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Daughter of the Titanic
- Author
- Caroline Cauchi
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 9 April 2026
- Run Time
- 13 hours 44 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
She was never meant to be a symbol, but the world made her one
In 1912, fourteen-year-old Helen ‘Melville’ Smith loses her father, Captain Edward J. Smith of the Titanic. In the decades that follow, she becomes the reluctant keeper of a story the world insists on telling for her: unlucky, cursed, tragic.
Sixty years later, Oxford academic Catherine Haynes discovers a mislabelled portrait and a trail of forgotten papers that lead her to the woman behind the myth.
In a series of interviews, Mel recounts the truth behind the headlines – the quiet rebellions, the dangerous loves, the secrets she burned, and the one fragment of her past she refuses to let go…
Inspired by a true story, this is a moving reimagining of loss, legacy and the fragile truth between memory and myth…
–-
Readers are LOVING Daughter of the Titanic:'Revealing, powerful and moving … I felt truly enlightened and blessed to have read this novel.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I am in bits! So poignant, beautiful, sad, hopeful, inspiring…' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A fascinating tale' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A really moving book. One that lingered in my heart' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A 5* read on every level … Linger[s] long after the last page' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Completely captivating … will hold your heart for a long time to come.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'You'll find yourself falling headfirst into Mel's world with her. 5 stars- no notes.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A very emotional read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A story filled with perseverance, sorrow … beautifully written' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Fresh, evocative … historical fiction at its absolute best’ Gill Paul
‘Vibrant … unapologetic raw honesty … elegant’ Historical Novel Society
Critics Review
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PRAISE FOR CAROLINE CAUCHI:
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“As intricate and absorbing as a Van Gogh painting…MRS VAN GOGH will stay with me for a long time.” New York Times bestseller Hazel Gaynor
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“All the characters jump off the page…what we have here is a very fine novel.” Historical Novel Society
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“[A] brilliantly fictionalized account of the life of a woman who the world needs to know better” Lit Hub
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“What an exquisitely written book, I loved every moment! How lucky readers are going to be to read this utterly absorbing and deeply moving book for the first time. Such a treat!” USA Today bestseller Deborah Carr
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“A truly impressive book and a great talent.” Sunday Times bestseller Caroline Corcoran
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“Brings to vivid life an extraordinary woman… will appeal to all lovers of historical fiction. A story that deserves to be told and widely known.” Essie Fox
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book is exquisite! Everything about Johanna's story is astoundingly beautiful and hers is a story that needed to be told, a voice that deserved to be heard”
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A beautifully done historical novel, it was so well written and did everything that I was hoping for”
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A beautifully written historical novel… Johanna was ahead of her time and the author portrayed her authentically”
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⭐⭐⭐⭐“Historical fiction at its best. A well-written story about a strong woman with a fascinating life”
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The author paints a beautiful picture…If you enjoy historical fiction and you like strong female characters, I highly recommend”
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Caroline Cauchi
- Narrator
- Ruth Sillers, Catrin Walker-Booth
- Duration
- 13 hours 44 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 April 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008784546
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Fiction based on or inspired by true events, Historical fiction, Family saga / generational saga fiction, Sea stories, Biographical fiction / autobiographical fiction, Narrative theme: death, grief, loss
Synopsis
Inspired by a true story, this is a moving reimagining of loss, legacy and the fragile truth between memory and myth… She was never meant to be a symbol, but the world made her one In 1912, fourteen-year-old Helen ‘Melville’ Smith loses her father, Captain Edward J. Smith of the Titanic. In the decades that follow, she becomes the reluctant keeper of a story the world insists on telling for her: unlucky, cursed, tragic. Sixty years later, Oxford academic Catherine Haynes discovers a mislabelled portrait and a trail of forgotten papers that lead her to the woman behind the myth. In a series of interviews, Mel recounts the truth behind the headlines – the quiet rebellions, the dangerous loves, the secrets she burned, and the one fragment of her past she refuses to let go… Inspired by a true story, this is a moving reimagining of loss, legacy and the fragile truth between memory and myth… –- Readers are LOVING Daughter of the Titanic: 'Revealing, powerful and moving … I felt truly enlightened and blessed to have read this novel.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I am in bits! So poignant, beautiful, sad, hopeful, inspiring…' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fascinating tale' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A really moving book. One that lingered in my heart' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A 5* read on every level … Linger[s] long after the last page' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Completely captivating … will hold your heart for a long time to come.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'You'll find yourself falling headfirst into Mel's world with her. 5 stars- no notes.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A very emotional read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A story filled with perseverance, sorrow … beautifully written' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fresh, evocative … historical fiction at its absolute best’ Gill Paul ‘Vibrant … unapologetic raw honesty … elegant’ Historical Novel Society
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