The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abé

4/5 Stars

A long time fan of historical fiction, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have not read a single historical fiction novel about the Titanic until I read The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abé. The story of the Titanic is an intriguing one and will be sure to fascinate people for generations to come. The Second Mrs. Astor is first and foremost a beautiful love story between John Jacob (Jack) Astor and Madeleine Force culminating in the untimely, unfortunate and utterly heartbreaking events that began aboard the Titanic beginning the night of April 14, 1912.

The Second Mrs. Astor follows the life of Madeleine Force, a 17-year-old socialite, and her capturing the heart of the wealthy, well-known and divorced (scandalous for that time) John Jacob (Jack) Astor who is 30 years her senior. The reader gets to watch the couple from their earliest meetings through their courtship and first kiss. We see all the trials and difficulties that their unique relationship brings. There is immense interest from the press, and a frustrated young Madeleine has to learn how to eloquently deal with them. Even after their marriage, the press is relentless and the couple decides to take a prolonged honeymoon in Europe.

The reader has the pleasure of watching Madeleine and Jack fall in love and create adventures together. After their extended stay in Europe, they plan to return home with the hopes that the press has moved on. And their journey home is to be aboard the Titanic while Madeleine is five months pregnant with the couple’s first child. Of course we are all well aware that the Titanic hits an iceberg and sinks. In case you, the reader, is unaware, I will not tell you the fate of the Astors. But the heartbreak of the Titanic sinking is felt deeply.

Abé is a masterful storyteller. She uses descriptive language and eloquent storytelling to bring the story of the Titanic and the Astors’ love to life. Everything from the decorative details of the Titanic to the Madeleine feeling her child move within her womb for the first time are told with exquisite detail to the point that the reader can almost literally see the ship and feel the baby’s movement. She beautifully and tastefully tells the love story of Jack and Madeleine, and she respectfully and thoughtfully tells the story of Titanic’s demise. This book was an excellent read. I am so thankful that I stumbled across it and hope that if you read it, enjoy it as much as I did.