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Mariner

Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s Best

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Winner of the Motor Press Guild Best Book of the Year Award & Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism For fans of The Boys in the Boat and In the Garden of Beasts, a pulse-pounding tale of triumph by an improbable team of upstarts over Hitler’s fearsome Silver Arrows during the golden age of auto racing. They were the unlikeliest of heroes. Rene Dreyfus, a former top driver on the international racecar circuit, had been banned from the best European teams—and fastest cars—by the mid-1930s because of his Jewish heritage. Charles Weiffenbach, head of the down-on-its-luck automaker Delahaye, was desperately trying to save his company as the world teetered toward the brink. And Lucy Schell, the adventurous daughter of an American multi-millionaire, yearned to reclaim the glory of her rally-driving days. As Nazi Germany launched its campaign of racial terror and pushed the world toward war, these three misfits banded together to challenge Hitler’s dominance at the apex of motorsport: the Grand Prix. Their quest for redemption culminated in a remarkable race that is still talked about in racing circles to this day—but which, soon after it ended, Hitler attempted to completely erase from history. 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. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 17, 2020


Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1328489876


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 76


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.19 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #541,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #77 in Automotive History (Books) #81 in Motor Sports (Books) #207 in Sports History (Books)


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • A Gem
Format: Hardcover
After reading initial reviews, I was expecting a good book when I ordered this one. What I got was a gem that shines out among books about racing history and social history as well. I have been involved in auto racing my entire life and am a perpetual student of the history of all things racing. This book combines fascinating biographies of racers, designers, engineers, manufacturers and sponsors from The United States to the European continent and beyond. It all takes place during the 1930's as Hitler's Third Reich arose and engulfed so much of the culture in its geographic sphere. The framework of Bascomb's articulate and fascinating book is the Grand Prix racing circuit that was largely dominated by Hitler's pet automakers, Mercedes and Auto Union, with their exquisitely engineered performance demons, the Silver Arrows, piloted by the most talented and successful drivers of the day. Challenging this automotive powerhouse was American heiress Lucy Schell (a successful rally racer in her own right), her French race cars made by underdog Dellahaye and obscure driver Rene Dreyfus, a Jewish ace rejected by the Reich machine. Events culminate in a showdown at a wartime Grand Prix wherein Dreyfuss and the Schell team beat the Germans in a highly contentious setting. I especially liked Bascomb's portrayals of other drivers involved in the Grand Prix arena, including the Reich drivers who were not competing for the greater glory of the Reich as was expected by Hitler, but rather competing for the love of the sport. Anyone would enjoy this book, do not make the mistake of passing it thinking it is only about racing ! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020 by Candy J. Rodriguez
    • An interesting story of motorsport during pivotal times in world history
Format: Kindle
I enjoyed reading this book and understanding how motorsports has impacted history and been shaped by it. The author has painted a vivid picture of "driven" individuals and their overwhelming desire to win at all costs.
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2020 by Andy
    • NOTHING LIKE A TRUE STORY TOLD WELL
Format: Paperback
This book has everything: thrilling races, heroic characters, formidable villains, incredible cars, romance, victories, and moments of tragedy. The author vividly brings each scene to life, painting a clear picture of the intense and captivating events within the story. This would make a fantastic movie! The narrative captures a pivotal moment in history, weaving together large-scale world events with the personal stories of those who played significant roles. I learned so much about the history of Grand Prix racing, including the iconic car models, the technological advancements, and even the political influence behind it all—particularly how Hitler financed the development of German racing machines, which were once considered the best in the world. I wish I could have witnessed these historic Grand Prix cars in action; I can only imagine the courage it took to drive those machines, where every race was truly a life-or-death endeavor. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024 by Terry
    • Quote the inspirational story
Format: Kindle
A very well written story of very determined individuals against great odds. A historical account of the most dominant drivers and cars in the 30s and 40s. I couldn’t put the book down. I wish that it was a 1000 pages longer. I have an appreciation for the challenges and dangers of the sport during that period. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2025 by Amazon Customer
    • Great read
Format: Kindle
This is a gripping story (all true) that will keep you turning the pages. You may want to have some racing goggles nearby as the author puts you right in the driver's seat. It covers Hitler's Germany and the build up to WW2, the history of the motor car and the contribution of racing to the cars we drive today, innovation and creativity, racism and anti-Semitism (and the hypocrisy therein), flamboyance and determination and feminism (you'll love Lucy). Very entertaining, so much so that I went on to read "The Winter Fortress" by the same author. By the way, I'm not a motor-head at all but the book still pulled me in. A real 'David vs. Goliath' tale. A complementary book that you may like that covers the rise of Hitler is Erik Larson's "In the Garden Of Beasts" and I'd rate Neal Bascomb as highly as Larson. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2021 by Greg Regan
    • Interesting, true history of the times
Format: Paperback
This is not written as a single story but jumps to talk about different competitors, manufacturers, and the changing politics and loyalties of the time that affected motorsport competition at the time. Not a fantastic read, but a very good one and well researched.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2023 by Shash
    • Fantastic Story
Format: Kindle
Neal Bascomb has written some great books such as “Higher” and “The Winter Fortress” but “Faster” in my opinion captures the best of the previous titles referenced with additional narrative nuances such as anecdotal details, the use of setting to capture the drama and spirit of Grand Prix auto racing, and historical context of the times juxtaposed with the historical context of European auto racing in the 1930’s, making this Bascomb’s best to date. Well researched with great bios of the drivers makes this a fantastic read!! This book is more than a book about auto racing... It is a book that focuses of the spirit, determination, endeavor and hubris of humanity. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2020 by Gary Kastal
    • prewar racing; a review by Thom
Format: Hardcover
History is exciting. Especially when told as well Neal Bascomb told it here. The setting is Europe in the thirties. The subtitle tells, all the complexities of life then. At least as it effects the auto racing community and, really, how it effects people in it. Racers of what ever religion, or none, and of what ever connection to racing they have. Hitler didn't care about sport only the propaganda benefits there of. It all meshes in this book. The book reads as a great novel, but tells a true story. Even without a background in racing, I think most readers would have great pleasure reading this book. Students of auto racing this book, and then keep it near to hand for reading, again and again! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020 by Darlene Petri

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