Product Description

Generations are familiar with the haunting black and white television footage of Donald Campbell somersaulting to his death in his famous Bluebird boat on Coniston Water in January, 1967. It has become an iconic image of the decade. His towering achievements, and the drama of his passing, are thus part of the national psyche. But what of the man himself? The son of the legendary Sir Malcolm Campbell who was famous for being the ultimate record-breaker of the inter-war years - he broke the land speed record nine times and the water speed record four times with his Bluebird cars and boats - Donald Campbell was born to speed. He was outgoing and flamboyant, yet carefully orchestrated the image he presented to the world. Some saw him as a playboy adventurer; others, such as the radio producer on the twenty-first anniversary of his death, as a reckless daredevil with a death wish. He was known to take solace in extra-marital dalliances, and was obsessed with spiritualism. And in his final years, battered by a 360-mph accident while attempting the land record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and his prolonged and anti-climactic subsequent effort on the treacherous Lake Eyre in Australia, Campbell appeared a haggard and often frightened man. He had become trapped on his record-breaker's treadmill as he continually sought to prove himself to his illustrious father, in whose long shadow he felt forever trapped. DONALD CAMPBELL: THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK paints a fascinating portrait of an intense, complex, superstitious yet abnormally brave man who was driven not only by the desire to prove that he was worthy of the mantle of his father, but also by his fervent and unswerving desire to keep Britain at the forefront of international speed endeavour. This book generates a unique insight into how his desperate fear of failure finally lured him into taking one risk too many.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199727 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 359 pages

Review
This is a thorough life of the famous record breaker who came to grief on Coniston Water in January 1967, and it is surprising that the story has not been done before. Donald Campbell is such a fascinating figure, clearly driven by some marvellous obsessions, not least a fear of failure (there is a dark father too, impossible to please, lurking in the background). Well, he failed in the end, in spectacular fashion, and TV footage of Bluebird flipping over is impossible to forget, iconographic Sixties imagery on a par with the moon landings and the Kennedy shootings. This is the book for anyone curious as to how Campbell ended up strapped into a fast boat on that cold day in January. Will be widely reviewed and bought by people interested in cars, speed and the winter before the Summer of Love.

THE TIMES
'Goes a long way to answering the questions many of those familiar with Campbell's exploits never contemplated...Wonderfully vivid'

INK magazine
'A rattling good read...Tremayne has a perfect understanding of his subject's obsession with speed'

Customer Reviews

The Definative biography of the life of Donald Campbell
Donald Campbell was the most courageous sportsman of his generation.
With a deeply held patriotic desire to keep Britain on top, he bravely captured 8 outright world speed records for his country in the 1950's and 60's.
He was a product of an extraordinary upbringing, the only son of Britain's pre war record breaker, Sir Malcolm Campbell, and he led an extraordinary life.
David Tremayne has spent more than a dozen years researching this book. It shows. The level of detail, and the accuracy of that detail shines through. This is not a sensationalist volume, nor a sycophantic one. It tell's the story of a truly great man using one simple maxim. This is how he was.
Any reader, including those not normally interested in things automotive, will not be disappointed when they have finished reading David Tremayne's story of this brave man.

Fulfilling and emotional
What can I say, other than to add to previous comments. A remarkable book, not just because of it's ten plud years in the making, but the fact that the passion and enthusiasim of the racer comes through in the passion and enthusiasm of the author. You do not need to be a fan of speed, boats or records to enjoy this book - simply a fan of people, for this is an extraodinary story that means a lot to read.