The Titanic disaster as a lens on Edwardian society. Holland and Sandbrook examine how class, hubris, and technological overconfidence produced a catastrophe that became a metaphor for the end of an era.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Highlights
•
Technological hubris — 'unsinkable' is a dare, not a description
The Titanic was called 'unsinkable' not because of evidence but because of faith in human engineering. The label created a false sense of security that reduced lifeboats and increased speed.
Class structure was visible even in disaster — the survival rates tell the story
First-class survival rate: 62%. Second-class: 41%. Third-class: 25%. Crew: 24%. The Titanic's lifeboats were a microcosm of Edwardian class inequality.