Mini - An Intimate Biography
It was inevitable that 2009 would see a plethora of books on the history of the Mini, not all of them particularly good.
Christy Campbell (who is male, by the way) has taken a very different approach with this book, and come up with a very interesting and somewhat unorthodox read.
This book is not a detailed history of the Mini, which is probably just as well, as Campbell falls prey to many old myths and misconceptions.
While many writers have edged around the question of Issigonis’ sexuality, this is the first I have found that actually states as fact, in an off-the cuff statement and without providing a shred of evidence, that Sir Alec was gay.
However, the great majority of the book concentrates on the social history of Britain through the past 50 years, particularly in relation to the motor industry in general and the Mini in particular.
In this, it provides a valuable insight to the reasons behind the sales success of the Mini, and the emotional attachment many people, the author included, have for the car.
The book really is a mixed blessing, because while it offers nothing new on the history of the production of the Mini, and makes a few common mistakes, it does provide an understanding of some of the reasoning behind the Mini’s success.
Similarly, it looks at the marketing strategies behind the new MINI, and explores the modern methods of customer profiling used in advertising today.
It also looks in an unbiased way at the rift between owners of Classic Minis and the new MINI. However, in a misguided spell of bon-home the author states at the end of the book; “As MINI approached its ninth birthday...and Mini its fiftieth, the war between the classic die-hards and fans of the ‘small BMW performance car’ was effectively over.” If only that was true.
The book is still a valuable addition to the Mini enthusiast’s library.
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