The Grand Prix Saboteurs: The Grand Prix Drivers Who Became British Secret Agents During World War II |
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Joe Saward
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Pages: 364 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0955486807
Pub: Morienval Press
Pub date: 2006-12-31
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 3659
Reader Reviews:
Very Impressive (2/2 people found this helpful)
Representing eighteen years of thorough research which could not be verified until 2003 when certain war time documents were declassified, this is a fascinating piece of work and a glimpse into another murky backdrop of WW2. Saward is actually a professional motor racing journalist and author, his prose really comes to life when the story allows him back into his area of considerable expertise but he does a fine job of unpicking the strands of people and events which weave into this amazing account of intrigue in the face of oppression. There is a fictional version of this story, 'Early One Morning' by Robert Ryan which is a superb read in itself, all the more so because it is largely faithful to the facts uncovered by Saward though there is no acknowledgement of joint research, Ryan recommends Saward's book in his bibliography at the end of his novel.
Grand Prix agents (2/3 people found this helpful)
The author freely admits this work has taken many years to research and the staggering detail of not only early 20th century motor racing but the clandestine world of espionage in Paris and France bears this out a truly fascinating book that will work not only for fans of motor racing from the classic era also fans of a ripping wartime yarn will not be disappointed
Great story - shame about the lack of proof-reading (13/15 people found this helpful)
A great and fascinating story - it's just a shame that nobody bothered to proof-read it before going to print.
Errors such as duplicated, missing or incorrect words appear with frustrating frequency.
With such a detailed account of the complexities of war-time undercover operations, these errors are an unwanted and unnecessary diversion.
The good news is that a second edition has been released apparently correcting the printing errors and adding even more to the story.
Make sure you get the second edition.
A Must for 20th Century History and Motor Racing Fans (8/8 people found this helpful)
I first heard of the "characters" of this book in the mid 70's when I first started getting interested and going to GP races including Monaca won by Williams, and the Le Mans 24 Heures, where grandstands were named after Benoist and Wimille. A few weeks ago I found Robert Ryan's novel on the subject and was gripped and intrigued. Then I read about Joe Saward's book in the Telegraph and thought I'd better order it. Absolutely fascinating - I learned a lot about the French Resistance that I'd not previously known - or cared about - before. I'm glad I read these books this way round as fiction is always an easier read and whets the appetite for the sometimes unpalatable truth. The only trouble is, one of my favourite TV programmes, Hallo Hallo, is no longer funny ...
The Real Thing (24/24 people found this helpful)
A few years back I wrote a novel called Early One Morning, based on the true story of a group of Grand Prix drivers who joined Special Operations Executive during WW2. At the time people asked me why I didn't just write a non-fiction book. Joe Saward's book is the answer. This is the work I couldn't have written and I am glad I didn't try (I'll stick to novels). Saward (whom I have never met or spoken to) has combined his formidable knowledge of GP racing together with a vast quantity of meticulous research and managed, with enviable deftness, to produce a thrilling and heartbreaking story. Anyone interested in the fascinating legend of the racing driver spies Benoist and Williams and Wimille, and in SOE in general, should buy this book. I take my peaked cap off to him.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> History -> Military History -> Military Intelligence & Espionage
Books -> Subjects -> History -> General
Books -> Subjects -> History -> World History -> World War II 1939-1945 -> Battles & Campaigns
Books -> Subjects -> History -> World History -> World War II 1939-1945 -> Biographies & Memoirs
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> Transport -> Automotive
Books -> Subjects -> Sports, Hobbies & Games -> Motor Sports
Books -> Subjects -> Biography -> War & Espionage -> World War II
Books -> Subjects -> Biography -> War & Espionage -> Espionage