The Celtic Queen;: A novel

by Brian Dyer

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0884050890
• ISBN13: 9780884050896
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Mason & Lipscomb Publishers
• Length: 185 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Speaking for herself

Dyer*s book tends to almost a love story between an Irishman and a steamship--the White Star Celtic--for some reason here called *Celtic Queen*. The story itself is basic, a young man, James Blunden, works his way up thru the ranks over thirty years. He acquires a wife and child, he loves and loses, he (of course) witnesses tragedy at sea, (inc. Republic, Lusitania, and the now ubiquiteous Titanic). In the end his son tries to fathom what motivated his father, who ended up drowning. What sets this book apart is that throughout the ship Celtic seems to speak to James alone. Speaks--she uses words, she expects verbal answers. James consults the ship with his problems, he quarrels with her over his future. The *device* disappoints ultimately--why does no other ship say anything? Why doesn*t Celtic warn Titanic the latter will soon die--she only bothers to warn James. Celtic struggles against her final voyage and ultimate destination of the scrap yard--wrecking herself and drowning her hapless friend in the process. The descriptions of Celtic herself, of what she says, of her perceptions, are worth a look. But they could just as well have been left out of the book, leaving it a coming-of-age story for James Blunden and family. Celtic remains a curiousity, the humans do not.