OPERATION EXCALIBUR A novel by Alethea Hartwell

Hartwell creates suspense in a pre-World War setting.

Operation Excalibur, a new work of historical fiction by Alethea Hartwell, tells the story of Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine. The book examines the mystery surrounding Diesel’s death. Although Diesel was reported to have died by suicide, Hartwell offers another possibility—one that turns a familiar historical conclusion into an enjoyable narrative of suspense and intrigue.

The novel’s voice is clear and easy to read. The reader understands complex ideas without losing interest in the storyline. Hartwell’s research and attention to historical details create a vivid portrait of time and place. The reader experiences the settings and ambiance of bygone days along with the heart-pounding realities of pre-World War I Europe.

Rudolf Diesel pulls the reader into a bygone era.

Hartwell creates an interesting character in Rudolf Diesel. She portrays him as a thoughtful, compassionate, and unusual man with deeply held beliefs about how life should be lived. Diesel knew and befriended many historical figures, and Hartwell does not shy from including them in the book. These were captains of industry and invention. Hartwell gives us a fresh perspective without hammering the reader on the perceived ills of past practices. Hartwell also makes clear where the demands of fiction have required changes to facts, dates, or chronology; a welcome consideration for readers who value both imagination and historical accuracy.

Taking place just before World War I, Operation Excalibur explores an era less frequently portrayed than the familiar landscape of World War II fiction. That choice gives the novel a distinctive atmosphere and opens a window onto a world poised at the edge of enormous change.

The book’s sensory descriptions highlight the novel. The reader feels the rain, smells the air, sees the sidewalk, walks beneath the lights, and hears the rumble of trains along the platforms. We stand at the ship’s prow, enter the lecture hall, and rise in a balloon. These are not merely backgrounds for the action; they are places we inhabit. Hartwell’s writing grants the reader a repast in history and, for a time, we are truly there.

For readers who enjoy immersive historical fiction, real-life mysteries, and richly drawn characters, Operation Excalibur is a rewarding offering.

(A.I. assisted in drafting the review, but the ideas and reading were all mine, along with the final draft. Thanks for reading. B.A. Coots)

Alethea’s book is available directly from aletheahartwell.com