In 1913, a body was discovered by Dutch sailors near the English Channel—the remains of Rudolf Diesel, the famous inventor, as confirmed by his son. Despite international interest, because the death had occurred in international waters, there was no official investigation into his death. The cause of death was officially ruled to be suicide, but speculation arose, linking Diesel’s demise to figures such as Kaiser Wilhelm II and John D. Rockefeller due to the revolutionary impact of his diesel engine.

Diesel's upbringing during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century fueled his passion for science and engineering, but his eventual success put him in the crosshairs of influential individuals who saw him as a threat. Examining the complexities of Diesel's life, Brunt argues that suicide was unlikely.

Rudolf Diesel was born in 1858 and grew up in Paris. He was interested in how things worked from an early age and would sketch devices. His father, Theodor, was a strict disciplinarian, but his mother, Elise, was gentler and taught him languages and a love for music and arts. Rudolf was influenced by Paris's vibrant and progressive