The Race to the Future
The Adventure that Accelerated the Twentieth Century
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
The Adventure that Accelerated the Twentieth Century
Ratings1
Average rating4
10 June 1907, Peking. Five cars set off in a desperate race across two continents on the verge of revolution. An Italian prince and his chauffeur, a French racing driver, a conman and various journalists battle over steep mountain ranges and across the arid vastness of the Gobi Desert. The contestants need teams of helpers to drag their primitive cars up narrow gorges, lift them over rough terrain and float them across rivers. Petrol is almost impossible to find, there are barely any roads, armed bandits and wolves lurk in the forests. Updates on their progress, sent by telegram, are eagerly devoured by millions in one of the first ever global news stories. Their destination: Paris. More than its many adventures, the Peking-to-Paris provided the impetus for profound change. The world of 1907 is poised between the old and the new: communist regimes will replace imperial ones in China and Russia; the telegraph is transforming modern communication and the car will soon displace the horse. In this book bestselling author Kassia St Clair traces the fascinating stories of two interlocking races - setting the derring-do (and sometimes cheating) of one of the world's first car races against the backdrop of a larger geopolitical and technological rush to the future, as the rivalry grows between countries and empires, building up to the cataclysmic event that changed everything - the First World War. The Race to the Future is the incredible true story of the quest against the odds that shaped the world we live in today. PRAISE FOR KASSIA ST CLAIR 'Excellent, innovative and idiosyncratic history that will colour your thinking . . . St Clair writes with style, energy and knowledge' SPECTATOR 'Hugely ambitious, sparklingly erudite and wonderfully engaging' PETER FRANKOPAN, HISTORY TODAY
Reviews with the most likes.
In Kassia St. Clair's compelling historical account, “The Race to the Future,” readers are transported to the scorching summer of 1907, where the heart-pounding Peking to Paris race unfolds against the backdrop of a world teetering on the brink of revolution.
The narrative opens with a vivid description of the Rubicon moment in the rise of the automobile—a sensational race featuring five diverse automobiles near the Forbidden City. St. Clair introduces us to a captivating cast of characters, including an Italian prince, a daring con man, and a French racing driver, each contributing to the high-stakes drama of this audacious journey.
What makes this book stand out is St. Clair's meticulous attention to historical detail. The author expertly navigates the complexities of the race, delving into the treacherous terrains the contestants faced—steep mountain ranges, dense forests, and the unforgiving Gobi Desert. The immersive storytelling captures the attention of a global audience eagerly devouring telegraphed reports, making this one of the first-ever global news sensations.
Beyond the thrilling adventures, “The Race to the Future” unfolds as a metaphor for a world in the throes of profound change. St. Clair seamlessly weaves in the geopolitical and technological landscape of the time, from the fall of the Qing dynasty to the rise of gendered marketing, and from the decline of the horse economy to the looming specter of the First World War. The departure of the horse economy and the rise of the automotive age become powerful symbols of an era hurtling towards an uncertain future.
In conclusion, “The Race to the Future” is an engaging exploration of one of the world's first automotive races, offering readers a front-row seat to a transformative era. While the characters may fall short of complete resonance, St. Clair's narrative prowess and her ability to intertwine the race with broader historical shifts make this book a captivating read for enthusiasts of history, technology, and adventure.
