- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Quadrille Publishing; Paperback Edition edition (2 May 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844006018
- ISBN-13: 978-1844006014
- Product Dimensions: 27.7 x 21.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
444,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #100 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Motor Sports > Reference
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The Bentley Era celebrates a unique moment in motor-sport, a short period between the wars that was populated with devil-may-care characters who lived their lives as fast off the racetrack as they drove their Bentleys around the famed courses of Brooklands and Le Mans. For a few fast and colourful years during the twenties, the Bentley Boys carried all before them both on and off the racetrack. They, more than any other group of rich young men, embodied the carefree, spendthrift, thrill-seeking, sybaritic spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Lavishly illustrated with over 100 fascinating archive shots and filled with numerous facts and anecdotes, the book completely captures the glamour of the age when the legend of the Bentley Boys was born. To set the story in its social and motoring context, the book begins with an introduction to the life and engineering ingenuity of the fabled W. O. Bentley before focussing on the on and off racetrack careers of some of the most famous Bentley Boys. The final chapter follows what happened to the Bentley Boys after their golden age was over and the subsequent history of Bentley Motors.
About the Author
Nicholas Foulkes is the luxury editor of GQ, editor of Vanity Fair s On Time and a columnist on Country Life as well contributing articles to most major British newspapers and magazines. He is also a founding editor of Bentley Magazine. He has written several books, including a biography of the Count d Orsay and The Bentley Miscellany. A keen backgammon player, he lives beyond his means with his family in West London.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Enjoyable jaunt about the whirlwinds of high-society that were the Bentley Boys. Nicholas Foulkes' enthusiasm is successfully transferred to the page and the brevity of the book somehow suits the subject matter. The large-format book provides a number of excellent photographs and snapshots of the social life of these ebullient characters with some delightful vignettes, particularly regarding Dorothy Paget.
Negative points include some poor editing which means that there are a small number of irritating errors, for example in the epilogue Andy Wallace's surname is somehow spelled 'Lawrence' (!). The book relies a lot on transcribing extensive passages from other books and biographies relating to the Bentley Boys. Another issue is the virtual disappearance of W.O. Bentley from the tale once Woolf Barnato appears on the scene - I would like to have heard more about W.O.'s working relationship with 'Babe'. Finally, and this is a purely personal view, I found the description of Glen Kidston's death in such gory detail a little unnecessary.
However, these issues, on the whole, do not detract from a wonderfully evocative account of a bygone sporting and social era. The book is a very enjoyable read, is excellent value for money, very well referenced, and the photos mean that you will be returning to this book many times.
Negative points include some poor editing which means that there are a small number of irritating errors, for example in the epilogue Andy Wallace's surname is somehow spelled 'Lawrence' (!). The book relies a lot on transcribing extensive passages from other books and biographies relating to the Bentley Boys. Another issue is the virtual disappearance of W.O. Bentley from the tale once Woolf Barnato appears on the scene - I would like to have heard more about W.O.'s working relationship with 'Babe'. Finally, and this is a purely personal view, I found the description of Glen Kidston's death in such gory detail a little unnecessary.
However, these issues, on the whole, do not detract from a wonderfully evocative account of a bygone sporting and social era. The book is a very enjoyable read, is excellent value for money, very well referenced, and the photos mean that you will be returning to this book many times.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Foulkes really brings the era to live: Great portraits of the men (and women!) involved. Great photography. Very readable and enjoyable. Adds live to the dryer books on the subject. A must for every fan of the era or Bentley.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is obvious that Nicholas Foulks loves his subject, and the title is surprisingly accurate. This is not a technical compendium but a rattle through the tracks and pit stops of the Bentley era, featuring all the Bentley Boys; notably Tiger Tim Birkin. Like the Bentley Boys, the tales are odd and eccentric, irresponsible, devil may care and - at times - terrifying: no seatbelts, just cork-lined hats and plenty of Brit grit.
If you are an avid fan of this era, then this is a must have. Few (if any) have caught the excitement of the times, and the author avoids a technical approach. There are plenty of excellent photographs, and the layout is easy to dip in and out of. The writing still is suitably effusive.
There are a couple of criticisms: Foulkes makes some sweeping statements (did the 20th century really start with ths sound of a Bentley engine? What about WWI for example), and it is dubious to claim that every Brit was moved by a very elitist success. The book looks great but there are some annoying tracts of blank page. A cynic might say to make the relatively short story into a larger book; but given the other virtues this is forgivable.
A really great piece of history that avoids the lecturing or dull: Foulks really is buoyant about the Bentley Boys.
If you are an avid fan of this era, then this is a must have. Few (if any) have caught the excitement of the times, and the author avoids a technical approach. There are plenty of excellent photographs, and the layout is easy to dip in and out of. The writing still is suitably effusive.
There are a couple of criticisms: Foulkes makes some sweeping statements (did the 20th century really start with ths sound of a Bentley engine? What about WWI for example), and it is dubious to claim that every Brit was moved by a very elitist success. The book looks great but there are some annoying tracts of blank page. A cynic might say to make the relatively short story into a larger book; but given the other virtues this is forgivable.
A really great piece of history that avoids the lecturing or dull: Foulks really is buoyant about the Bentley Boys.
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