John Warner IV's "Little Anton:" Love, Espionage and WWII Grand Prix Racing
(NewsUSA)
"Warner takes readers on an epic, white-knuckle ride through one of history's most chilling untold stories."
Little Anton by John W. Warner IV is a riveting historical novel from a born truth teller. Teetering between fact and fiction, it begins with a trove of historical knowledge we would remember from high school, had we been paying attention. Then it slides off-center into the occult where credibility meets intrigue. Add real-life characters Adolph Hitler, Ferdinand Porsche, and Sir Winston Churchill, and Mr. Warner's novel in three parts has something for everyone.
The son of retired Senator John W. Warner III (R-VA), former Secretary of the Navy and Chairman of the Armed Services Committee (KBE), and Catherine Mellon, banking heiress and daughter of philanthropist Paul Mellon (OSS, KBE), Warner says growing up in a family that had a seat at many of the most historically significant tables led to his insatiable quest to find and reveal hidden truths behind world events.
Warner's book begins during that unsettling time between the two World Wars. Europe is struggling to find her place; countries are repairing cities and economies. And yet, innovation and invention emerge, challenging long-held beliefs and fears.
LOVE STORY, SPY NOVEL AND MORE
Deftly, Warner weaves industrial history, the women's movement, international relations, America's foreign policy, and engineering with the thrills and dangers of racing - both on the ground and in the air. Presented as historical fiction, Little Anton is also a love story, a spy novel, and a book about engines, auto racing, adventure, war, and intrigue.
Although it begins as a paean to Dr. Porsche, the fictional Sunderlands, Briggs and Lainey, and their spirited daughter Bea soon take center stage.
Lady Bea, and her debutante friends live lavishly in British society, gossiping over tea and whiskey about suitors and hemlines.
Part One revolves around the Grand Prix racing circuit and the rivalry and technological advances of the auto world. Imagine fancy dresses and oil-stained coveralls, straw boaters and leather helmets. It's a heady mix of high society and gritty race drivers - at high speeds with sharp corners.
BLEEDS FICTION INTO HISTORY
At the race course, we learn that Hitler is a sports car enthusiast. After he becomes chancellor, his passion for fast cars grows in scope and influence, and he enlists the help and brains of the genius, Professor Porsche.
Warner bleeds fiction into history. The irrepressible Lady Bea finds a soul mate in her uncl,e Sir Winston Churchill, and as WW II looms inevitably, that relationship proves pivotal.
Bea enlists as a spy for Great Britain. Her mission is to infiltrate Porsche's workshop and locate the plans for Hitler's tank commission. Bea is up to the task: she can fly an airplane upside down, shoot a gun, speak four languages, and handily assist in the Grand Prix pit. She's a volatile James Bond - seductive and irresistible, but dangerous and explosive.
Mr. Warner clearly shows a passion for detail in his research and love for his subject matter. That passion powers the story and the characters -- both real and imagined. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3mv03ly.
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