The Six

'Resurrecting forgotten voices from history's most famous shipwreck, Schwankert's meticulous research unveils the harrowing journey of the Chinese Titanic survivors, exposing a deeply human narrative lost to time and prejudice.' -- Amy Tan, author of The Backyard Bird Chronicles, The Joy Luck Club 'This surprising new chapter in the story of Titanic is enthralling and long overdue. With dogged determination and consummate sleuthing skills, Schwankert and his team reclaim the lives of the six Chinese survivors from the mists of time, proving that history is not only about the rich and mighty, but also the poor and powerless. Anyone who is fascinated by the story of Titanic should read this book.' -- Eric Jay Dolin, author of Left for Dead 'Occasionally a book comes along that adds a totally new perspective to a story we all think we know so well. “The Six” is just such a book. Schwankert’s research revises the narrative of that infamous night on the Titanic by revealing the stories of the six Chinese men who survived.' -- Paul French, author of Her Lotus Year, Midnight in Peking 'A master class of storytelling, The Six tells the backstory of the Chinese passengers who survived the catastrophic sinking of the Titanic. Extensively and meticulously researched, the author takes the reader on a gripping journey from rural China to the lives these passengers lived leading up to and after the fateful day in the North Atlantic in 1912 — a captivating but unknown story to one of the world’s most tragic maritime disasters. The Six is an excellent book that addresses not only the role of the Chinese passengers but also provides a complete history of the Titanic’s demise in a coherent and engaging narrative.' -- James Zimmerman, author of The Peking Express: The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China. 'Steven Schwankert’s gripping tour de force uncovers the untold stories of the Chinese passengers aboard Titanic. Through meticulous research, he reveals their true identities and family histories, offering invaluable cultural context that brings their lives and experiences into sharp focus. By doing so, he sheds light on this often-overlooked chapter of history.' -- Tad Fitch, co-author of On a Sea of Glass, The Life & Loss of RMS Titanic and Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters: A Visual History. 'The events of history, especially those associated with tragic loss, often mask the roles of individuals in tallies of large losses. Such is the case with Titanic. The stories of individuals caught up in that “night to remember” have been an important part of the narrative of that tragedy since 1912. However, not every individual, nor group of individuals had their stories heard or shared. This is certainly the case with the non-English speaking passengers, and powerfully so with the six Chinese who were on Titanic. With meticulous scholarship, Steven Schwankert, no stranger to tales of the sea, shipwrecks, and Titanic’s story, shares the story of the six. It is a powerful story, and even more so a universal tale, when all are acknowledged, and voices are heard.' -- James P. Delgado, The Great Museum of the Sea: A Human History of Shipwrecks