More than half the children aboard Titanic died in the sinking, calling into question the notion of “women and children first.” In The Lucky and the Lost: The Lives of Titanic’s Children, historian John Boileau tells the stories of the children who fortunately escaped in lifeboats and those who tragically did not. It also examines the heart-breaking circumstances of the victims’ deaths as well as the fascinating stories of survivors’ lives. Uniquely, The Lucky and the Lost tells the stories of ten yet-unborn children whose mothers survived to give birth. This includes the children of Madeleine Astor, wife of John Jacob Astor—the richest man to perish in the disaster—and Juliette Laroche, wife of Joseph Laroche, the only Black man onboard, as well as the stories of twenty-three Lebanese children onboard, another largely unknown feature of the disaster. The Lucky and the Lost includes compelling stories of survivors in later life (an aspect not included in most Titanic books) and the lasting effect the sinking had on them. With forty black-and-white images as well as numerous maps and illustrations, The Lucky and the Lost offers the most complete accounting to date of the fates of the children aboard the doomed ocean liner.

Retired colonel John Boileau served in the Canadian Army for thirty-seven years, including command of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), and went on to be appointed Honorary Colonel of the Halifax Rifles (RCAC) for ten years. He is an author and media commentator who specializes in military history and has written fifteen books and more that 650 magazine and newspaper articles. Two of his books, Fastest in the World and Halifax and the Royal Canadian Navy were shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award for Non-Fiction. John was founding chair of the Halifax Military Heritage Preservation Society and chair of the National Council of Honorary Colonels. He is a recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal (NS), a Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia Vice-Regal Commendation and a Commander Canadian Army Commendation. He and his wife, Miriam, live in Bedford, Nova Scotia.

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Patricia Boileau Theriault, a native of Moncton, New Brunswick, has degrees in English and education from the University of New Brunswick and the University of Maine. Retired from a career in adult education, she continues to be a lifelong learner. Her interests include exploring national parks, volunteering at an art museum, and visiting her grandchildren—each a learning experience in its own way. Pat lives in Waterville, Maine.

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