Erik Larson is an American writer, journalist, winner of many awards, and author of popular historical books. Among them are world bestsellers: “In the Garden of Monsters. Love and Terror in Hitler's Berlin”, “Storm Isaac”, “Thunder from Heaven” and “The Devil in the White City” (Edgar Poe Award and nomination for the Golden Dagger Award for best non-fiction work from the Crime Writers Association). Dead Wake (2015) is a gripping account of one of the most tragic events of the First World War - the sinking of the Lusitania, a luxury ocean liner on its 201st voyage from New York to Liverpool in April 1915. The ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 on May 7, 1915 and sank in 18 minutes 19 km off the coast of Ireland. 1,198 people died out of 1,959 on board.