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Gill Paul
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Women and Children First: Bravery, love and fate: the untold story of the doomed Titanic Kindle Edition

by Gill Paul (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,965 ratings
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Praise for Gill Paul:
 ‘A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story… A triumph.’ DINAH JEFFERIES

‘Gripping, romantic and evocative of its time.’ LULU TAYLOR

It is 1912. Against all odds, the Titanic is sinking.
As desperate hands emerge from the icy water, a few lucky row boats float in the darkness. On the boats are four survivors.

Reg, a handsome young steward working in the first-class dining room; Annie, an Irishwoman travelling to America with her children; Juliet, a titled English lady who is pregnant and unmarried, and George, a troubled American millionaire.

In the wake of the tragedy, each of these people must try to rebuild their lives.
But how can life ever be the same again when you’ve heard over a thousand people dying in the water around you?

Haunting, emotional and beautifully written, Women and Children First breathes fresh life into the most famous disaster of the 20th century. A gripping read from the bestselling author of The Secret Wife.

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  1. Print length
    478 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Avon
  5. Publication date
    March 29, 2012
  6. File size
    5828 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘A warm-hearted and engaging novel that breathes fresh life into the well-known tragedy of the Titanic’ Amanda Brookfield.

PRAISE FOR GILL PAUL’S OTHER NOVELS

‘Meticulously researched and evocatively written, this sweeping story will keep a tight hold on your heartstrings until the final page’ Iona Grey

‘A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story: the heartbreak genuine, the research brilliant. I love the way the present narrative throws light on the past story so that the transitions are smooth. A triumph.’ Dinah Jefferies

‘A marvellous story: gripping, romantic and evocative of a turbulent and fascinating time’ Lulu Taylor

‘This was just magical. At the last line, tears rolled down my cheeks. Highly recommended.’ Louise Beech

'A heart-warming affirmation of the tenacity of human love' Liz Trenow

'Gill Paul has crafted a beautiful book. The passages set in Russia in 1914 are so richly described and researched that I felt as if I was living in the pages myself. I adored it.' Amanda Jennings

‘This is an intriguing and involving book that explores a really fascinating period in time in a clever and highly enjoyable way. I was hooked into both timelines from the start.’
Joanna Courtney, author of The Chosen Queen and The Constant Queen

‘A beautiful and moving story, beautifully and movingly told. I read it in just two sittings . . . I enjoyed every page’ John Julius Norwich

‘Gill Paul has clearly done her research in this absorbing story that cleverly blends imagination with historical fact. Tragic, touching and authentic-feeling.’ Kate Riordan

‘A marvellous moving adventure, full of vivid colour and atmospheric detail. If you loved POLDARK you’ll love this!’ Lulu Taylor

‘A terrific adventure story, full of romance and atmospheric detail – a great escapist read’ Liz Trenow

About the Author

Gill Paul is an author of historical fiction, specialising in the twentieth century and often writing about the lives of real women. Her novels have topped bestseller lists in the US and Canada as well as the UK and have been translated into twenty languages. The Secret Wife has sold over half a million copies and is a book-club favourite worldwide.

She is also the author of several non-fiction books on historical subjects. She lives in London and swims year-round in a wild pond.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006I1CDKK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon; UK ed. edition (March 29, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 29, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5828 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 478 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1847563252
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,965 ratings

About the author

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Gill Paul

Gill Paul

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Gill Paul is the bestselling author of twelve historical novels, many of them describing real women she thinks have been marginalized or misjudged by historians. They include A BEAUTIFUL RIVAL, about the bitter rivalry between cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein; THE MANHATTAN GIRLS, about Dorothy Parker and three friends navigating life, love and careers in Prohibition-era New York, like a 1920s version of Sex and the City; THE COLLECTOR'S DAUGHTER, about Lady Evelyn Herbert, the first person to enter Tutankhamun's tomb in modern times; JACKIE AND MARIA (retitled THE SECOND MARRIAGE in the UK) about Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy's rivalry over Aristotle Onassis; two bestselling novels about the Romanovs – THE SECRET WIFE and THE LOST DAUGHTER – as well as WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST, which was shortlisted for the 2013 RNA Epic Novel of the Year award, NO PLACE FOR A LADY, shortlisted for a Love Stories award, and ANOTHER WOMAN’S HUSBAND, about links you might not have suspected between Wallis Simpson and Princess Diana. Her novels have reached the top of the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Toronto Globe & Mail and kindle charts, and been translated into twenty-three languages.

Gill also writes historical non-fiction, including A HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN 50 OBJECTS, and she speaks at libraries and literary festivals on subjects ranging from Tutankhamun to the Romanovs.

Gill lives in London, where she is working on her fourteenth novel, and she swims daily in an outdoor pond.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
5,965 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Nurse SportsFan
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear your schedule, this book is HARD to put down, it's great!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
Growing up, my Grandma and I spent many hours talking about and reading anything we could find on the Titanic. Now, 30+ years after her death, I can say with 100% certainty she would love this book. I know I did. I struggled with putting it down.
This book is based on the sinking of the Titanic, and while many books write about it, this one shows us how it affected people's lives after the event. Reg is the main character of the book, he is a first class victualizing steward. We get to know him and his friend John, both of whom have worked on many ships together. We see their friendship, and day-to-day lives as Titanic employees. as the Titanic sinks, Reg manages to survive on a collapsible. He spent quite a bit of time in the water, and suffers frostbite. As they land in New York, Reg assumes a new identity and works a great deal to keep himself busy. He has a long-term girlfriend in England, and a mom and brothers, but he cannot even consider ever getting on another boat. We see his depression and how it impacts his new normal. He basically cuts himself off from everyone and everything except work.

Annie is Irish and traveling with her children to meet her husband in America, where he has made a better life for them all. She is in third class and is very timid and unsure of herself. Several Irish families befriend her and provide encouragement and support for her and her children as the boat is sinking. In the confusion, she loses on of her children and is faced with the dilemma of getting in a lifeboat with her remaining kids, or going to look for her missing child. We see her struggle with the decisions she made through much of the book as she doubts herself.

Juliette is in first class, single, pregnant, and traveling with her mom. They are coming to America so Juliette can have the baby without anyone being the wiser. Her life takes an unexpected turn as they are saved, and she struggles with decisions in a romance.

George is a first class passenger who is one of the few men to survive. He gets in a lifeboat early on. His marriage is failing, and he wants a divorce, but his wife refuses to give him one. The sinking of the Titanic changes things for him in a dramatic way.

I don't want to give away too much, or any of the plot or surprise events that occur. However, this book is fantastic. It rings true throughout, the descriptions are vivid and I can very much believe these were all real people on the Titanic. I found it interesting that each character is suffering from PTSD, and showing it in different ways. This will be a book I read time and time again. I just loved everything about it. It's the type of book that I need to take a break and not read for a day or so, just so I can absorb what I read. I highly recommend it.
18 people found this helpful
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Tabby1249
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019
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In the author’s notes describing her research for this novel, she states, “In this novel, I wanted to explore what it felt like to be on the Titanic and to survive.” I would say that Ms. Paul has succeeded admirably. She has done a fine job of capturing the terror, heroism and cowardice of that night through well written description and dialogue. Her characters, fictional compilations of real passengers and crew, are people that I came to care about and in whose outcomes, I became invested. Their lives as well as maritime law, were forever changed by that tragedy.

Even though I found this novel very enjoyable reading, I do have a few criticisms with the main one being the melodrama around the main character, Reg Parton, a waiter in the first class dining room on the Titanic. The author uses him to illustrate the lingering trauma of that fateful night as he suffers what we now call PTSD. Ms. Paul does a great job describing his emotional breakdown following the sinking. However, the events surrounding him after that night verge on soap opera and I felt that weakened an otherwise solid storyline.

Bottom line: Women and Children First is a well researched, well written and absorbing read about a well known event. You WILL feel the terror of that night in 1912. I recommend it.
2 people found this helpful
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Tricia Z.
5.0 out of 5 stars My first Gill Paul book read...and WOW!
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2022
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This is the first book I've ever read by Gill Paul and I now know won't be my last! Women & Children First was extremely difficult to put down each night. I bought it in August 2018 and for the life of me can't figure out why I didn't read it sooner. I really found a love for historical fiction.

This beautifully written novel follows three passengers, an employee and their acquaintances of the ill fated Titanic. I was so invested in each of the main characters and others within the storyline that I felt the anxiety and fear they could have felt. The only thing missing were the real screams of terror of those who perished in the cold night air and water. I truly appreciate the time the author put into researching the facts of this tragedy to form such a fantastically written novel. I cried as the characters urgently looked and tried to help other victims and could only imagine how they felt when they realized who was lost forever. There were situations within the story I had no idea what had occurred, like what happened as they came into NY harbor and disembarked the ship or went to claim the dead. How awful it must have truly been is difficult for anyone to even understand.

When we've watched or read other accounts of the Titanic, we rarely know what happens in the months and years that follow the survivors. It was painfully refreshing to read how the characters moved forward. Once again there were times I cried yet again.

This is a great book for any book club or even a high school English class to review. It such a wonderful book bug I warn you, its so hard to put down. There were nights I began reading at bedtime and would find myself still deep within the pages at 4:00 am! Read it and feel it.
2 people found this helpful
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P J Sowler
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved the characters and the way they were interwoven through ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017
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Oh what a fabulous story. So well written and it really flowed. I loved the characters and the way they were interwoven through the book although they were all from different worlds. I couldn't put it down, just wish I hadn't read it so quickly, I might even have to read it again lol!. A lot of stories nowadays are left without proper endings or left up in the air. This concluded lovely and what I liked there was a proper epilogue telling what had happened to the characters a few years later, bringing it to a proper conclusion. The author then went on to give us a bit of history about the Titanic, telling us things that were left unsaid, like, how people suffered afterwards which I hadn't really given much thought to before. Well, written and well done, I am certainly going to look for more from this Writer.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

BREN
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2018
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Yes, I really enjoyed the book.
I like how gill paul writes about real life events, and at end of each of his novels tells you the truth parts of his writings and the fiction parts.
I liked the secret wife novel as well by him. But not so much with the secret affair book.
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Darklldo
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely to read and enjoy
Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2017
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Gill Paul is one of my favourite authors ever since I read The Secret Wife. Her attention to historical detail leaves me so satisfied in a way I haven't since my Grandfather, so many decades ago introduced me to historical novels.
She captures the spirit of each story and brings it to life. If you love historical novels, you can't go wrong with Gill Paul
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tiggrie AKA Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly absorbing, moving, accurate, and just a great story well told.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2012
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This is a really enjoyable, moving book, which puts flesh on a disaster where we all know the basic facts.

It's a good long book - almost 500 pages - and the only reason I didn't read it in one night was because my eyes refused to stay open!

It's not perfect, some of the events in the second half of the book seem a tad silly to me, but there are some good storylines and characters. It's noticeable that the author did not protect her main characters from the tragedy. Sometimes books based on real historical events (or even fictional ones) have tragedy going on all round but never let it truly touch the MCs; Gill Paul does not do that, and the impact of the book is much greater for that writerly courage. Some of the losses are genuinely shocking, and all of them are moving.

I don't know enough about the ship and the sinking to be sure, but it certainly felt meticulously well researched (without the research drawing attention to itself or bogging the story down), and it was no surprise to discover that the author has penned a previous book about the tragedy and is obsessively interested in the ship. I've been put off other books on the same subject by glaring anachronisms, for example, and I didn't notice anything of the sort in this one. I think this would be very satisfying to lovers of historial fiction. It gives a good feeling of the ship and its passengers and staff, not just the tragedy that befell them. There are also some very moving moments regarding how the survivors and the families of the deceased coped, or failed to cope, with what happened. A very human story, and one that IMO helps put context and reality around the disaster.

I did feel that the epilogue was a bit of a let down, too prosaic, and the end of the last chapter would have been a perfect place to stop, and to let the reader imagine the endings of the various stories. The epilogue was not wholly satisfying. For me, it would have been better either not to include it, or to make it focussed on Reg, as the prologue is, to neatly bookend the story. As it is, it feels like a botched attempt to tie up every loose end in a few paragraphs. After reasonably lyrical writing in the rest of the book, it felt and fell rather flat. I'd actually recommend not bothering to read it! The last moments of the story proper are perfect, and the epilogue takes away from that rather than adding to it.

While I'm making my small criticisms of the book; the table of contents gives the first line of each chapter, which in some cases amounts to a spoiler. If you value reading spoiler-free, avoid it at all costs! There is also a little confusion in some places with regards to point of view. Throughout most of the book, each chapter is from one distinct character point of view, and then once or twice in the main body of the book, and particularly in one of the last few chapters, the point of view switches back and forth. This would have worked had it not been so out of step with the rest of the book; as it was, it was rather jarring, and was not done as smoothly as I would have liked.

Overall, though, it was a really good, engaging read, and Gill Paul has definitely found a spot in my "authors to look out for" list. I would heartily recommend it.
2 people found this helpful
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caseygirl
4.0 out of 5 stars Survival
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2019
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I liked this book but didn't think it was as good as other books by this author. It was another titanic story and we know how this ended. Gill Paul is good however, at showing us what life might have been for both passengers and crew. I liked the characters but thought the horrors, particularly for the lower class passengers was down played somewhat. All in all it was a good read. It goes into various individuals lives who survived the sinking and how they coped dealing with what they had lived through. All in all it was a good story.
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Debra
4.0 out of 5 stars A unique book about the Titanic
Reviewed in Australia on March 3, 2022
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This shows a different angle to the Titanic disaster, detailing the lives of some survivors after the sinking. I loved this idea, and it was executed well. Reg clearly has PTSD before PTSD was a thing, but does his best to move on. I adored his character. A really good read.
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