Daughter of the Titanic by Caroline Cauchi

 Daughter of the Titanic sheds light on Helen Melville Smith and the grief she dealt with after losing her father - Captain Edward John Smith who went down with the Titanic in April 1912.

The story is set in England, and alternates between two timelines 1972 when Dr. Catherine Haynes from the History of Art department at Oxford is researching how women are represented after catastrophe. Thus, she approaches Helen Melville Russell Cooke for an interview.

The story goes back to 1912, sinking of Titanic, when Helen relates her own story. Her feelings are very raw and heartfelt. She keeps waiting for an answer, the truth, as she keeps hearing rumors of her father surviving Titanic and living on a different continent. She misses her father while hearing some villain comments about him; headlines questioning if her father was a hero or reckless soul. It pains her even more not knowing if he truly sank with the ship or not.

Ten years later, she gets married, but it’s more of a mutual agreement marriage. They begin as allies, then for her it shifts to companionship and hope for more, but he has different interests.

She was her father’s daughter. After his death, she didn’t get the love she craved from her mother or her husband. When they’re all gone, something awakens in her. She gets into car racing as for her it represents skills. Throughout her life, she’s been dealing with rumor or history. Car racing is none of those two. It’s driven by pure skill. She separates herself from the past that has been overshadowing her.

When she hears of girls who the papers call “aviatrixes,” she envies their certainty. Flying becomes her new pursuit.

The character development comes the strongest in this moment when she comes out of the shadow.

When a painter, David Rolt, paints her, he sees what she doesn’t see yet that she is whole and doesn’t need anyone’s approval. She is someone who defies the odds and the portrait is to remind her of that.

She is not used to freedom and he forcefully reminds her that she’s not all those things she’s been called. She is simply Melville. It’s a poignant part of the story. As he has his own insecurities, and now, she challenges him as well. Fear is something that blocks his full potential and she is fearless.

Their relationship didn’t develop into marriage. It lasted about 20 years, and then developed into friendship until her death. She was 18 years older. They gave each other the needed support to thrive in their own rights.

The story is related with beautiful prose, and touches upon human emotions. It’s a story of a woman who sought her truth. It’s the people and situations that pushed her to look deep inside her and seek that truth.

Released in March 2026

Source: One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK.