Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation, by Charles K. Hyde. Hardbound, 7 by 10 inches, 408 pages, 60 illustrations. ISBN 0-8143-3091-6. Wayne State University Press, The Leonard N. Simons Building, 4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309. 1-800-978-7323. http://wsupress.wayne.edu. $34.95.

For decades the only biography of Walter Chrysler was the one he wrote himself in 1937, and the most important account of Chrysler history was the series Fortune magazine published during that same decade. This is surprising and not surprising at the same time. Both subjects deserved full-length book treatment, but "daunting" is the word that springs to mind about the immensity of the task in each case, and Cecil B. DeMilles "years in the making" the phrase for the time needed to do it. Vincent Curcio took up the challenge of the man in his splendid Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius, published in 2000. And now we have Charles K. Hydes equally splendid account of Chrysler Corporation itself.

The title is inspired. Few corporations have experienced the harrowing ups and downs of this last new automaker in America to remain with us today. With exquisite scholarship and a deft pen, Charles Hyde tells the story. His focus is the people who have made Chrysler history whom he has obviously come to know well. His research began nearly a quarter of a century ago, incidentally, when he was charged with the task of documenting Dodge Main in Hamtramck before it was razed. This means that he has "out-Ceciled" a DeMille epic, and the depth of his research is on every page. Subsequently he documented the Jefferson Avenue factory in Detroit as well as the corporations headquarters and engineering complex in Highland Park, and he enjoyed unrestricted access to the Chrysler historical archives. This book was written from a typescript of well more than a thousand pages. Obviously Charles Hyde knows whereof he speaks.

Although a comparative johnny-come-lately in the industry, Chrysler has arguably produced more surprises overall than American automakers who have reached the century mark this corporation wont celebrate for another two decades. Charles Hyde makes that case in the historical journey he takes us on in these four hundred pages. Upon finishing the book, I was left with just one imponderable. Had they made their respective acquaintance, I wonder how Walter Chrysler and Lee Iacocca might have regarded one another. Reading this engrossing book might make you wonder the same thing. It is tantalizing.

• Beverly Rae Kimes