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The mysterious case of Rudolf Diesel : genius, power, and deception on the eve of World War I Cover Image Book

The mysterious case of Rudolf Diesel : genius, power, and deception on the eve of World War I / Douglas Brunt.

Brunt, Douglas, (author.).

Summary:

"The hidden history of one of the world's greatest inventors, a man who disrupted the status quo and then disappeared into thin air on the eve of World War I--this book answers the hundred-year-old mystery of what really became of Rudolf Diesel. 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 mankind and kept the technology out of the hands of the British or any other nation. For John D. Rockefeller, the engine was nothing less than an existential threat to his vast and lucrative oil empire. As electric lighting began to replace kerosene lamps, Rockefeller's bottom line depended on the world's growing thirst for gasoline to power its automobiles and industries. At the outset of this new age of electricity and oil, Europe stood on the precipice of war. Rudolf Diesel grew increasingly concerned about Germany's rising nationalism and military spending. The inventor was on his way to London to establish a new company that would help Britain improve its failing submarine program when he disappeared. Now, New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt reopens the case and provides an astonishing new conclusion about Diesel's fate."-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 1982169907
  • ISBN: 9781982169909
  • ISBN: 9781982169916
  • Physical Description: x, 374 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
  • Edition: First Atria Books edition
  • Publisher: New York : Atria Books, 2023.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 345-361) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Part I: War & oil engines, 1858-1897. An international identity ; A brief stay in London ; A new empire in Europe ; Is anyone truly self-made? ; Petroleum upends the game ; Pursuit of the ideal ; Meant for more than a salary ; Wilhelm II envies a navy ; Birth of diesel power -- Part II: Diesel proliferation, 1897-1910. Lord Kelvin goes first ; A hiccup before the grand prize ; Trappings of success ; A study of the sleeping giant ; "The old house" fights for its life ; Kaiser adopts "risk theory" ; A place among the armaments of nations ; Dawn of the new era -- Part III: Masterpiece, 1910-1913. Rudolf Diesel breaks ranks ; Admiralty boards the MS Selandina ; Secrets of the first Lord ; Great light to the west ; Rising pressure ; Final months ; SS Dresden: September 29, 1913 -- Part IV: Vanishing act. World reacts ; Available theories ; Operation Rudolf Diesel ; Fingerprints ; Epilogue: At last.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Diesel, Rudolf, 1858-1913.
Diesel motor > History.
Inventors > Germany > 20th century > Biography.
Missing persons > Case studies.
World War, 1914-1918.
Genre:
Biographies.
Case studies.

Available copies

  • 50 of 52 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library.

Holds

  • 3 current holds with 52 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Marion Library BIO DIE (Text) 37810435807705 Adult Biography Available -

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MARC Record

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1001 . ‡aBrunt, Douglas, ‡eauthor. ‡0(CARDINAL)341845
24514. ‡aThe mysterious case of Rudolf Diesel : ‡bgenius, power, and deception on the eve of World War I / ‡cDouglas Brunt.
250 . ‡aFirst Atria Books edition
264 1. ‡aNew York : ‡bAtria Books, ‡c2023.
264 4. ‡c©2023.
300 . ‡ax, 374 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : ‡billustrations (some color) ; ‡c24 cm
336 . ‡astill image ‡bsti ‡2rdacontent
336 . ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337 . ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338 . ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 345-361) and index.
50500. ‡gPart I: War & oil engines, 1858-1897. ‡tAn international identity ; ‡tA brief stay in London ; ‡tA new empire in Europe ; ‡tIs anyone truly self-made? ; ‡tPetroleum upends the game ; ‡tPursuit of the ideal ; ‡tMeant for more than a salary ; ‡tWilhelm II envies a navy ; ‡tBirth of diesel power -- ‡gPart II: Diesel proliferation, 1897-1910. ‡tLord Kelvin goes first ; ‡tA hiccup before the grand prize ; ‡tTrappings of success ; ‡tA study of the sleeping giant ; ‡t"The old house" fights for its life ; ‡tKaiser adopts "risk theory" ; ‡tA place among the armaments of nations ; ‡tDawn of the new era -- ‡gPart III: Masterpiece, 1910-1913. ‡tRudolf Diesel breaks ranks ; ‡tAdmiralty boards the MS Selandina ; ‡tSecrets of the first Lord ; ‡tGreat light to the west ; ‡tRising pressure ; ‡tFinal months ; ‡tSS Dresden: September 29, 1913 -- ‡gPart IV: Vanishing act. ‡tWorld reacts ; ‡tAvailable theories ; ‡tOperation Rudolf Diesel ; ‡tFingerprints ; ‡gEpilogue: ‡tAt last.
520 . ‡a"The hidden history of one of the world's greatest inventors, a man who disrupted the status quo and then disappeared into thin air on the eve of World War I--this book answers the hundred-year-old mystery of what really became of Rudolf Diesel. 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 mankind and kept the technology out of the hands of the British or any other nation. For John D. Rockefeller, the engine was nothing less than an existential threat to his vast and lucrative oil empire. As electric lighting began to replace kerosene lamps, Rockefeller's bottom line depended on the world's growing thirst for gasoline to power its automobiles and industries. At the outset of this new age of electricity and oil, Europe stood on the precipice of war. Rudolf Diesel grew increasingly concerned about Germany's rising nationalism and military spending. The inventor was on his way to London to establish a new company that would help Britain improve its failing submarine program when he disappeared. Now, New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt reopens the case and provides an astonishing new conclusion about Diesel's fate."-- ‡cProvided by publisher.
60010. ‡aDiesel, Rudolf, ‡d1858-1913. ‡0(CARDINAL)180386
650 0. ‡aDiesel motor ‡xHistory.
650 0. ‡aInventors ‡zGermany ‡y20th century ‡vBiography.
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650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1914-1918. ‡0(CARDINAL)258692
655 7. ‡aBiographies. ‡2lcgft ‡0(CARDINAL)326681
655 7. ‡aCase studies. ‡2lcgft ‡0(CARDINAL)351939
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