Henry Kendall went to sea as a cabin boy at the age of 15. By the time he was 32 he was the captain of an Atlantic liner, and in 1910 shot to fame when he sent a celebrated wireless transmission from the SS Montrose, as she headed out into the Atlantic Ocean: "Have strong suspicions that Crippen, London cellar murderer and accomplice, are among saloon passengers." The message sparked off an extraordinary chase as Inspector Walter Dew of Scotland Yard raced by train to Liverpool, boarded a fast ship to Canada, aiming to arrive before the Montrose, to arrest Dr Crippen. The world watched the drama unfold as the power of wireless communication in law enforcement was proved for the first time. Four years later Kendall was the commander of the RMS Empress of Ireland when she was hit and sunk by a Norwegian coal freighter in the St Lawrence estuary. There were 1,012 lives lost but, by a quirk of fate, Kendall lived. During his life he survived attempted murder, shipwrecks, torpedoes, icebergs, scorpion bites, cannibals, sharks, fevers, flying bombs and even a marauding leopard. Kendall's amazing life is told by Joe Saward, the author of the best-selling "Grand Prix Saboteurs". Four years after Crippen's arrest, Kendall was in command of the RMS Empress of Ireland when she was sunk by a Norwegian coal freighter. There were 1,012 lives lost that night but - by a quirk of fate - Kendall survived. These extraordinary stories are told by the author of best-selling "Grand Prix Saboteurs".
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What the reviewers said about
The Grand Prix Saboteurs
"I could not put the book down, and having now finished it, I wish it had gone on longer." - International Herald Tribune
"A cracking story. A tale of derring-do and chivalry on the racetracks of yore, of romance against the glamorous backdrops of 1920s Paris and Monaco, and of heroism and tragedy behind the lines in World War Two. The Grand Prix Saboteurs is history, but it reads like a series of screenplays crammed with compelling characters." - Daily Telegraph
The Grand Prix Saboteurs
"I could not put the book down, and having now finished it, I wish it had gone on longer." - International Herald Tribune
"A cracking story. A tale of derring-do and chivalry on the racetracks of yore, of romance against the glamorous backdrops of 1920s Paris and Monaco, and of heroism and tragedy behind the lines in World War Two. The Grand Prix Saboteurs is history, but it reads like a series of screenplays crammed with compelling characters." - Daily Telegraph
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In a departure from previous work, The Man Who Caught Crippen barely features a motor car, let alone a racing driver. Instead the focus of the book is a time when sailing ships and steamers defined the pinnacle of technology.
Given Joe's long career as an F1 journalist, I applaud his decision to look at an era that was perhaps outside his comfort zone. Aside from noting even in the age of wind power 'racing improved the breed', and the fact much of the story takes place near to the location of the Canadian Grand Prix, you'd struggle to find a motor racing connection amongst these pages.
The Man Who Caught Crippen is entertaining and educational and very well written. It is a terrific read and I heartily recommend it to anybody. If I have one complaint it's the lack of a digital purchasing option. I very much expect this will be the very last paperback book I ever buy, but what a book!
Given Joe's long career as an F1 journalist, I applaud his decision to look at an era that was perhaps outside his comfort zone. Aside from noting even in the age of wind power 'racing improved the breed', and the fact much of the story takes place near to the location of the Canadian Grand Prix, you'd struggle to find a motor racing connection amongst these pages.
The Man Who Caught Crippen is entertaining and educational and very well written. It is a terrific read and I heartily recommend it to anybody. If I have one complaint it's the lack of a digital purchasing option. I very much expect this will be the very last paperback book I ever buy, but what a book!
By Rallyman
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Following on from the excellent 'Grand Prix Saboteurs' Joe Saward has again come up with a cracking tale that is slightly off the radar from the obvious.
This is another piece of excellently - and extensively - researched material and aside from a few minor editing errors not picked up by the publisher it's a rattling good yarn of life at sea in the days before travel was accessible to everyone and pre the days of instant global communication.
This is another piece of excellently - and extensively - researched material and aside from a few minor editing errors not picked up by the publisher it's a rattling good yarn of life at sea in the days before travel was accessible to everyone and pre the days of instant global communication.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic real-life adventure story
23 Jan 2011
By Nick Planas
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is the amazing true story of the life of Henry Kendall, who was born in 1874 and died aged 91 in the closing months of 1965. Most of the book covers the first 44 years of his life, based on contemporary reports and Kendall's own personal notes and family records. The author has done a tremendous amount of research which has really brought the subject to life. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down.
After a young life packed with adventure, sailing the world, with several close shaves (including witnessing a murder and then being targeted by the murderer himself), at the age of 32 Henry Kendall was Captain of one of the largest Atlantic liners.
He became world famous in 1910 after spotting the escaping Dr Crippen and his young female accomplice onboard his ship, disguised as father and son. He sent a wireless message (the first to be used to apprehend a criminal) to London, where Inspector Walter Dew picked it up and raced to Canada on a faster ship, to meet and arrest Crippen before the ship had docked.
Four years later, Kendall was in command of the RMS Empress of Ireland when she was sunk by a Norwegian coal freighter. The ship went down in 14 minutes and over a thousand lives were lost. Kendall was meant to go down with his ship but was plucked to safety and instead faced the stress of a Board of Inquiry. Ultimately exonerated, he began to work the Atlantic convoys during WW1, with further dangerous escapades including a voyage where his ship was torpedoed not once but twice.
Henry Kendall made his last voyage in 1918 aged just 44, and settled in London where he ran the activities of Canadian Pacific for many years, retiring aged 65 in January 1939. The final chapter of the book is concerned with his life after retirement, detailing his descendants' lives.
If you like a book packed with real-life adventure, I thoroughly recommend this book.
After a young life packed with adventure, sailing the world, with several close shaves (including witnessing a murder and then being targeted by the murderer himself), at the age of 32 Henry Kendall was Captain of one of the largest Atlantic liners.
He became world famous in 1910 after spotting the escaping Dr Crippen and his young female accomplice onboard his ship, disguised as father and son. He sent a wireless message (the first to be used to apprehend a criminal) to London, where Inspector Walter Dew picked it up and raced to Canada on a faster ship, to meet and arrest Crippen before the ship had docked.
Four years later, Kendall was in command of the RMS Empress of Ireland when she was sunk by a Norwegian coal freighter. The ship went down in 14 minutes and over a thousand lives were lost. Kendall was meant to go down with his ship but was plucked to safety and instead faced the stress of a Board of Inquiry. Ultimately exonerated, he began to work the Atlantic convoys during WW1, with further dangerous escapades including a voyage where his ship was torpedoed not once but twice.
Henry Kendall made his last voyage in 1918 aged just 44, and settled in London where he ran the activities of Canadian Pacific for many years, retiring aged 65 in January 1939. The final chapter of the book is concerned with his life after retirement, detailing his descendants' lives.
If you like a book packed with real-life adventure, I thoroughly recommend this book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it.
13 Dec 2010
By BiggusJimmus
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Every now and then we come across a book which so captures our imagination that we seem unable to put it down, using every spare moment to read a few pages and putting off more 'important' tasks to make time to get stuck in. Immediately we turn the final page we search our shelves for another just like it. Invariably, we are disappointed. For me, this is one such book.
The author has performed a great effort of research and paints a vivid and absorbing picture of not only Henry Kendall but the world in which he moved. I learned much about the story of my own country (Australia, by the way), which was unexpected and gave me much pleasure.
Negatively, there are quite a number of typos and a few cumbersome sentences and other technical issues with the text, but these are problems only for the technically minded and in no way detract from the strength of a narrative which is told with warmth, humour and empathy.
The world needs more books like this one.
The author has performed a great effort of research and paints a vivid and absorbing picture of not only Henry Kendall but the world in which he moved. I learned much about the story of my own country (Australia, by the way), which was unexpected and gave me much pleasure.
Negatively, there are quite a number of typos and a few cumbersome sentences and other technical issues with the text, but these are problems only for the technically minded and in no way detract from the strength of a narrative which is told with warmth, humour and empathy.
The world needs more books like this one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A True Story
21 Feb 2013
By Book/Music Enthusiast
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I discovered this book about the real Inspector Walter Dew after reading Peter Lovesey's novel, "The False Inspector Dew," a humorous, delightful bit of fiction. Both books are about Dr. Crippen, the dentist who almost got away with killing his wife. This one gets 5 stars, and so does Lovesey's novel.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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