title: Evel: The High-Flying Life of Evel Knievel: American Showman, Daredevil, and Legend
author:  Leigh Montville 
description: [EVEL] goes beyond the action-figure image, painting Knievel in all his contradictions....Now, in Montvilles capable hands, Knievel soars again in all his profane, self-deluded glory.  <i>Sports Illustrated</i><br /><br />In the late 1960s and early 1970sthe coolest man on earth was Evel Knievel.Leigh Montville brings him vividly back in an outlandishly entertaining new biography. <i>New York Post<br /><br /></i>If Knievel lived as if his pants were on fire, then his biographer writes like a house on firein describing the complex, contradictory stuntmans battles with the demons that would ultimately destroy him, [Montville] pulls out all the stops. <i> The Free Lance-Star<br /></i><br />In <i>Evel</i> [Leigh Montville] writes in a florid high style, as if pulling a wheelie across every page. This can be smart, rowdy fun. Mr. Montville tacks the young Knievel to the wall, wonderfully.He catches the way the wingspans of Knievels jacket collars were the same as a good-size pterodactyl<i>Evel</i> is never dull.  <i>New York Times<br /></i><br />If you were a young boy, like I was, in the summer of 1974, you talked about two things: Evel Knieveland Hank AaronI hadnt thought much about Evel Knievel in the intervening 35 years until I picked up Leigh Montvilles awesome new biographyyoull love Montvilles rollicking good taletold with an Irishmans wink and a nodof how Knievel blazed across the American consciousness in the late 60s and early 70s.Montville nails it just right. -- <i>The Hollywood Reporter</i><br /><br />Montville fully imparts that sense of danger as well as Knievels mixture of singularly unpleasant personalitiesthief, drunkard, brawler, extortionist, womanizer, snake-oil salesman, all-purpose con manthat somehow only enhance the legend. In the end, readers probably will not love or even like Knievel, but theyll know the seamier side of the American dream that much better. <i>Booklist</i><br /><br />"Bestselling author and veteran sports columnist Montville (<i>The Mysterious Montague: A True Tale of Hollywood, Golf, and Armed Robbery</i>, 2008, etc.) points to the first biography of flamboyant risk-taker Robert Craig Knievel (19382007) as a cheaply commissioned, cockeyed screenplay (George Hamilton starred, angling for a career revival) based on a collection of tall tales designed by the man himself to make people perk up and pay attention. It was 1971, and while the film critically tanked, the publicity skyrocketed Knievels his popularity. Montvilles version ably describes his childhood raised by his grandparents in depression-era Butte, Mont., and then as a young, street-educated loner and general troublemaker. Greatly entertaining and anecdotal, the narrative covers the controversial aspects of the high fliers history, tracking Knievels fearlessness as record-breaking smaller motorcycle tricks gave way to power-tripping death-wish jumps marked by countless broken bones, hospitalizations and even a comaall observed by wife Linda and their three children. Whether cruising the talk-show circuit in a zebra-striped leisure suit, crashing onto the pavement at Caesars Palace or serving six months in jail for assaulting an event promoter, Knievel consistently treated his adoring (often aghast) fan base to reckless extravaganzas, increasingly perilous stunts and erratic, unbecoming behavior. Montville confidently narrates Knievels daredevilry with characteristic panache and presents his subject as a one man ethical dilemma who spent the bulk of his career testing the limits of his physical prowess with an unquenchable thirst for fame and fortune. <b>A biography as sensationalist and superior as the daredevil himself.</b>" --<i>Kirkus</i><br /><br />--Previous Praise for Leigh Montville--<br /><br />[<i>Ted Williams </i>is] the complete packagea triumph, unreservedly the best biography of this larger-than-life American.<br /><i>Boston Globe</i><br /><br />It is unlikely that any reader could view Ted Williams as just a ballplayer ever again.<br /><i>New York Times Book Review</i><br /><br />[<i>At the Altar of Speed </i>is]both a tribute and a candid look at [Dale] Earnhardt. [Montville] has succeeded wonderfully.<br /><i>San Antonio Express</i><br /><br />Montvilles solid reporting is augmented by a whimsical style that weaves Earnhardts life, racing career, business ventures, and impact on racing fans into a rich tapestry of racing. The book delivers.<br /><i>Times Daily</i> <br /><br />[A] vivid, intimate account. Montvilles unique voicemakes old yarns seem new.<br /><i>Sports Illustrated</i> <br /><br />Montville is a wonderful storyteller and Ruths story, from Baltimore street urchin to international celebrity is indisputably amazinga fascinating tale, alternately happy and sad, and always artfully written.<br /><i>Chicago Tribune</i>
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  Being bad has never felt so good!
  
  The first time Miss Bryn Rutherford meets Captain Kitt Sherard, he scales her
  balcony and kisses her breathless! And after years of trying to behave, she
  can’t help but think Kitt’s piratical wildness is just what she needs. So when
  she must venture across the Caribbean seas, only one man will do…
  
  Daredevil Kitt agrees to help—as long as Bryn plays by his rules. And that
  means hands off! Except, trapped aboard, the chemistry between them hits fever
  pitch. Now it’s only a question of who’ll break the rules first!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Rakes of the Caribbean
  
  Sun, sand and sizzling seduction
  
  Notorious rogues Ren Dryden and Kitt Sherard used to cut a swath through the
  ton, but they were too wild to be satisfied with London seasons and prim
  debutantes.
  
  Now they’ve ventured to the sultry Caribbean to seek their fortunes… and women
  strong enough to tame them!
  
  Ren meets his match in spirited Emma Ward. Relish their seductive battle of
  wits in  
  PLAYI