A Darracq Called Genevieve: Veteran Motoring's Most Famous Car

(Hardback)

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The Bafta award-winning Genevieve, a British film of the coronation year 1953 with an Oscar nominated music score by harmonica player Larry Adler, became the catalyst for unprecedented interest in veteran motoring worldwide.Genevieve s participation in the annual London to Brighton run for veteran cars, alongside her rival, a throaty, bright yellow Dutch Spyker, has become a legendary tale. But what of this 1904 French Darracqs life before and after it s film careerRodney Laredo s in-depth biography of Genevieve is the first of its kind. It charts both the public and private life of this famous identity within the old car industry.For more than forty years the author has collected an extensive pictorial and documented archive of material, through his own personal association with Genevieve and her respective owners and restorers in England, New Zealand, Australia, and Holland. Much of the material is new, and made available here for the first time.Intriguing recollections - from those who starred in the film Genevieve, who were involved in its production, and who became friends of the author over a long period - are likewise included."

Reviews

Laredo's research into the car's earlier years make for the most fascinating reading ... It's amazing to think that the first 40 years of one of the world's most famous cars are lost, but Laredo's book does much to make up for this. Classic Cars Brighton Run fans should enjoy this work Classic & Sports Car (UK) If you love the film [Genevieve], it's a good read with some surprising information and back ground. Classic Motor Monthly a one-off that does the subject matter proud Classic Car Weekly Quite a journey - and quite a story - from being discovered lying derelict in a builder's yard in East London in 1945. Fascinating. Big End/All Torque. Rodney Laredo writes from the heart, hence the tale reading like a very personal capping of his lifelong involvement in the Genevieve story. Packed with images, including stills from the movie, letter of correspondence, news clippings, script extracts, movie documents and much more, it's hard to she why any hardcore Genevieve fan would bot want a copy of this book. But even those possessed of a more casual interest will find this an enjoyable romp through the movie.- Sump.

Author Bio

Rodney Laredo is a published author, photographer, guest speaker, and self-confessed anglophile who enjoys a great love and knowledge of rural England. He has an extensive career in newspaper marketing and freelance writing with this industry and associated periodicals. His subject matter reflects a wide variety of interests including international travel, photography, architecture, gardening, interior design, art, theatre, film, preservation of heritage buildings, and countryside. He has a long-held fascination for veteran, vintage and classic motoring, having always owned some of the most collectable marques. Rodney, with his wife Alethea, and two children, live in Christchurch, New Zealand.