Titanic: The Tennis Story [Paperback]

Lindsay Gibbs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

A HARROWING NARRATIVE OF A REMARKABLE REAL-LIFE STORY

A stirring and remarkable story, this novel tells the tale of the intertwined life of Dick Williams and Karl Behr who survived the sinking of the Titanic and went on to have Hall of Fame tennis careers. Two years before they faced each other in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Nationals – the modern-day U.S. Open - the two men boarded the infamous ship as strangers. Dick, shy and gangly, was moving to America to pursue a tennis career and attend Harvard. Karl, a dashing tennis veteran, was chasing after Helen, the love of his life. The two men remarkably survived the sinking of the great vessel and met aboard the rescue ship Carpathia. But as they reached the shores of the United States, both men did all they could to distance themselves from the disaster. An emotional and touching work, this novel brings one of the most extraordinary sports stories to life in literary form. This real-life account – with an ending seemingly plucked out of a Hollywood screenplay - weaves the themes of love, tragedy, history, sport and perseverance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This real-life account—with an ending seemingly plucked out of a Hollywood screenplay—weaves the themes of love, tragedy, history, sport and perserverance." —Denver Examiner (March 2012)

"Titanic: The Tennis Story . . . rivals the movie "Titanic" — and then some — in that it tells a remarkable story, and it's true. . . . Packs a real punch. . . . A very enjoyable and interesting read." —Trenton Times

About the Author

Lindsay Gibbs is a freelance writer and filmmaker living in New York City. Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, she is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a columnist for www.TennisGrandstand.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: New Chapter Press (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1937559041
• ISBN-13: 978-1937559045
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #879,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read! March 19, 2012

By DChesh

Format:Paperback

I just finished this book a week ago and it was the perfect spring break read. It reads just like a movie, great pace, great story and the right amount of history. There are two really interesting aspects to this book, the tennis careers of the two main characters and the story of the Titanic. The careers of those men are something that can't be made up. The author obviously went to great lengths to research all the big matches they played, and I especially enjoyed references to newspapers of the time and what people thought at the time, really transports the reader. I also really enjoyed reading about the Titanic. I'm honestly not that into Titanic stories, but this book tells it from a survivors perspective from boarding the ship, through the sinking and rescue. So many accounts end with the ship sinking, so it was very interesting to read about the rescue and aftermath.

I would recommend this book to virtually anyone, all ages, history/tennis enthusiast or not, this is a great story that really transcends genre.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Titanic Tale Like No Other Before It!! March 17, 2012

By C. Bendzans

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Titanic: The Tennis Story is an incredibly interesting tale detailing the overlapping lives of tennis players Karl Behr and Dick Williams. Lindsay Gibbs easily weaves in and out of their personal trials & tribulations and their tennis ambitions, against the backdrop of the Titanic tragedy we all know. These were real people, struggling through one of the greatest national tragedies of the era and moving forward with their lives as best they could, and Gibbs delivers the story with poise and just enough drama to make it a page-turner. I couldn't put this book down - after the first couple pages I was hooked!

Gibbs has an obvious knack for sports writing. I hope to see more from her in the future - her premiere novel is a must read for all tennis-lovers, Titanic enthusiasts and history buffs!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Story of Survival and Redemption April 1, 2012

By @CrimeQueen2

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Have Procured First Class Tickets on Titanic." This novel truly brought the world of the Titanic alive for me by telling the true story of the doomed voyage through the eyes of two ordinary young men, Dick Williams and Karl Behr. Both were tennis players, both embarked on the voyage full of hope and plans for the future. The luxurious world of the ocean liner is so well depicted by Gibbs that you are drawn into life on board. When the iceberg hits the ship I realized with a shock that most of these vivid characters were not going to make it.
The story of how the Carpathia rescued passengers from the Titanic was not familiar to me and I found it fascinating. The author shows not only how the tragedy brought out the best in human nature, but how the survivors struggled with trauma and guilt at being still alive when so many had died. Once the Carpathia reaches New York, the novel follows the lives of Williams and Behr and how the aftermath of the disaster echoes through their lives as they pursue their tennis.
The climax of the book reunite Dick and Karl, facing each other across the net in the quarter-finals of the US Open, then called the US Nationals. Only one could win the match and advance in the tournament, although I was rooting for both! The descriptions of both this match and the Final had me turning the pages desperate to find out what happened next. Gibbs's love for the game is clearly evident, and the fierce competition of the tennis court turns out to be a great metaphor for the resilience of the human spirit.
Although a novel, "Titanic: The Tennis Story" is based closely on the facts and the afterword makes clear the impressive amount of research behind this unusual book. I highly recommend it not only for history buffs and sports fans, but for anyone who enjoys a well-told story of life-changing events.