Whitney Straight: Racing Driver, War Hero, Industrialist; The Authorised Biography

Summary

A gripping tale of speed, heroism, romance, determination, and tragedy

Born in New York with a silver spoon in his mouth, Whitney Straight became a naturalized Briton who earned his living. He turned down Churchill’s proposal of a career in politics to become CEO of BOAC, transforming it from a sales vehicle for outmoded aircraft into a national airline to be proud of. At Rolls-Royce, he railed against a company dominated by engineers who made poor businessmen, and after the national tragedy of the great company going bust, played a fundamental role in the splitting of the auto and aero businesses still seen today.

An incurable romantic, he could never imagine being married to anyone other than his wife, yet he had numerous mistresses and countless girlfriends. Paul Kenny has been granted unfettered access to Straight’s diaries, photograph albums, and has scoured archives on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of the first full story of one of the twentieth century’s greatest mavericks.