The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors

by Steven Schwankert

Overview

"A historian who has spent the last quarter-century exploring China’s lakes, rivers, and seas, and plunging into the country’s rich maritime history, Schwankert and his team solved what was an enduring mystery – the identity and fate of Titanic’s six Chinese survivors.” —James Cameron from the foreword

A moving exploration of the origins and fate of the little-known Chinese passengers aboard the Titanic—and how they survived against all odds.

When RMS Titanic sank on a cold night in 1912, barely seven hundred people escaped with their lives. Among them were six Chinese men. Arriving in New York, these six were met with suspicion and slander. Fewer than twenty-four hours later, they were expelled from the country and vanished.

When historian Steven Schwankert first stumbled across the fact that eight Chinese nationals were onboard, of whom all but two survived, he couldn’t believe that there could still be untold personal histories from the Titanic.

Now, at last, their story can be told. The result of meticulous research, a dogged investigation, and interviews with family members, The Six is an epic journey across continents that reveals the full story of these six forgotten survivors. Who were Ah Lam, Chang Chip, Cheong Foo, Fang Lang (or Fong Wing Sun), Lee Bing, and Ling Hee?

Professional mariners, their incredible journeys reveal an overlooked, but all-too-common, experience of inequality and discrimination. The Titanic continues to reveal a multitude of secrets, and the lives of these six men add a layer of humanity and nuance to one of the most storied shipwrecks in history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639368679
Publisher:	Pegasus Books
Publication date:	04/08/2025
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Steven Schwankert is an award-winning writer and editor. He is the co-creator of "The Six," a documentary project about the Chinese passengers aboard RMS Titanic. He is the author of Poseidon: China's Secret Salvage of Britain's Lost Submarine and Beijing & Shanghai, a guidebook now in its third edition. Steven is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a fellow and East and South Asia Chapter Chair of The Explorers Club, and founded SinoScuba. He led the first-ever scientific expedition to dive Mongolia's Lake Khovsgol, where he and his team found two wooden shipwrecks from the early 20th century. His writing has appeared in The Asian Wall Street Journal, The South China Morning Post, Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. He divides his time between New York City and the People's Republic of China.

Editorial Reviews

"Very occasionally a book comes along that adds a totally new perspective to a story we all think we know so well. The Six is just such a book. Schwankert’s research revises the narrative of that infamous night on the Titanic by revealing the stories of the six Chinese men who survived.

Paul French

"The events of history, especially those associated with tragic loss, often mask the roles of individuals in tallies of large losses. Such is the case with Titanic. The stories of individuals caught up in that 'night to remember' have been an important part of the narrative of that tragedy since 1912. However, not every individual, nor groups of individuals had their stories heard or shared. This is certainly the case with the non-English speaking passengers, and powerfully so with the six Chinese who were on Titanic. With meticulous scholarship, Steven Schwankert, no stranger to tales of the sea, shipwrecks, and Titanic’s story, shares the story of the six. It is a powerful story, and even more so a universal tale, when all are acknowledged, and voices are heard."

James P. Delgado

"A captivating account of the Titanic’s eight Chinese passengers, six of whom survived. Titanic buffs will relish Schwankert’s meticulous reconstructions of events and his tale impressively incorporates the Titanic into the sweeping history of U.S. racial policy and global migration. It’s a satisfyingly fresh perspective on the tragedy."

Publishers Weekly

"Steven Schwankert is to be commended for blazing a previously untrodden trail with remarkable detective work, patience, and compelling style. The result is fascinating reading, offering an entirely new chapter in Titanic’s seemingly inexhaustible story."

Voyage

"A historian who has spent the last quarter-century exploring China’s lakes, rivers, and seas, and plunging into the country’s rich maritime history, Schwankert and his team solved what was an enduring mystery – the identity and fate of Titanic’s six Chinese survivors.

James Cameron

"The little-known story of how six Chinese men survived the Titanic. This book is a follow-up to a documentary that Schwankert made about this amazing tale of survival at sea. But history didn’t treat the ‘stowaways’ well and Schwankert goes into great detail to reinstate their ‘tarnished’ reputations, describe what happened to them afterward, and tell the story behind his documentary. A much-needed tribute to the Titanic’s Chinese passengers.

Kirkus Reviews

"The Six is an intriguing addition to the Titanic canon. An engrossing blend of detective story, disaster narrative and social history of the Chinese diaspora at the turn of the 20th century. James Cameron used Fang Lang’s survival story as the inspiration for the scene in which Rose, played by Kate Winslet, is pulled barely alive from the water. Schwankert’s compelling account succeeds in rescuing Lang — and his confreres — a second time."

The New York Times Book Review

"This surprising new chapter in the story of Titanic is enthralling and long overdue. With dogged determination and consummate sleuthing skills, Schwankert and his team reclaim the lives of the six Chinese survivors from the mists of time, proving that history is not only about the rich and mighty, but also the poor and powerless. Anyone who is fascinated by the story of Titanic should read this book."

Eric Jay Dolin

"Steven Schwankert’s gripping tour de force uncovers the untold stories of the Chinese passengers aboard Titanic. Through meticulous research, he reveals their true identities and family histories, offering invaluable cultural context that brings their lives and experiences into sharp focus. By doing so, he sheds light on this often-overlooked chapter of history."

Tad Fitch

"Resurrecting forgotten voices from history's most famous shipwreck, Schwankert's meticulous research unveils the harrowing journey of the Chinese Titanic survivors, exposing a deeply human narrative lost to time and prejudice.

Amy Tan

"A master class of storytelling, The Six tells the backstory of the Chinese passengers that survived the catastrophic sinking of the Titanic. Extensively and meticulously researched, the author takes the reader on a gripping journey from rural China to the lives these passengers lived leading up to and after the fateful day in the North Atlantic in 1912 — a captivating but unknown story to one of the world’s most tragic maritime disasters. The Six is an excellent book that addresses not only the role of the Chinese passengers but provides a complete history of the Titanic’s demise in a coherent and engaging narrative."

James Zimmerman

2025-01-17
The little-known story of how six Chinese men survived theTitanic.

This book is a follow-up to a documentary that Schwankert made about this amazing tale of survival at sea. He begins with Fong Wing Sun from Taishan, China, on Xiachuan Island. Along with many other Chinese young men, he would travel to Hong Kong, then to Europe. Schwankert discusses the major shipping lines, including the White Star Line, the men who ran them, and the ships they built, including theTitanic in 1909—the “largest and most luxurious ship in the world.” Eight third-class Chinese passengers, all working seamen, were listed on the ship’s April 1912 maiden voyage, ranging in age from 24 to 38. Fong is listed as Fang Lang, 26, but Schwankert believes he was 18. All were staying in a London boardinghouse. There were 900 crew members and 1,300 passengers. Schwankert conjectures what life was like for them on board. Fang, Lee Ling, and Len Lam knew each other, hoping to become merchants in America. At 11:40 p.m. theTitanic struck an iceberg. The men would have gone to the boat deck hoping to find a lifeboat, but there weren’t enough for everyone. Cheong Foo made it to one, so did Ah Lam, Chang Chip, Lee Bing, and Ling Hee in Collapsible Lifeboat C. Lee Ling and Len Lam did not survive. Fang was rescued from the water. The six survivors—among 712—reunited on the deck of theCarpathia. That they lived was “almost incredible.” But history didn’t treat the “stowaways” well and Schwankert goes into great detail to reinstate their “tarnished” reputations, describe what happened to them afterward, and tell the story behind his documentary.

A much-needed tribute to theTitanic’s Chinese passengers.

Kirkus Reviews