The Queen of Whale Cay

The Eccentric Story of "Joe" Carstairs, Fastest Woman on Water

Biography & Memoir, Sports, Nonfiction, History
Cover of the book The Queen of Whale Cay by Kate Summerscale, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kate Summerscale ISBN: 9781608199464
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: May 22, 2012
Imprint: Bloomsbury USA Language: English
Author: Kate Summerscale
ISBN: 9781608199464
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: May 22, 2012
Imprint: Bloomsbury USA
Language: English

A fascinating biography of the woman champion motorboat racer of the 1920s who in the '30s bought and became 'ruler' of an island in the British West Indies. 'Joe' Carstairs was born in London in 1900, the daughter of a Scottish colonel and an American heiress. Educated in Connecticut, she returned to Europe in 1916 and drove ambulances for the Women's Legion in France. She deserted her husband at the church door (marriage was a prerequisite of her coming into her $4 million inheritance) and settled in England where she took up racing, established a boat yard at Cowes and won nearly every trophy going. In the 30s she started traveling widely, finally moving to the West Indies where she bought the island of Whale Cay. There she developed the island into a populated community, building everything from roads and schools to lighthouses and churches. Carstairs then succeeded in establishing hegemony over the 500 islanders, controlling not only their sexual morals but also their diet. In 1944 she built a deepwater harbor for the Royal Navy's use and, without a word to her population, left the island to build warcraft in Florida, where she settled for 40 years, having run a steamship freightline and set up a chain of airports. Kate Summerscale's brilliant biography brings out of obscurity a woman whose very boldness took her beyond fame and notoriety.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A fascinating biography of the woman champion motorboat racer of the 1920s who in the '30s bought and became 'ruler' of an island in the British West Indies. 'Joe' Carstairs was born in London in 1900, the daughter of a Scottish colonel and an American heiress. Educated in Connecticut, she returned to Europe in 1916 and drove ambulances for the Women's Legion in France. She deserted her husband at the church door (marriage was a prerequisite of her coming into her $4 million inheritance) and settled in England where she took up racing, established a boat yard at Cowes and won nearly every trophy going. In the 30s she started traveling widely, finally moving to the West Indies where she bought the island of Whale Cay. There she developed the island into a populated community, building everything from roads and schools to lighthouses and churches. Carstairs then succeeded in establishing hegemony over the 500 islanders, controlling not only their sexual morals but also their diet. In 1944 she built a deepwater harbor for the Royal Navy's use and, without a word to her population, left the island to build warcraft in Florida, where she settled for 40 years, having run a steamship freightline and set up a chain of airports. Kate Summerscale's brilliant biography brings out of obscurity a woman whose very boldness took her beyond fame and notoriety.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Nightmare Movies by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book The Philosophy and Art of Wang Guangyi by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book A History of the Royal Navy by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Floodpath by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Panzer Divisions by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book They are Trying to Break Your Heart by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Wildefire by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Tanya Tania by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Civil Rights and the Environment in African-American Literature, 1895-1941 by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Aleppo by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Chronicles Of A Gynaecologist by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book No Ordinary Pilot by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Petsamo and Kirkenes 1944 by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Sunsets And Glories by Kate Summerscale
Cover of the book Shenandoah Valley 1862 by Kate Summerscale
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy