The Flight of the Century: Charles Lindbergh and the Rise of American Aviation (Pivotal Moments in American History)
Kessner approaches the much-analyzed Charles Lindbergh by asking why “other fliers made records but he made history.” Readily detailing the pertinent moments in the aviator’s history, from his childhood to Atlantic flight to the devastating loss of his oldest child, Kessner also writes about media coverage of Lindbergh’s exploits and the intense focus of the press long after he flew from New York to Paris. He concludes that Lindbergh’s fame was based not only on his achievement but also on the fact that he flew alone (his competitors all flew in teams) and that he refuted the trappings of fame, turning down movie deals, sponsorships, endorsements, and outright attempts at monetary gifts. Young and self-deprecating, Lindbergh paid public fealty to the World War I aviators who came before him. Kessner shows how the man converged perfectly with his times. In a field of conventional biographies, Kessner’s (including copious end notes) stands out as he asks what made this man famous and reveals that Lindbergh’s story tells as much about us as it does about him. --Colleen Mondor