The Survivors Guild - by Gabriella Saab (Paperback)

About the Book

The Survivors Guild tells the gripping story of a Lebanese immigrant, an American heiress, and a French mother brought together by the tragic sinking of the Titanic. Inspired by true events, this captivating tale follows Bea, Marguerite, and Jeanne--- the three women united by their quest for family, belonging, and survival.

Book Synopsis

In 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic, Nabiha "Bea" Nohra is traveling to America to find work, eager to earn the funds necessary to afford passage for the family she left in Lebanon. On the same ship, heiress Marguerite Ashby sails home to celebrate her engagement to a dull British lord, a marriage that will secure her new-money family's place in old New York society. But when the Titanic sinks, the two women's paths are fused together when Bea saves Marguerite's life and they are unexpectedly charged with the smallest survivor--a baby boy.

No one claims the infant, so the women form a committee to aid survivors and locate the baby's next of kin. Bea works as the child's nanny, desperate to bring her family to America before the difficulties in Lebanon overwhelm them. Meanwhile Marguerite hopes the committee's charitable efforts will win society's respect and render an advantageous marriage unnecessary, sparing her from marrying a man she does not love--unless her parents force her to fulfill the obligation no matter what society says. And when finding the child's relatives proves to be no simple task, the women are soon enmeshed in deception and uncertainty as they seek to determine where the baby truly belongs.

The committee might grant the acceptance Marguerite craves, connect Bea with the stability she needs, and lead them to the baby's relatives. But a committee helmed by an American heiress and a Lebanese nanny is hardly customary. Surviving a shipwreck is only the start. As Marguerite's wedding looms nearer and Bea faces the increasing hardships of adjusting to her new country, they must fight for survival once more. This time, to survive New York society.

Review Quotes

'A compelling commentary on class, society, women's lack of agency, and ultimately hope that will have you on the edge of your seat, hoping all will turn out as it should. Fans of anything Titanic and The Gilded Age will love this.'--Donna Jones Alward, author of Ship of Dreams

'Gabriella Saab has a particular talent for demonstrating the fortitude and resourcefulness of women from history, and her novel of the Titanic and its aftermath is no exception. Thrilling, romantic, and empowering, The Survivors Guild reveals we are not only meant to survive, but to thrive. Exhilarating!'--Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of The Invisible Woman

'Gabriella Saab's The Survivors Guild takes the story of the Titanic in a novel direction, focusing not on the tragedy itself but on the aftermath through the eyes of two unforgettable characters. In their bid to reunite an infant survivor with his family, Marguerite and Bea break down the barriers between first and third class, offering an unforgettable look at the compassion, hope, and determination needed to move beyond the strict bonds and prejudice of Gilded Age society. A must-read!'--Bryn Turnbull, bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis

'The Survivors Guild is a moving, immersive read where Bea and Marguerite linger long after the final page. Their story begins with the devastating impact of the Titanic and unfolds into a rare, compelling look at what comes after. With rich turn-of-the-century settings and shades of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age, this is a beautifully layered novel I'd wholeheartedly recommend.'--Jenni L. Walsh, USA Today bestselling author of Unsinkable

'This is a story of the Titanic that you haven't heard before. Two women from different worlds survive the unthinkable and are forced to rebuild their lives from the wreckage. As they piece themselves back together, they discover that what emerges is not the life they once imagined but one that is richer and more deeply fulfilling. Gabriella Saab brings a fresh perspective to a moment we think we know, combining vivid historical detail with narrative urgency to deliver a novel that resonates today and is both powerful and compulsively readable.'--Brisa Carleton, author of Last Call at the Savoy

'Titanic meets The Gilded Age meets Edith Wharton in Gabriella Saab's The Survivors Guild, which is at once an emotional exploration of the privilege of life after tragedy and a scathing critique of the layers of society, class, and gender inequality that must be stripped away, not unlike a sparkling Edwardian evening gown in the depths of the Atlantic, to reveal the hope and humanity that lies at the heart of all of us.'--Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, author of The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru