#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsay presents
a powerfully romantic Regency-era tale that is breathtaking in scope
and wondrously passionate.
When Sebastian Townshend, son of the eighth Earl of Edgewood, was banished from his family due to the tragic results of a duel, he vowed never to return to England. Now living on the continent, Sebastian has forged a new identity as a deadly mercenary, The Raven. But his former neighbor, Lady Margaret Landor, has different plans for him. Back in England, Sebastian's father has had several accidents and Margaret suspects foul play and deception that reach as far back as the infamous duel. Convinced that only Sebastian can set the situation to rights, Margaret arranges a scandalous bargain with him that includes Sebastian's returning home as her husband. As the newlyweds uncover a deadly scheme, a fierce passion blossoms between them, which neither anticipated -- and neither can resist.
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The Right Stuff
List Price: $12.95
Our Price: $38.81
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Book written by: Tom Wolfe
Average Customer Rating:  
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The Right Stuff - book description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 629.40973
EAN: 9780374250324
ISBN: 0374250324
Label: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 448
Publication Date: 1979-01-01
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Studio: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
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Editorial Reviews:
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny emapthetic powers, that made this book a classic.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Summary: The Beginning of Manned Spaceflight!
Comment: Tom Wolfe's research for The Right Stuff, is more historically accurate than the movie version. The book was warmly received by the astronaut community, especially among the surviving members of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. The book goes back to the beginning to the test pilots flying from Murac Field, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. The early jet and rocket research conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, led to Project Mercury, Project Gemini, Project Apollo and the Space Shuttle. You can very easily get lost in the pages of this book. Not only did Mr. Wolfe do his research on the historic aspect of the book, he also researched the personal lives of the pilots, including Chuck Yeager and Scott Crossfield. As the book comes forward in time, Mr. Wolfe researched the personal lives of the Mercury 7 astronauts. The competition for astronaut selection, was intense and in competition with the Soviet Union. After the selection of the Mercury 7, the astronauts did have an agreement with Life Magazine to do their life stories. This is one aspect of the movie that agrees with the book. The Media's aggressive way in pursuing their stories, was not too well received by the astronauts. The issue regarding "extra-ciricular" was mentioned in the book and the movie. The way the issue was presented in the movie, was completely different than the book version. In the book, Gus Grissom was accurately presented, a pilot and an engineer. After the explosive bolts on the access hatch of Liberty Bell 7 were activated, Grissom was concerned. He also wanted to find the answers on why they activated. It was later theorized, static electricity from the rotor wash of the recovery helicopter, led to the accidential activation of the explosive bolts and the loss of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft. The way Gus Grissom was portrayed in the movie, was not to well received by the astronaut community, especially among the surviving members of the Mercury 7 astronauts. In an interview of Wally Schirra that I seen years later on NASA Television, Captain Schirra talked about this very issue. Captain Schirra stated the book was more historically accurate. He didn't agree with the way the story was presented and did not agree with the way Gus Grissom was portrayed in the movie. Captain Schirra stated, the movie should have been titled "Animal House in Space!" One of the other astronauts who was mentioned in the book, was Deke Slayton. When Captain Slayton was selected for astronaut training, he had an irregular heartbeat. NASA's medical staff were hoping the condition would clear itself, before Slayton made his first spaceflight. Deke Slayton would have made his first mission, after John Glenn. A few months before his mission, the irregular heartbeat did not clear itself. Medical stardards at that time, forced the NASA flight surgeon to remove Deke Slayton from his flight and was replaced by Scott Carpenter. Deke Slayton became the Director of Flight Crew Operations and was a very effective and respected leader of the astronaut community.
For anyone who is interested in the beginning of the jet age and the early years of the space program, The Right Stuff is recommended reading. The book presents a excellent overview of that time in history and it explores the personal lives of the test pilots and the astronauts. After reading the book, the Internet will allow you to do any follow-up or detailed research on the subject if you so choose.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Zeitgeist of 50s and 60s in Full
Comment: Having seen the movie before reading the book, I expected Wolfe's THE RIGHT STUFF to be good. I was surprised how good it turned out to be in capturing the mood of the America in the late 50s and early 60s. Character, admittedly topped off with a little self-promotion in zorder to rise up the military ladder, was king. Also pointed out by Wolfe is the Protestant underpinings of the seven golden boys. Backed by Presbyterian and TIME magazine czar, H. Luce, John Glenn (Presbyterian to the core) became the perfect promotional piece for the day and age.
The narrative moves quickly. The sections on Yeager are worthy of their own treatment as a book. Wolfe is on top of his game, which in his case is not being too flowery.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the finest books in the English language
Comment: The Right Stuff is essential reading for any student of post-war western popular history whether or not you are interested in aviation and the space-race. Even if you dont hold with the concept of 'top three' books and the like, once you have read this, it will always come to mind when you are put on the spot and have to name your favourites.
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Summary: Living on the outside of the envelope
Comment: In the years following WWII and Korea as the military graduated to fighter jets a certain hierarchy of talent developed. At the top of the pyramid were those in "flight test," where pilots with a certain indefinable something went to push the limits of the newest and most advanced jets. Landing several tons of metal atop a heaving and pitching aircraft carrier in the dark of night or "hanging your hide on the outside of the envelope" in experimental jets is a dangerous profession requiring what Mr. Wolfe calls "the Right Stuff." From Chuck Yeager, the first to exceed the speed of sound (Mach 1), to John Glenn and the other Mercury astronauts, few possess this right or "righteous stuff," and many are "left behind" on the climb up that pyramid. Mr. Wolfe introduces us to those who had it and some who died lacking it, as well as the competition of the "Space Race" of the 60s, and does so with a very distinct style that conveys the attitude of those who possessed it. The missions of the Mercury astronauts are covered in particular detail and sort of form the pinnacle of this story, from the enormous egos of some to the petty jealousies and politics that played out behind the perfect facade Life Magazine presented to the nation.
In fact, the most singular aspect of this book for me would be the style with which it is written, dripping with the huge egos and arrogance of the pilots. Theirs is a dangerous job with few monetary rewards, requiring them to sacrifice family life and comfort, but carrying a thrill few people will ever experience. This, Mr. Wolfe explains, results in a feeling of superiority which he portrays excellently with his writing. And he conveys this attitude with certain phrases he uses repeatedly throughout, such as the "right stuff" or "flying & drinking, and drinking & driving," or the "Friend of Widows and Orphans," etc. It becomes a kind of shorthand for the concepts within the fraternity of pilots and their families. It's very interesting to learn of the lives and successes and defeats, particularly Chuck Yeager and John Glenn. But it is also this style which began to wear on me after a while - on the one hand the story is incredibly interesting, but on the other I got really tired of reading it and couldn't wait to just be done with the book. Also, the language of the book is pretty coarse, and hardly a page goes by that doesn't have several profanities or vulgarities, so be forewarned if you're bothered by that. But a fascinating story nonetheless and I can't wait to watch the movie now.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dawn's Early Light
Comment: Bang! Zoom! Pow!
If you like prose that crackles like sparklers in your eyes, and tells a good story besides, then Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff", about the Mercury 7 spaceflight program of the early 1960s, is for you.
Published in 1979, back when the U.S. was the world's laughing stock and "malaise" was the operative word from the White House, "The Right Stuff" calls to mind with equal degrees of snark and awe a time when real heroes walked the earth and flew beyond and around it. Men, yes, but heroes, too. Wolfe never lets go of the human element, in fact, the best thing "The Right Stuff" has going for it.
As a non-fiction novel, it has its limitations, too. Wolfe doesn't make up quotes, he hardly quotes the seven Mercury astronauts at the center of the story, except for flight transcripts and press conferences where their words are public record. But he doesn't seem to channel theirs or anyone else's voices, except Wolfe's own.
Beginning with the book's title, he uses a lot of terms to capture what the early U.S. space program, and the test flights on experimental jets leading up to it, were really about. Terms like "the great ziggurat" "flying & drinking and drinking & driving", "true brother", "the mighty integral", often in caps, get a lot of use even though there's no sign anyone ever used them or even thought them up before Wolfe did.
There's an overall tone of omnipotence that feels smug and gets in the way: Never mind what was going through John Glenn's mind when he was wondering if Friendship 7's heat shield had burned up on atmospheric reentry - here's what he REALLY MUST have thought!
But the book is so entertaining, it really compensates for Wolfe's excesses. The astronauts were not breaking new ground; everything they did the Soviets did too, except sooner and for longer durations. But they were putting their lives on the line as investments toward a larger purpose, an achievement no other country has matched in close to 40 years, landing on the moon. And they were also disproving the notion that Americans after World War II were doomed to failure, that "our boys always botch it" mentality which hung over the country at the time (and which by 1979 was back with a vengeance).
Sharp, funny, and full of graspable insights (the riders of the first Mercury capsules had as much control over their craft as does a Ferris-wheel rider), "The Right Stuff" may settle for entertainment over enlightenment, but it is very entertaining.
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