My book for March was The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt. Somewhat surprisingly, this is the third physical book I have read in the last six months. Pam and Mike gave me Circle of Days by Ken Follett to read while I was recovering from surgery in October. Holly and Van gave me The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever for my birthday when we were in Palm Desert. Sharon's brother Tom gave me this book for my birthday. All of my reading over the last five plus years has been in the Kindle app on the iPad and iPhone.
The book explores the life of Rudolf Diesel. Rudolf Diesel was a brilliant German engineer whose invention changed the world of transportation and industry. In 1892, he patented an engine design that used compression ignition. While Diesel is best known for the engine that bears his name, his life was a complex mix of visionary ambition, financial struggle, and a mysterious end.
As also highlighted in the Mark Twain biography, the last twenty years of the 19th century are an amazing era of innovation. I enjoyed the book. I spent my youth around diesel engines.
It was surprising to me that the first widespread use of diesel engines were for German U-Boats. There was an arms race by the world's major power to build submarines in the build up to World War I. The key was the diesel engine.
Diesel’s disappearance on the eve of the war happened exactly when the "submarine engine race" was at its peak. Although the theory is controversial, the author posits that Rudolf Diesel didn't commit suucide, but was taken to Canada by the British to help with their submarine building effort.
One footnote. Jack and I spent the night on a World War II submarine. It reeked of diesel... When we got home from the trip, all of clothes smelled like diesel.
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