Based on a true story, “Sisters of Fortune” by Anna Lee Huber tells the story of three young sisters who are returning from a grand tour of Europe (something many young people did in the early 20th century) aboard the RMS Titanic. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in early 20th-century history, especially the Titanic.

The three sisters — Anna, Flora and Mable — along with their parents and brother are from Canada. They board the Titanic on its maiden — and alas, her only — voyage. The book describes the ship in finite detail, all the way from the marble floors to the wooden balustrades leading from one deck to the other, to the China, chandeliers, stained glass, and what is served for dinner.

Each of the sisters is dealing with inner turmoil. For Anna, she is engaged to be married upon her arrival back home. She claims she loves her intended husband, but secretly is unsure whether she wants to live the life of a wife and mother.

Flora, the oldest sister, is also engaged. She put her wedding on hold to accompany her family on their trip. She, too, is unsure of marriage and the life that the norms of the day dictated.

Finally, there is Mable. She has a significant other — a jazz musician, whom her parents don’t approve of, and she knows the life of a wife and mother is not for her. Mable is interested in education, science, medicine and the fledgling steps of the women’s suffrage movement.

The book is rich in detail. The reader feels as though they are on board the Titanic. As the pages turn, there are full descriptions of the dress at the time, especially for meal times when the women wore elaborate ball gowns and the men donned top coats and tails. The women’s gowns are made of silk, organza and taffeta. Hats and gloves were also required. The women also had jewels dripping from their wrists and hands.

Almost any food could be found on the ship. Strawberries in April, in the middle of the Atlantic? Of course! Passengers also dined on fish, fresh vegetables, eggs Benedict, lobster bisque and more. The passengers had an entire crew at the passengers’ disposal, ready to help with any task, request or question.

The book takes the reader through the many encounters the sisters have with the other passengers, including some who are famous, such as financier John J. Astor.

The sisters encounter some interesting souls along their journey. Mable meets two women on board, one of whom is a doctor and piques Mable’s interest in medicine. She also tells Mable she can go to university and be whatever she wants, despite the norms of the day.

Flora, too, encounters someone she least expects to be attracted to — after all, she is an engaged woman. But Chess Kinsey is like no man she has ever met. And, against the norms of the day, she was caught in an embrace with Kinsey, setting off a shipboard scandal no one saw coming.

The book waits until almost the end to relive the night the Titanic sank.

There are descriptions of the panic and terror of the passengers as the seemingly impossible is happening — the Titanic is sinking into the dark, cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

There are also tales of great heroism as passengers are lowered in lifeboats, with women and children going first. Eventually, the captain shouts those infamous words no one wanted to hear: “Abandon ship!” and “Every man for himself.”

The sinking of the great ship is also compelling, with everything from the exploding boilers to the creaking and cracking of the ship as she sinks, to the cries for help of the few survivors as they drown and the strains of the orchestra’s playing until the very end.

“Sisters of Fortune” is a rich and compelling read. It is highly recommended.