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Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler's Best
“Fresh, and told in vivid detail . . . [Bascomb] describes the twists and turns of the 1930s Grand Prix races as if he’d driven the courses himself.”—New York Times Book Review
“Exciting, fast-moving . . . [Bascomb] moves with the aplomb of an F1 driver who starts in the middle of the pack and works his way up, car by car, to take the lead.”—Wall Street Journal
As Nazi Germany launched its campaign of racial terror and pushed the world toward war, three unlikely heroes—a driver banned from the best European teams because of his Jewish heritage, the owner of a faltering automaker company, and the adventurous daughter of an American multi-millionaire—banded together to challenge Hitler’s dominance at the Grand Prix, the apex of motorsport. Bringing to life this glamorous era and the sport that defined it, Faster chronicles one of the most inspiring, death-defying upsets of all time: a symbolic blow against the Nazis during history’s darkest hour.
“Exciting, fast-moving . . . [Bascomb] moves with the aplomb of an F1 driver who starts in the middle of the pack and works his way up, car by car, to take the lead.”—Wall Street Journal
As Nazi Germany launched its campaign of racial terror and pushed the world toward war, three unlikely heroes—a driver banned from the best European teams because of his Jewish heritage, the owner of a faltering automaker company, and the adventurous daughter of an American multi-millionaire—banded together to challenge Hitler’s dominance at the Grand Prix, the apex of motorsport. Bringing to life this glamorous era and the sport that defined it, Faster chronicles one of the most inspiring, death-defying upsets of all time: a symbolic blow against the Nazis during history’s darkest hour.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2020
About the author
Neal Bascomb
22 books427 followersNeal Bascomb is a national award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of a number of books, all non-fiction narratives, all focused on inspiring stories of adventure or achievement. His work has been translated into over 18 languages, featured in several documentaries, and optioned for major film and television projects.
Born in Colorado and raised in St. Louis, he is the product of public school and lots of time playing hockey. He earned a double degree in Economics and English Literature at Miami University (Ohio), lived in Europe for several years as a journalist (London, Dublin, and Paris), and worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press (New York). In 2000, he started writing books full time.
His first book HIGHER was selected for the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writer award and was featured in a History Channel documentary. His second THE PERFECT MILE was a New York Times bestseller and frequently ranks as one of the top books on running. His third RED MUTINY won the United States Maritime Literature Award and critical acclaim around the world. His fourth HUNTING EICHMANN was an international bestseller and led to a young adult edition called NAZI HUNTERS that was the 2014 winner of the YALSA Award, Sydney Taylor Book Award (Gold Medal), among numerous others. His fifth book THE NEW COOL was optioned by major producer Scott Rudin for film. His sixth ONE MORE STEP, focused on the first man with cerebral palsy to climb Kilimanjaro and finish the Kona Ironman, was a New York Times bestseller as well.
An avid hiker, skier, and coffee drinker, he is happily settled in Seattle, Washington with his family.
Born in Colorado and raised in St. Louis, he is the product of public school and lots of time playing hockey. He earned a double degree in Economics and English Literature at Miami University (Ohio), lived in Europe for several years as a journalist (London, Dublin, and Paris), and worked as an editor at St. Martin’s Press (New York). In 2000, he started writing books full time.
His first book HIGHER was selected for the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writer award and was featured in a History Channel documentary. His second THE PERFECT MILE was a New York Times bestseller and frequently ranks as one of the top books on running. His third RED MUTINY won the United States Maritime Literature Award and critical acclaim around the world. His fourth HUNTING EICHMANN was an international bestseller and led to a young adult edition called NAZI HUNTERS that was the 2014 winner of the YALSA Award, Sydney Taylor Book Award (Gold Medal), among numerous others. His fifth book THE NEW COOL was optioned by major producer Scott Rudin for film. His sixth ONE MORE STEP, focused on the first man with cerebral palsy to climb Kilimanjaro and finish the Kona Ironman, was a New York Times bestseller as well.
An avid hiker, skier, and coffee drinker, he is happily settled in Seattle, Washington with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
August 1, 2021
The 1930’s European Grand Prix scene was dominated by the Nazi-funded Auto Union and Mercedes teams and their futuristic racing cars. Neal Bascomb tells the long neglected story of Rene Dreyfus, a Jewish driver, who managed briefly to outpace them.
There are a few 3-star reviews for this book, many from readers drawn in by the author’s other sporting histories but left cold by the world of pre-war European Grand Prix racing.
I’m the opposite - a 1930’s racing fan and a devoted petrol head, I was attracted purely by the subject matter. And I’m quite hard to please, especially when it comes to my passions, but I think Neal Bascomb has done a fine job.
My slight issue with this book was that some of the characterisations are too simplistic, including casting the German drivers as “bad guys”. Having seen many of these cars driven at speed, the drivers of this era are Titans to me. I admit I’m completely biased. But even I can’t escape a suspicion the silver arrows’ drivers may well have been more interested in winning races than in their paymaster’s politics.
The epilogue, which covers the drivers experiences during and after the war, is worth another book on its own.
There are a few 3-star reviews for this book, many from readers drawn in by the author’s other sporting histories but left cold by the world of pre-war European Grand Prix racing.
I’m the opposite - a 1930’s racing fan and a devoted petrol head, I was attracted purely by the subject matter. And I’m quite hard to please, especially when it comes to my passions, but I think Neal Bascomb has done a fine job.
My slight issue with this book was that some of the characterisations are too simplistic, including casting the German drivers as “bad guys”. Having seen many of these cars driven at speed, the drivers of this era are Titans to me. I admit I’m completely biased. But even I can’t escape a suspicion the silver arrows’ drivers may well have been more interested in winning races than in their paymaster’s politics.
The epilogue, which covers the drivers experiences during and after the war, is worth another book on its own.
February 8, 2020
I will start by admitting I know absolutely nothing about car racing and I am not inclined to learn all about it. That being said, I really enjoyed this book by Neal Bascomb.
Bascomb takes you to another time and place when racing was beginning to grow in Europe. He takes us into the lives of people who would risk anything, even their lives, to race. Dangerous is not even a good enough word to describe all they go through. Crazy might work.
Throw in the Nazis and the fact that they will stop at nothing to have domination over everything that exists and you have a great story. We even have an American woman and her racing team to cheer on although I will say she could have paid more attention to her sons - just an opinion.
My only criticism of the book would be that the Jewish driver, Rene Dreyfus, piqued my interest but there was not enough of him. I would have preferred a little more about him and a little less about some of the other drivers.
If you are interested in the beginning of racing, European racing in the 30's and on or just want to read a good book, I recommend this one to you.
Bascomb takes you to another time and place when racing was beginning to grow in Europe. He takes us into the lives of people who would risk anything, even their lives, to race. Dangerous is not even a good enough word to describe all they go through. Crazy might work.
Throw in the Nazis and the fact that they will stop at nothing to have domination over everything that exists and you have a great story. We even have an American woman and her racing team to cheer on although I will say she could have paid more attention to her sons - just an opinion.
My only criticism of the book would be that the Jewish driver, Rene Dreyfus, piqued my interest but there was not enough of him. I would have preferred a little more about him and a little less about some of the other drivers.
If you are interested in the beginning of racing, European racing in the 30's and on or just want to read a good book, I recommend this one to you.
December 10, 2019
Thanks HMH for the Advanced Copy - public service announcement - read anything by Neal Bascomb that you can get your hands on. Bascomb's, The Perfect Mile is one of the best books on sport ever written. His Winter Fortress is a fine journalistic history of a significant event in WWII history. This book is an excellent combination of the history of motor sports in pre-WWII Europe and its place and significance in the time period, and, it provides excellent biographical insights about the participants. Recommended for all libraries and all readers
January 3, 2020
Fantastic history of motor racing on the eve of the second world war. Absolutely loved all the detail of these heart-pounding races and the incredible characters that populated them, including badass Lucy Schell. I want to be her when I grow up!
February 6, 2020
AWESOME Book from a great writer. Loved the narrative, the color, the drama...superb fun and very very engaging.
July 25, 2021
“Phantastique.” Once again Mr. Bascomb selects a great topic for a book , Grand Prix racing in the 20's and 30's. The histories for the car manufactures, Alpha Romeo, Bugatti, Mercedes, Delahaye, Masserati, and a few others are quite enlightening along with the racing unions. Rally driver Lucy O'Reilly Schell was a joy to read about as well as Rally events like the grueling Monte Carlo Rally that was very well covered. The story of Rudi Caracciola and Bernd Rosemeyer breaking of the speed record near Frankfort was tense. Finally the April 1938 start of the racing season at Pau France between the Mercedes team and the Delahaye team keeps you on your seat. And there lurking in the background are the Nazi overtones in the racing teams of Germany backing the Silver Bullets for the wins and for country and for propaganda. Outstanding book and highly recommended for racing fans.
March 30, 2020
I trudged through this book. If you are a sports car enthusiast, I believe you would love this story. For me, I felt it had way too much technical jargon on the cars; at times I felt it read more like a automotive manual. The story got lost. And when 40% of a book is footnotes, well, just supports that it was too technical. Glad I’m done with this.
September 18, 2021
This is an interesting book that presents a lot of historical background to the Grand Prix cars, races and drivers of the mid to late 1930's. I found the final race, the main theme of the book, to be overdramatic and anti-climactic. Bascomb is obviously not a motor sports writer. Still, if you are the least bit interested in GP history the book is a worthwhile read.
March 28, 2020
I am a fan of and participant in vintage Motorsports, and a bit of a gear head. While not being a vintage gear-head, Neal Bascomb’s book is nevertheless a wonderful read for folks like me. The descriptions of the races and risks are beautifully crafted, and I found the balance between racing and non-racing content just about right. I’m also an ardent fan of the classic sport of Hillclimbing, and really enjoyed the inclusion of both this and rallying in the story.
I would highly recommend this book to people with even a modest interest in Motorsports.
I would highly recommend this book to people with even a modest interest in Motorsports.
July 3, 2020
A very good book. The research that it must have taken to provide the level of detail and background on which the book is built shows the author's dedication to an accurate storytelling. While this book is not an instant classic like "Boys in the Boat", it is a well-told story.
Mr. Bascomb provides great background, both on the racing environment of the period as well as the key characters. The reader gets a feel for the knife-edge, split-second decision making required of race car drivers. We are also provided with an insight into the mental and physical demands that a race (of any kind) puts on the drivers, as well as their teams.
While this is a David versus Goliath tale, and the author does his best to build that, to me, it fell slightly short of the mark. It was great to see the triumph of "good over evil", but it almost seemed anti-climatic. Perhaps more information or quotes from the German information machine trying to save face, along with outside-France reporting would have helped. Also, with so many characters involved, it was difficult to keep track of everyone - perhaps a cast of characters list would have helped.
Bottom line - this is an extremely well-told story of a great triumph. While not a barn-burner, it is solid and very informative, giving me a much better appreciation for a sport and environment about which I previously knew very little.
Mr. Bascomb provides great background, both on the racing environment of the period as well as the key characters. The reader gets a feel for the knife-edge, split-second decision making required of race car drivers. We are also provided with an insight into the mental and physical demands that a race (of any kind) puts on the drivers, as well as their teams.
While this is a David versus Goliath tale, and the author does his best to build that, to me, it fell slightly short of the mark. It was great to see the triumph of "good over evil", but it almost seemed anti-climatic. Perhaps more information or quotes from the German information machine trying to save face, along with outside-France reporting would have helped. Also, with so many characters involved, it was difficult to keep track of everyone - perhaps a cast of characters list would have helped.
Bottom line - this is an extremely well-told story of a great triumph. While not a barn-burner, it is solid and very informative, giving me a much better appreciation for a sport and environment about which I previously knew very little.
October 7, 2022
“To win the prize, it is necessary to take great risks.” René Dreyfus
Excellent history of inter war auto racing in Europe emphasizing the struggle of Lucy Schell to a field competitive French Grand Prix car against the Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union in the gathering dusk before World War Two.
“There was only one thing wrong, [Redacted]. The others drove like mad, but you drove like … a night watchman.”
Ostensibly about Lucy Schell’s Écurie Bleue team headed by René Dreyfus driving Delahaye racers, the book traces the fortunes, genius, and compromises of many teams and drivers pursuing their sport while civilization teetered on the brink. As much about Rudi Caracciola as René Dreyfus.
'Races were increasingly a battleground between nations rather than individual drivers, and the Nazis were clearly investing to dominate.'
Photos and maps enhance the reader’s appreciation. Name and nickname changes muddle the narrative. Skip the self-serving introduction bogs the story. The prologue is fine. Appropriate 30s style cover.
“We cannot go on this way … One of us will die.” Bernd Rosemeyer
Excellent history of inter war auto racing in Europe emphasizing the struggle of Lucy Schell to a field competitive French Grand Prix car against the Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union in the gathering dusk before World War Two.
“There was only one thing wrong, [Redacted]. The others drove like mad, but you drove like … a night watchman.”
Ostensibly about Lucy Schell’s Écurie Bleue team headed by René Dreyfus driving Delahaye racers, the book traces the fortunes, genius, and compromises of many teams and drivers pursuing their sport while civilization teetered on the brink. As much about Rudi Caracciola as René Dreyfus.
'Races were increasingly a battleground between nations rather than individual drivers, and the Nazis were clearly investing to dominate.'
Photos and maps enhance the reader’s appreciation. Name and nickname changes muddle the narrative. Skip the self-serving introduction bogs the story. The prologue is fine. Appropriate 30s style cover.
“We cannot go on this way … One of us will die.” Bernd Rosemeyer
Read
January 27, 2020Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a free ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
I love classic cars, and I love history, but I don't always love historical nonfiction-- but this book had me enthralled from the very beginning. Neal Bascomb does an absolutely brilliant job of bringing this glamorous but oft overlooked part of sporting history. The thrilling narrative and heart pounding descriptions of races kept me riveted, but the key lives Bascomb highlights were fascinating. Their life stories were encouraging, empowering, and inspiring.
Well-written, this book will appeal to teens and adults alike who are fans of history. It's also ideal for all your gear-heads out there, even your more reluctant readers. Loved it! My library will be buying more than one copy.
I love classic cars, and I love history, but I don't always love historical nonfiction-- but this book had me enthralled from the very beginning. Neal Bascomb does an absolutely brilliant job of bringing this glamorous but oft overlooked part of sporting history. The thrilling narrative and heart pounding descriptions of races kept me riveted, but the key lives Bascomb highlights were fascinating. Their life stories were encouraging, empowering, and inspiring.
Well-written, this book will appeal to teens and adults alike who are fans of history. It's also ideal for all your gear-heads out there, even your more reluctant readers. Loved it! My library will be buying more than one copy.
Want to read
January 7, 2020So excited to win this on a Goodreads Giveaway! Review to come...
May 6, 2024
Having begun my reading of the Gran Prix racing between the wars when I found the autobiography of Rudi Caracciola in my High School library. This began my reading about racing of all eras. The racing prior to WWII and WWII was a heroic pursuit and a dangerous one.
My wise older daughter gifted me this hardcover book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book goes deep into all the efforts that went into creating the most improbable win in GP racing in the 1930’s. The win is usually given mention in publications about the era but with scant detail.
The woman behind the effort is a fascinating person in her own right, and being one of the few women who was involved in motorsport beyond being a spouse of a driver.
We motorsport fans know that much of the appeal of the sport is the people. There is enough technical information to let the reader (motorsport fan or not) to understand the massive amount of effort this race win required.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to get a look into the clouds that the Nazi’s put over the entire continent of Europe.
The race team meticulously planned how to defeat the two German juggernaut teams and was successful.
A true story of a form of resistance against the Nazi’s before they plunged the world into chaos.
My wise older daughter gifted me this hardcover book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book goes deep into all the efforts that went into creating the most improbable win in GP racing in the 1930’s. The win is usually given mention in publications about the era but with scant detail.
The woman behind the effort is a fascinating person in her own right, and being one of the few women who was involved in motorsport beyond being a spouse of a driver.
We motorsport fans know that much of the appeal of the sport is the people. There is enough technical information to let the reader (motorsport fan or not) to understand the massive amount of effort this race win required.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to get a look into the clouds that the Nazi’s put over the entire continent of Europe.
The race team meticulously planned how to defeat the two German juggernaut teams and was successful.
A true story of a form of resistance against the Nazi’s before they plunged the world into chaos.
March 25, 2022
This book was so exciting. It was non fiction but read like fiction. The racing, the cars and the car companies were so much fun to read about. I was surprised to read how crazy Hitler was about automobiles and auto racing. He put a lot of money into the cars and the drivers. Rene and Lucy were marvelous characters.
November 28, 2020
I love history. I love cars. I love the history of cars. With that in kind I went into Faster with high hopes that it would be the next great non fiction book of the year.
And while it was well written, researched and did talk about those 2 favorite things of mine, it’s hard to say that Faster will go down as classic or be the next Erik Larson-esque story of auto racing.
Maybe part of the reason I wasn’t super in love with this book comes at the cost of listening to the vast majority of it through audio format. Obviously Eduardo Ballarini did a fantastic job of pronouncing the foreign names and locals as well as narrating at a cool, calm, relaxing level as he has done with Cussler’s Isaac Bell but as I tend to be a visual person, not being able to see the words or the included pictures lessened the impact for me.
Furthermore, Faster lacks a lot of the excitement that A. J. Baime’s fantastic racing book Go Like Hell contained. Then again, that particular book was turned into the equally fantastic (though partially exaggerated) film Ford v. Ferrari so maybe, once again, being the visual person I am, having characters already made up helped. Plus Faster revolves around French and German racers and cars in the midst of the 30’s and 40’s, not the classic American names of Carrol Shelby and Lee Ioccoca, or infamous Ford GT40s and Ferrari’s.
But back to Faster. It really isn’t a bad book. Like I said, I like cars and history and Bascom checked off the requisite things I enjoy in a non fiction work. It covers a lot of things I never knew about the sheer lunacy of auto racing in the 30s or the rivalry between German auto makers and everyone else. And of course watching Nazis get their asses handed to them by Jews is always rewarding.
And while it was well written, researched and did talk about those 2 favorite things of mine, it’s hard to say that Faster will go down as classic or be the next Erik Larson-esque story of auto racing.
Maybe part of the reason I wasn’t super in love with this book comes at the cost of listening to the vast majority of it through audio format. Obviously Eduardo Ballarini did a fantastic job of pronouncing the foreign names and locals as well as narrating at a cool, calm, relaxing level as he has done with Cussler’s Isaac Bell but as I tend to be a visual person, not being able to see the words or the included pictures lessened the impact for me.
Furthermore, Faster lacks a lot of the excitement that A. J. Baime’s fantastic racing book Go Like Hell contained. Then again, that particular book was turned into the equally fantastic (though partially exaggerated) film Ford v. Ferrari so maybe, once again, being the visual person I am, having characters already made up helped. Plus Faster revolves around French and German racers and cars in the midst of the 30’s and 40’s, not the classic American names of Carrol Shelby and Lee Ioccoca, or infamous Ford GT40s and Ferrari’s.
But back to Faster. It really isn’t a bad book. Like I said, I like cars and history and Bascom checked off the requisite things I enjoy in a non fiction work. It covers a lot of things I never knew about the sheer lunacy of auto racing in the 30s or the rivalry between German auto makers and everyone else. And of course watching Nazis get their asses handed to them by Jews is always rewarding.
November 1, 2021
‘Faster’ follows the plots of two storylines, that of Rene Dreyfus, a Jewish auto racer in the mid 1930s and that of Hitler’s inexorable march to war and European domination. German cars came close to being unbeatable. Nazi dollars were pumped into companies like Mercedes and Auto Union ( the predecessor of Audi and cars designed by Ferdinand Porsche). These served to further the Gobbels propaganda machine of the superior Aryan race. Bascombs leans heavily into the auto racing portion, but I was more enthralled by its entertwinement with the grab on Austria, the invasion of Poland, the submission of Neal Chamberlain, and finally the march across French borders and the declaration of war.
The Treaty of Versailles created this monster, outlined in David Fromkin’s ‘A Peace to End All Peace”. So, as we look to the past, what can we gleam? There is always a past. Franco’s grab for power in Spain, with Hitler’s and Mussolin’s air support, ended with concentration camps and executions in excess of 30,000 deaths. His victory in 1939, including the Gruenca fire bombings left nearly a half a million dead.
It’s during this period , that we follow Rene and the creation of the Delahaye sports car as he no more gains two steps and slips one step back. His million franc win propels him to stardom. Which is soon followed by Grand Prix wins in Pau against the German military might in 1938. Racers who aligned themselves with the Nazi’s may have temporarily faired better, but in the end war took no prisoners.
A great story, which carries the reader speedily along.
The Treaty of Versailles created this monster, outlined in David Fromkin’s ‘A Peace to End All Peace”. So, as we look to the past, what can we gleam? There is always a past. Franco’s grab for power in Spain, with Hitler’s and Mussolin’s air support, ended with concentration camps and executions in excess of 30,000 deaths. His victory in 1939, including the Gruenca fire bombings left nearly a half a million dead.
It’s during this period , that we follow Rene and the creation of the Delahaye sports car as he no more gains two steps and slips one step back. His million franc win propels him to stardom. Which is soon followed by Grand Prix wins in Pau against the German military might in 1938. Racers who aligned themselves with the Nazi’s may have temporarily faired better, but in the end war took no prisoners.
A great story, which carries the reader speedily along.
December 12, 2023
This was an interesting reading experience because I was plowing through this book and enjoying it, but (as I was reading it on Kindle), it seemed like I was hardly making any progress. I just figured it was a really long book, and that would have been ok because I was enjoying it. Anyway, all of a sudden (only about 60% through it on the Kindle), I got to the epilogue. Oh, ok then. Turns out there is just a whole lot of back matter.
Anyway, a really fun history book about a topic about which I knew next to nothing. Certainly a story that deserved to be told at this level of detail. But only four stars because there turned out to be less substance to the story than the author billed it to be. He extended it by telling the stories of a large swath of the European auto racing world in the 20s and 30s. This was a little overwhelming at times for someone not that interested in that niche. In addition, characters kept dying off at remarkable rates, so you finally got to know someone, and then they were out of the story.
All in all, you learn that those in the racing world at that time were definitely of a certain type of obsessive personality. That was interesting to read about, as was the stereotype defying tale of Lucy and Rene.
If you are looking for a compelling WWII era story that you haven't heard of before, you could do a lot worse than this one.
Anyway, a really fun history book about a topic about which I knew next to nothing. Certainly a story that deserved to be told at this level of detail. But only four stars because there turned out to be less substance to the story than the author billed it to be. He extended it by telling the stories of a large swath of the European auto racing world in the 20s and 30s. This was a little overwhelming at times for someone not that interested in that niche. In addition, characters kept dying off at remarkable rates, so you finally got to know someone, and then they were out of the story.
All in all, you learn that those in the racing world at that time were definitely of a certain type of obsessive personality. That was interesting to read about, as was the stereotype defying tale of Lucy and Rene.
If you are looking for a compelling WWII era story that you haven't heard of before, you could do a lot worse than this one.
November 2, 2020
Bascomb writes with the same calibre as the likes of Laura Hillenbrand, Erik Larson and Daniel James Brown. He takes a topic that can be very specialized so that few are interested it, and makes it interesting to those outside of auto racing fans. He writes about the people involved in the two main teams competing for victory in setting records and winning a Grand Prix with the first ever 1 million franc prize involved. History tells us what happens, as does the title, but it is still interesting to see how Lucy Schell managed to organize her team (she's the American heiress, but was half French and grew up in both countries), how her teammates developed their skills as well as how the German champion Rudi Caracciola became so good along with his team. Among this we also read about Hitler's interest in motor sports during his rise to power plus his support of the Daimler-Benz auto manufacturer.
If you live in or are from NYC and have lived there long enough, it's possible you have eaten at his restaurant Le Chanticlair which was started after he returned from serving with the US in WW II.
If you live in or are from NYC and have lived there long enough, it's possible you have eaten at his restaurant Le Chanticlair which was started after he returned from serving with the US in WW II.
November 10, 2020
I was excited to read this book, having enjoyed a Wall Street Journal book review that piqued my interest. I must admit that I knew little about this world until I recently saw a film, FORD VS. FERRARI, which was a gripping and fascinating look into the men (yes, they are mostly men) who feel the real need for speed and who develop faster and faster cars, often risking and even losing their lives in the effort. This book is a non-fictional account that often reads like fiction. The characters are larger than life, the historical periods are both exciting and nostalgia provoking because we know what will come later. However, what this brilliant author (and read other books he’s written; he never disappoints) manages to do is to make us care. Not only did I care, I couldn’t stop reading this book, which builds and builds just as the tension builds and builds around the races that are so vividly depicted. Read it even if you thought you didn’t care about automobiles or car racing. This book is much bigger than either.
April 30, 2023
An interesting selection from my Ladiez Book Club and I wish I had enjoyed it more! For me it was heavy on the race car specifics, and while I can appreciate the importance of these facts to the story, I think the characters and the actual truth of what they experienced during the days leading up to and during WW II were somewhat dismissed. It wasn't until the epilogue that the life experiences off the track came to light and I would have personally enjoyed the story more if there unique and shared experiences were detailed more thoroughly. If you are or know a car fanatic- this is a great choice.
June 29, 2020
I wouldn't consider myself a racing fan though I enjoy learning about history, especially World War II, and the allusion to Hitler is what drew me to this book. I was pleasantly surprised with how engaging this book was and its perfect balance between racing, the lives of the race car drivers and events going on during this period. The racing scenes were exciting and the book was very well-written. I appreciated learning about the individuals who defeated the German racing team and thereby provided a glimmer of hope in a world filled with fear. A great read!
November 28, 2023
I think if you love cars and understand how they work, this book could be a five-star read. For me it was a very high 3—3.75, 3.85? The technical stuff was a little beyond me, and sometimes the narrative was hard to follow. But overall I found myself interested in the characters and their races. I frequently stopped to look up more about them online (would love to read a Lucy biog.) Also this book begins with what is perhaps one of my all-time new favorite lines: “A terrific adventure awaits, but I must hurry.”
April 13, 2020
I could not even imagine what link there could be between race cars and Hitler, but Neal Bascomb has spun a riveting tale from that matchup. Part of Hitler's plan for world domination rested on training a huge force of competent drivers for his military vehicles. In addition, his ego dictated that German race car drivers rule the racing circuit.
The stories of major players weave in and out of the story -- Rene Dreyfus, the French (Jewish) driver; Lucy Schell, the American heiress and team owner; and Rudi Caracciola, the German driver, among many others. The perilous race courses have you unexpectedly rooting for everyone, even the German driver. You just don't want to see anyone die. But, of course, drivers do die in horrendous crashes. The climax of the book comes with the 1938 Pau Grand Prix that pits the French Jewish driver against the German driver. The backdrop of Hitler's unfolding aggression heightens the tension of the race, even while the drivers remain cordial, albeit always competitive.
I'm a super fan of anything Neal Bascomb writes, especially The Winter Fortress. I was glad to see a mention of heavy water make its way into this book! I'm not mechanically minded, so much of the description of the cars and engines, their manufacture and their performance did not make an impression on me. But, as always, Mr. Bascomb turns an unlikely subject into a must read.
The stories of major players weave in and out of the story -- Rene Dreyfus, the French (Jewish) driver; Lucy Schell, the American heiress and team owner; and Rudi Caracciola, the German driver, among many others. The perilous race courses have you unexpectedly rooting for everyone, even the German driver. You just don't want to see anyone die. But, of course, drivers do die in horrendous crashes. The climax of the book comes with the 1938 Pau Grand Prix that pits the French Jewish driver against the German driver. The backdrop of Hitler's unfolding aggression heightens the tension of the race, even while the drivers remain cordial, albeit always competitive.
I'm a super fan of anything Neal Bascomb writes, especially The Winter Fortress. I was glad to see a mention of heavy water make its way into this book! I'm not mechanically minded, so much of the description of the cars and engines, their manufacture and their performance did not make an impression on me. But, as always, Mr. Bascomb turns an unlikely subject into a must read.
July 25, 2020
Social and cultural history of the world's love affair with speed, and the races that tested the endurance of the drivers. The author presents a highly readable history of the companies, the cars they developed, the drivers, teams, the families and the politics of the 1930's. The focus of the book is on the people, but the information on the design and improvements made to the cars was easily understood. Definitely recommend to those interested in cars and cultural history.
March 16, 2021
Bascomb does an incredible job weaving the lives and journeys of all the important drivers with their teams and managers down to an important moment at the 1938 Pau Grand Prix. Bascomb also takes importance to put into the context the looming threat of WWII at the time and presents the story with a beautiful narrative that had me hooked from the beginning.
April 20, 2024
I am not even into cars or auto racing that much and I still really enjoyed this book. Learned a lot about the history of first automobiles in Europe as well as early Grand Prix racing. Amazing how popular auto racing was in the early 20th century. After all, these things were so new, innovative and powerful.
June 27, 2020
This was really interesting - a wild sports story combined with lots of automotive engineering details and interwar and WWII history. I thought in the pre-war sections it let German drivers off the hook a little too easily for "not caring" about politics, but I was happy to see that later it clearly linked them to the Nazi atrocities they helped facilitate by allowing themselves to be used as symbols of the Third Reich (whether they were true believers or not). Early auto racing was even more dangerous and dramatic than I'd realized, and there's a good introduction here to things like the TRULY BONKERS Monte Carlo Rally. And I'm glad to see a book giving female racing pioneer Lucy Schell her due.
July 23, 2020
In a stunning upset, Rene Dreyfuss--in a French Delahaye financed by an incredible American heiress--defeated the Nazi's darling Mercedes formula team in 1938 at the Pau Grand Prix. This was a prescient win foreshadowing the German demise just 5 years later.
April 6, 2020
My completed shelter in place reading stack is growing. Just finished FASTER by Neal Bascomb. I’m not much of a race car enthusiast, but after recently seeing Ford v Ferrari and thinking about the lyrics from the Cake song, The Distance:
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
I gotta confess that the last few chapters of this book were page turners for me.
Plus, what’s not to love about “How a Jewish driver, an American heiress, and a legendary car beat Hitler’s best”?!
Reluctantly crouched at the starting line
Engines pumping and thumping in time
The green light flashes, the flags go up
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuel burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is potent and secretly stern
I gotta confess that the last few chapters of this book were page turners for me.
Plus, what’s not to love about “How a Jewish driver, an American heiress, and a legendary car beat Hitler’s best”?!
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