The 1955 classic from Walter Lord, A Night to Remember: The Classic Account of the Final Hours of the Titanic, was written close enough to the sinking that it includes tons of gripping firsthand interviews from the survivors. It also includes a passenger list in the back, detailing who survived and who perished.
The book recalls how men, after saying goodbye to their wives and children, went back to the staterooms, donned their finest clothes, and prepared to die as gentlemen. It also explains the tragedy of having half-full lifeboats sent out to sea. Since men weren't allowed to accompany women, many of the women and children waited until the end to get on the boats, meaning life-saving space on the boats went empty.
