The Aviator's Wife

A good historical novel will spur you to learn more about the characters in the story.  Ever since I've read The Aviator's Wife I've been reading more about Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh.  Melanie Benjamin wrote an awesome historical fiction about Anne Lindbergh.  Her writing is crisp, clean and compelling.  This story starts at a time when people who traveled to Europe took a cruise.  Planes weren't often seen in the sky.  There were no commercial airlines.  And our country had a hero named Charles Lindbergh who was harassed by the paparazzi like no one else until Princess Di.  The author gave us a good description of what life was like for a Smith College graduate like Anne Morrow, the ambassador's daughter. When America's hero, Charles Lindbergh asks for her hand in marriage, how can she turn down what every young woman in the country wanted?  So what if he can't communicate, can't express or tolerate any expression of emotion, is emotionally distant, and self - centered?  He's a hero.  She allows him to mold her.  She learns to fly, to navigate, and to operate a radio.  She becomes his crew and she looses herself in the process.  This is a fascinating story about two fascinating people and their marriage.