Salme ved reisens slutt by Erik Fosnes Hansen was first published in 1990. It was six years later, in 1996, that an English version, Psalm at Journey's End came out.
Unlike many of the books set on the Titanic this one does not have the name of the ship in it's title, neither in the original nor in the English translation (after all, it would have been very easy for the English publishers to simply stick the word Titanic in front of the rest of the title). In the edition I own there is not even a picture or plot summary which gives the fact away that this is a Titanic novel (though I heard other editions do have the Titanic on the cover.)
However, the English publishers could not completely refrain from mentioning this selling point. On the front-cover, a review from The Times is cited:
"The stories of the Titanic's seven musicians, the famous band that played as the ship went down."
This statement will surprise those of us who have studied the history of the Titanic: there were eight musicians on the ship.
A look at the list of names given in the front of the book, will reveal that the seven musicians who appear in this novel have nothing to do with the 'famous band' that played as the ship went down.
| The Titanic's Band | Psalm at Journey's End's Band | |
| leader | Wallace Hartley | Jason Coward |
| violin | George Krins | Alexander Byezhnikov |
| cello | Roger Bricoux | |
| piano | W. Theodore Brailey | "Spot" Hauptmann |
| cello | J. Wesley Woodward | Georges Donner |
| piano | P.C. Taylor | |
| double bass | J. F. C. Clarke | Petronius Witt |
| violin | John L. Hume | David Bleiernstein |
| viola | James Reel |
The author does admit straight away that his characters have nothing in common with the men who actually played on the Titanic. In his postscript Hansen points out that his intention was not to tell the stories of the real musicians, "all those are other stories which others have told or will tell. I have wanted to tell mine, and my musicians are invented." Hansen continues: "Details about the ship and her days at sea are essentially true, taken from the mass of information available on the Titanic."
Essentially, he is right in his affirmation that the facts related to the ship are correct - not that there are a good many of them in this book. There are a few scenes squeezed in between the stories of the fictional musicians. Much is made of the fact that this is Captain Smith's last crossing - an event that, according to fictional musician James Reel is often accompanied by death and disaster. - Thomas Andrews is doing his rounds on the ship.
It is perhaps unavoidable that some mistakes have slipped into the story. The most prominent of them is that Captain Smith thinks of returning home to his wife Eleanor and his baby son. - In reality, E.J. Smith only child was Helen Melville Smith, born in 1898.
However, as Hansen points out, "this is a novel not a history book". He does not claim that all the events described in the novel as taking place on the ship are necessarily true.
Psalm at Journey's End is not a novel about the Titanic. The Titanic is only the backdrop, or rather the occasion that bring the seven musicians together. It is their histories, the events that brought these seven men together that interest Hansen and which form the bulk of the book.
The question is then, as the musicians are fictitious, and the events on the Titanic only of minor importance, why is the novel set on the Titanic at all? Why not on a fictitious ship? Why did Hansen decide to assemble his diverse group of musicians on a real ship at all?
As so often, part of the answer has to be "because the Titanic sells". This may not be the noblest of reasons, but if you set a story on a sinking ship, why not pick one that at least everyone has heard about? Particularly if it will boost sales.
Additionally, by choosing the Titanic as the setting, Hansen does no need to explain what will happen. Every reader will know from the outset that the ship sank, most will also know that all the musicians died. The setting of the novel adds an air of tragedy and doom without anything else having to said than that these musicians are sailing on the Titanic.
Largely due to Hansen's willing admission that his musicians are fictional and that he has taken poetic licence with the historical events (it is surprising how many people claim that their description is the 'Truth' even though very often the 'Truth' is not known), partly also because it is a very well written book (and equally well translated), the story works and does not irritate even those of us who like their novels to be accurate (at least me).
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