Bluebird and the Dead Lake: The Classic Account of How Donald Campbell Broke the World Land Speed Record

by John George Pearson, Richard Williams (Introduction)

In 1964 in Australia’s remote outback, on the dazzling saltpan of Lake Eyre, Donald Campbell set out to drive his Bluebird car at over 400 miles an hour—faster than any man in history. Things went wrong from the unseasonable rains, a sodden lake bed in which every high-speed run slewed dangerously, money running short—even an Aboriginal curse. With death shimmering on the horizon, the lonely Campbell tried to hold his nerve until he broke the record. Campbell would eventually lose his life racing his Bluebird boat on Coniston Water in England, with more than 30 years passing before his body was recovered in 2001, but this strangest—and greatest—of all his world-record attempts was witnessed by a young reporter. John Pearson’s book about Donald Campbell is an extraordinarily compelling portrait of a modern tragic hero, fighting a battle with the inhospitable elements and the outer limits of technology—and, above all, with himself.

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

John Pearson was a writer best associated with James Bond creator Ian Fleming. He was Fleming's assistant at the London Sunday Times and would go on to write the first biography of Ian Fleming, 1966's The Life of Ian Fleming. Pearson also wrote "true-crime" biographies, such as The Profession of Violence: an East End gang story about the rise and fall of the Kray twins.

Pearson would also become the third official James Bond author of the adult-Bond series, writing in 1973 James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, a first-person biography of the fictional agent James Bond. Although the canonical nature of this book has been debated by Bond fans since it was published, it was officially authorized by Glidrose Publications, the official publisher of the James Bond chronicles. Glidrose reportedly considered commissioning Pearson to write a new series of Bond novels in the 1970s, but nothing came of this.

Pearson was commissioned by Donald Campbell to chronicle his successful attempt on the Land Speed Record in 1964 in Bluebird CN7, resulting in the book Bluebird and the Dead Lake.

Pearson wrote the non-fiction book, The Gamblers, an account about the group of gamblers who made up, what was known as the Clermont Set, which included John Aspinall, James Goldsmith and Lord Lucan. The film rights to the book were purchased by Warner Bros. in 2006. He also wrote Façades, the first full-scale biography of the literary Sitwell siblings, Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell, published in 1978.

Pearson also wrote five novels:

Gone To Timbuctoo (1962) - winner of the Author's Club First Novel Award

James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (1973)

The Bellamy Saga (1976)

Biggles: The Authorized Biography (1978)

The Kindness of Dr. Avicenna (1982).

Pearson passed away on November 13, 2021. He was ninety one at the time of his death.

Reviews

[Matthew Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, honest account of Donald Campbell's ultimately just-successful attempt to capture the land speed record. Unflinching study of the psychology of Campbell and those around him as circumstances begin to conspire against the attempt. Pearson writes evocatively and strikingly, and no-one who reads this book could be in any doubt about the scale of the Bluebird team's achievement, and the prizes that remained elusive in the face of almost impossible conditions. A work of journalism that's as page-turning as the best novels.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following Donald Campbell’s 1964 attempt on the world land speed record, John Pearson spent several weeks with Campbell and his team in Australia’s remote outback, waiting for conditions on the saltpan of Lake Eyre to meet the standards required for a successful record attempt. Aiming to hit speeds of more than 400 miles an hour, the conditions had to be perfect, but it seemed that everything – the weather, the sodden lake, and even the attitudes of some of the team – were against him…

Taking place only a few years before Donald Campbell lost his life in an attempt at the water speed record on Coniston Water, Pearson’s account might easily have been a rather tedious and boring narrative of the technical difficulties involved in driving a car at high speed. However, the author has produced an engaging and fascinating book based on his time in Muloorina, detailing the many setbacks facing Campbell’s team. Relating problems with the Bluebird itself and the poor condition of the thirteen-mile-long track, to the wavering moods of the technicians, the press, and even the official timekeepers who questioned Campbell’s ability, Pearson writes in a style that is not only easy to read but is at times quite beautiful in its descriptions of the landscape.

An appealing and compelling read.

[Richard Hakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward account of what is really a straightforward tale. He tried to jazz it up a bit with accounts of indecision but I think I could see through it enough to see it it was making a tale. It could have done with a prologue and a postscript as we are not expert on Campbell history. Readable book all the same.

[Brad Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked (as someone else noted) a little more backdrop to the story, e.g. some history of the land speed records over the years/decades, especially that of Campbell's father. Still, an engaging albeit singularly direction account of Campbell's attempt to go over 400mph on land.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

To add a bit to the description: Campbell had all those struggles plus dissent within his team. The designated reserve driver made no secret of his belief he'd be the better choice to get the record. Campbell had the backing of many large British companies who also had their own interests and could have shifted him aside. There's a dramatic scene about 2/3 through where Campbell has to face down the challenge.

I have the edition described here but first read this as a boy under its US title: The Last Hero.

Another good contemporary 1960s LSR book is Craig Breedlove's autobiographical Spirit of America. There's a 3rd focusing on Art Arfons. whose title I don't have handy.

This review will be updated.