depicted as a rather unpleasant character and something of a racist - but then who wasn't a racist at this time from a modern perspective? However, his behaviour is hardly so heinous as to warrant creating a fictional character not to besmirch the name of a real person. Particularly since other historical characters are depicted just as unpleasant, first and foremost of course J. Bruce Ismay. Lucy Duff-Gordon and her husband hardly come off better as do various other crew members who may not be named but are easily identifiable. Why the author decided to create a fictional officer is a mystery. It's not exactly hard to find that information nowadays, just look it up on Wikipedia, at least for a start. And the author knew where to find all relevant information - she particularly mentions the Encyclopedia Titanica in the 'Author's Further Note'.

I don't want to belittle the author's research efforts, but as I read the book, I became increasingly convinced that she found most of her information and inspiration in Cameron's blockbuster film. Not as far as the main plot is concerned (there is a love story, but it is a minor subplot) as in the general tone and many smaller plot points. The British are generally depicted as stuck-up, arrogant snobs, while the Americans are open and friendly. The Renault of Jack and Rose fame makes an appearance, and naturally the main character visits the boiler rooms, an area off-limits for passengers. Another old fable that is included is that there was an attempt to win back the Blue Riband from Cunard. Valora Luck, the protagonist of the novel, overhears a man who remains unidentified but appears to be a member of the deck crew talking about Ismay pushing Captain Smith to try for the Blue Riband. Rather hilariously, he states that 'If we're the fastest, we'll get the Royal Mail contract.' They already had that, otherwise the ship would not have been the Royal Mail Ship Titanic. During her visit of the boiler room, one of the stokers tells Valora that 'Captain's been pushin' us since six this morning. Wants us in New York a day early. Tomorrow, I bet, he'll push for two.' A few pages later Captain Smith tells several passengers that no such attempt is made and that he did not know where the rumours came from. Considering the sources of the information that an attempt was being made the reader must be left with the impression that Captain Smith under pressure from Bruce Ismay was trying for a speed record.

It is in the last part of the story, that the influence of Cameron's film is particularly glaring: Valora is locked up just after the collision of the iceberg and has to be rescued; she and her brother are wading through the water-filled lower decks to rescue a young boy; Valora remains on board to stay with her brother; after Valora had briefly been on Collapsible B after the sinking, she and her brother find refuge on a floating bit of debris, in this case a chaise longue large enough for both of them to fit on. Valora may not use an officer's whistle to attract the attention of a nearby boat but a little drum, but the influence from Cameron's film is clear. There is nothing wrong with being fascinated by Cameron's blockbuster film. My interest was started by this film as well. But isn't the point of fiction to make up your own story? Opinions obviously differ.

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