In the spirit of Loving Frank and The Paris Wife, acclaimed novelist Melanie Benjamin pulls back the curtain on the marriage of one of America’s most extraordinary couples: Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.
Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.
Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator’s Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.
For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.
Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.
Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator’s Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.
Goodreads Summary
I’d forgotten the historic articles I’d read as a
kid about Lindbergh, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the kidnapping. Someone in my family has a copy of his
book; next time, I will check the inscription since Benjamin’s book says that
it’s dedicated to A.M.L., Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I really enjoy historical fiction like this because the
stories make me want to find out more about the subjects. As a kid, I admired Lindbergh, but the
enormity of his accomplishment and popularity didn’t make sense to me. The horror of the kidnapping was
unforgettable, of course.
Benjamin added so much more information and
emotion to the stories that I read as a child. The terrible media circus that pursued the Lindberghs is now
more clear and frightening. There
are many details about the baby’s kidnapping that I was definitely interested
to read. I should be ashamed of
myself for never really considering the Lindbergh wife/mother. Benjamin
mentions that she created Anne’s personality based upon diaries and
biographies. Anne’s conflicted
personality seems right to me. In
the early 20th century, a woman would suppress her own wants and hopes to her husband’s
….especially a famous husband.
However, it was also the era of bobbed hair; women were expanding their
roles at home and in society. Along
with Anne’s wishes to be “more”, her acceptance and satisfaction of her role as
daughter, wife, and mother are expressed wonderfully through her thoughts and
activities. I’m glad to learn more
about this pioneering yet typical woman.
Lindbergh’s character is not engaging. He’s so controlling and so OCD about
business and everyday life. His
arrogance really put me off. I wasn’t
charmed by his infrequent bouts of thoughtfulness or romance as Anne was. It’s too bad that he’s not likeable,
but I believe Benjamin’s characterization is accurate. The incredible extent of his
infidelities shocked me even after reading about his coldness and his
absences. I hadn’t heard about his
Nazi sympathies before.
Benjamin wrote the best story possible given her
subject matter. Lindbergh’s off-putting personality doesn’t inspire
interest. The story of this
American hero’s wife should be better, but Anne’s personality has difficulty
carrying the story because her husband is dragging it down.
4/5 Stars
*Reviewed by Colleen*
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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
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This sounds fascinating to me too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.