The Great Titanic Conspiracy

Valentine Palmer’s book Herbert Lightoller and the Great Titanic Conspiracy is being reissued for the first time in paperback.

Charles Herbert Lightoller was the second officer on board the Titanic during its ill-fated maiden voyage in 1912, and the most senior officer on the ship to survive the sinking. Lightoller played a critical role in helping passengers evacuate the ship, supervising the loading of lifeboats and helping to lower several of them to the water. He also jumped into the water and swam to an overturned lifeboat to rescue several survivors.

After the disaster, Lightoller testified at both the American and British inquiries into the sinking. His testimony provided valuable information about the events leading up to the sinking and the actions taken by the crew and passengers during the evacuation.

But was there more to it than that? In this book, actor, screenwriter and producer Valentine Palmer examines the theory that Second Officer Lightoller – Palmer’s great-uncle – may have been made an offer he couldn’t refuse – an offer that resulted in him misleading many people, including officials and family, about what really happened on the fateful night of 15^th April 1912.

Based on a combination of extensive research and the private recollections of family members, Palmer examines all sides of the debate and presents the evidence for the Titanic having been a pawn in one of the greatest frauds of all time.

The book was originally published in hardback in 2012 to mark the centenary of the sinking. Fantom’s Dexter O’Neill commented: “I’m proud to be able to commemorate one of the most devastating tragedies of the 20^th century with a new unique perspective to the myths and conspiracy theories through the eyes of Valentine’s family, and his desire to find out the truth behind the sinking of the Titanic.” A decade on, and following the sad death of author Valentine Palmer last year at the age of 86, the much-anticipated paperback release allows this remarkable and compelling story to reach a new audience.

The title is available exclusively via our website before it’s trade publication in July. You can purchase the paperback edition here, and the original unabridged audio edition can be found here.