The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel
Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
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4.4 • 518 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
This instant New York Times bestselling “dynamic detective story” (The New York Times) reveals the hidden history Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleum-based fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world.
The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain’s Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of the world.
Now, New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt reopens the case and provides an “absolutely riveting” (Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author) new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. Brunt’s book is “equal parts Walter Isaacson and Sherlock Holmes, [and] yanks back the curtain on the greatest caper of the 20th century in this riveting history” (Jay Winik, New York Times bestselling author).
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this fascinating true-crime biography, an inventor goes up against a megalomaniacal ruler and a powerful tycoon. When Rudolf Diesel—the mastermind behind the revolutionary diesel engine—disappeared in 1913 on a trip across the English Channel, the story was plastered on front pages around the world. But the mystery of what happened to him has never been solved. Author Douglas Brunt lays out all the tantalizing details, exploring the tensions between Diesel and the various powerful men who felt threatened by him, including business mogul John D. Rockefeller and the German kaiser. Brunt also explores Diesel’s feats of engineering in a way that’s inspiring and easy to understand. Like a cross between an Agatha Christie locked-room mystery and Erik Larson’s immersive deep dives into history’s forgotten corners, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel is a perfect pageturner.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"No inventor was more disruptive to the established order than Rudolf Diesel," writes historian and novelist Brunt (Trophy Son) in this thrilling investigation. The French-German inventor of the diesel engine, a revolutionarily efficient improvement over earlier internal combustion engines, Diesel mysteriously disappeared on Sept. 29, 1913, during an overnight crossing of the English Channel. His body was found 11 days later by sailors on a Dutch steamer, who recovered Diesel's personal effects, but left the body in the sea. Brunt analyzes several theories to explain Diesel's death on the eve of WWI, including the possibility that he was assassinated by either Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II (who made clear that it was "essential that no other nation have access to Diesel's genius") or John D. Rockefeller (whose Standard Oil "required that the world be addicted to crude oil," whereas Diesel's engines were capable of burning alternative fuels). Brunt dismisses these and other theories, instead reaching a remarkable conclusion: Diesel, he claims, was secretly transported to Canada by way of a complex British covert operation. There he aided in engine development for the Allies. Brunt cites several pieces of evidence including Diesel's wife's disappearance six months after his own (presumably to join him), subsequent British breakthroughs in engine technology, and a similar fake corpse deception that was carried out by British intelligence during WWII. Brunt's audacious yet surprisingly tenable theory makes for a wildly enjoyable outing.
Customer Reviews
Good stuff
Enjoyable read. A bit more about engines than I care for but I expected that and the author didn’t over do it.
Worth it
It started off a bit slow for me, the writing a bit stark and dry, but stick with it - it turned out to be a great read. Interesting, informative, and enjoyable.
Read!
Excellent narrative crafting, good pacing, satisfying ending. Great read.