The Bugatti Queen

This biography chronicles the life of Hellé Nice, a pioneering female racing driver whose adventures and achievements in motorsport are both inspiring and captivating. The Bugatti Queen highlights her remarkable journey.

The book The Bugatti Queen offers a compelling portrait of Hélène Delangle, who was also known as Hellé Nice. This remarkable woman was not only a talented dancer but also a pioneering racing driver who thrived on the thrill of speed and danger. Born in a small French village in 1900, she ventured into the world of performance art before her life took a dramatic turn when she caught the attention of famed automobile manufacturer Ettore Bugatti. Her passion for racing ignited a groundbreaking career in motorsport during an era when female drivers were almost nonexistent.

Throughout the pages of The Bugatti Queen, readers are taken on a journey through Hellé Nice's extraordinary life, which included competing in numerous Grand Prix races and becoming the first woman to drive on the perilous American speedbowls in the 1930s. Her fearless spirit led her to shatter land-speed records, showcasing her exceptional talent and determination. However, her career was not without its challenges, including a notorious accident that nearly ended her racing aspirations.

Miranda Seymour masterfully weaves together previously unpublished sources to recreate this rollercoaster of a life, revealing the complexities of Hellé Nice's character and the exhilarating world of motorsport between the wars. The Bugatti Queen is not just a biography; it is an exploration of a woman's indomitable spirit in a male-dominated field, celebrating her legacy and the risks she embraced in pursuit of her passions.