The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I

In October 1913, the SS Dresden made worldwide headlines with the disappearance of one of its passengers, Rudolf Diesel. Diesel was a noted inventor who made marked innovations to the internal combustion engine, and his creation had recently begun making inroads in the transportation industry. Diesel’s whereabouts were unknown as of September 29, 1913. Two weeks later, a body would be located in the Scheldt River and tentatively identified as Diesel. Speculation was rife in the newspapers about Diesel’s demise being accidental or suicide. However, Diesel’s engine threatened the petroleum empire headed by ruthless figures such as John D. Rockefeller of Standard Oil. Diesel’s willingness to work with the British offended German leader Kaiser Wilhelm I, especially as militarism swept Europe and pushed the world to war. The narrative attributed Diesel’s death to suicide, but nagging questions remain.

Douglas Brunt (Ghosts of Manhattan) investigates the eventful life and enigmatic death of Rudolf Diesel in this compelling historical tale. Brunt’s exceptional work functions as a memoir with more than a hint of true crime whodunit mixed in. Diesel’s life story is engrossing, but his swan song proves more titillating over a century later.