Free and virtual!
The Friends of the Michael Schwartz Library
showcases library webinars and online events each month
featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world.
Featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres. The free, virtual events take place two to three times a month and include the opportunity to ask questions of the author. A complete list of events is available on the Library's Webinars and Online Events website.
Wednesday, May 1st at 3:00 p.m.
Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I - An Author Talk with Douglas Brunt
Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
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 the world.
Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. Register now to see how the mystery unfolds!
About the Author:
Douglas Brunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel and host of the top-rated SiriusXM author podcast Dedicated with Doug Brunt. A Philadelphia native, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. Visit DouglasBrunt.com for more information.
For more information or to register for the online events, visit Upcoming Speakers.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Michael Schwartz Library and the Michael Schwartz Library Virginia McFrederick Discretionary Fund.