Every Man For Himself

EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF

by Beryl Bainbridge

 

Nominations: Booker Finalist 1996, LA Times Finalist 1996, Women’s Prize Longlist 1997

 

Date Read: February 19, 2023

 

Morgan is a 22-year old orphan, the nephew of the infamous J.P. Morgan. Having been raised by his aunt and cousin. Morgan sails on the Titanic, a ship he is intimately familiar with as he served as an apprentice draftsman, designing the washrooms. Being young, wealthy and vibrant, the Titanic is a playground for the senses.

 

Morgan spends his time on the ship with his mates, enjoying the gym, exploring where he shouldn’t, swimming laps, drinking (sometimes excessively), and becoming infatuated with a female passenger named Wallis. While Morgan pines for Wallis, he ponders how to make his feelings known to her without embarrassing himself or giving himself away to his mates for merciless teasing.

 

He devises a letter and slips it under Wallis’ door. After he bumps into her in a corridor and she brutally rebuffs him, he realizes he needs to retrieve his letter as soon as possible. He breaks into her cabin, pockets the letter and just as he is about to leave, Wallis and his friend Scurra enter and have a rowdy boink-fest. Morgan hides in shame and arousal until they finish and leave.

 

We are privy to the comings and goings of other passengers through Morgan’s eyes. So much of this novella reminds me of the epic movie that I wonder how much of the same occurrences are documented fact and what was borrowed from Bainbridge’s work. I remain mystified at the casual regard the passengers have for the sinking ship. They have no sense of impending doom, urgency or upcoming peril but complain the weather on deck is too cold. Well, try the sea, lamb chop.

 

Bainbridge, in about 200 pages, paints the three days leading up to the sinking with masterful precision. The rich textures of the ship – crisp white sheets, the sting of a snifter of brandy, the stale smokey air, the boisterous laughter sweeping through the dining room – all paint a picture of privilege and unshakeable safety. Perhaps that is why none of the (first class) passengers feel a sense of urgency. They don’t believe anything bad can happen to them on this floating palace.

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