Orphans of the Storm

by Celia Imrie

This book took me by surprise. I’d read other books by Imrie and expected this to be along the same lines, a light and funny story, but this tale is in fact her first novel based on historical fact; with real people and real events.

 Beginning in Nice, France in 1911, we meet Marcella, a young girl who dreams of becoming a professional singer. Encouraged to learn a trade she embarks on sewing classes where she meets the dashing and debonair sewing teacher Michael. Young and naïve, Marcella is swept off her feet by the ambitious tailor and at the age of 17 is whisked away to be married without her parent’s permission. A mere 3 years later and following the birth of her 2 sons, Marcella has had enough. The romantic Michael has turned into a controlling and abusive bully who belittles her at every opportunity and she has had enough, finally plucking up the courage to consult a solicitor intent on gaining a divorce. She wants free of Michael but also to retain custody of her 2 beloved little boys.

Meanwhile Michael’s past life begins to catch up with him. Previous crimes and financial issues resort to him taking drastic action. Whilst awaiting the judge’s decision on who should have custody of the two boys, he assumes an alias and flees with his two boys, boarding the magnificent new unsinkable steamer destined for New York. It is 1912 and the unsinkable steamer is none other than the ill fated Titanic.

Also aboard is New York socialite Margaret Hayes who has been touring Europe with her friends. Restless with her journey, Margaret boards the Titanic heading for home. As the ship sets sail, carrying Margaret, Michael (under his new alias) and the two infant children, their lives and that of Marcella are destined never to be the same again. We follow the ill-fated journey of the Titanic and the aftermath of its sinking whilst also following Marcella’s desperate search for her two boys, totally ignorant of their whereabouts and the danger they are in.

The lives of Michael, Marcella and Margaret become intertwined as the story unfolds: Marcella’s desperate search for her boys, Margaret’s need to prove that she is something more than a mere vacuous socialite and Michael’s need to keep his true identity hidden, but will Marcella discover what has happened to her children and will they ever be reunited?

This is a story of family drama, a cruel betrayal and the power of a mother’s love but it is also surprisingly based on a real-life story of 2 mysterious French children rescued from the Titanic and believed to have been orphaned. At the back of the book, I was shocked to read that all the basic facts and characters are true and there are detailed passages explaining the background to all the main features which is fascinating. Equally fascinating, was that during the research into the story, Celia Imrie and her friend Fidelis Morgan, both discovered they had relatives on board the Titanic who survived.

Although I found the writing a little stilted at times, it was a story that sucked me in and I was desperate to know the outcome – would Michael get his comeuppance, would Marcella be reunited with her children and what was to be Margaret’s involvement?

I hope that you enjoy it too. The images accompanying this review were taken at the Titanic Museum in Belfast.