The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin
This book, as explained in the Author’s Note, is based on Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s diaries and letters with little variation or fiction added. With that being said, I had so many feelings about Anne throughout the book, throughout all of her life events and choices. What I loved about all of these strong feelings towards her, was that I realized what a “real” person she was. I also had to learn to understand that the era in which she lived, expectations for women were so different and she defied most things that were expected of her. For all the times I felt that she was weak, she came back with a stronger moment. “Charles was asked…about the technical difficulties of the challenging flight. I was asked…how I intended to set up housekeeping in a plane (Page 160).” How would I feel if I had done the exact same work and was being asked domestic questions versus professional ones? I am such an outspoken person that I’m not sure that I would be able to hold back and not do a little boasting since no one else was doing it for me. Anne had every right to demand her own attention but due to the decade, the role of women and her self-worth, I think she missed her opportunity to be greater than Amelia Earhart!
I am tempted to say that because of the era in which she lived, Anne was always flanked by the double standard of being a woman versus being a man. I am so angry that people of that time couldn’t realize how heroic she was being. She was putting her life in danger too. We fail to understand how primitive flying was in the 20s and 30s. Her contribution to aviation was just as important and just as astounding. But just like society, even Anne was guilty of demeaning her accomplishments. “An eager young wife who had been shaped, just like every other eager young wife of my generation, by her husband, but I was a wife who had wanted to be shaped, had willingly put herself in his hands and demanded he make her over in his superior image (Page 283).” She wasn’t looking for her limelight, she was content to live in his shadow.
One of the constant images in this book is that of the Paparazzi. Charles Lindbergh is barraged by photographers everywhere he goes and once he marries Anne, she becomes part of the circus as well. But the biggest tragedy from this enormous celebrity, is the death of their son. The book does take a majority of its pages to describe the crime and its result, and with good purpose. It is the pivotal moment in her life, as well as in their marriage. It is a confluence of several of their life choices: fame, celebrity, being untouchable, the Depression, and nomadic lifestyle. With the fame, everyone wants a piece of them and you can see that by the intensity of photographers following their every move, with the map to their new home and looking for pictures of their first child. Neither Charles nor Anne wanted to be famous but their hero status makes them “famous” and sought after public figures. They suspect that the kidnapping of their child is based on two factors: 1. The Depression has made people take extreme measures for money and 2. Rich celebrities are prime targets for a ransom. Plus, they are really the only celebrities of their time. This imagery of no peace or privacy does give me a greater sense of empathy for the celebrities of our time.
On many occasions in this book, I found myself wondering if Charles and Anne ever truly loved one another. Even in their courtship and engagement, there was little affection. At their wedding Anne notes: “Two hearts, in such sympathy – there was no need for words, sentimental, silly, romantic…We were too special for that. For ordinary words, spoken by ordinary couples (Page 87).” It’s as if they were above it all…love and the earth. I guess that being extraordinary means you don’t need everything else but I think they truly missed out on their lives because of their choice in spouses.
Another theme in this story is of betrayal. Anne says that “Betrayal is more enormous than forgiveness (Page 90).” The many betrayals that occur in this book are beyond enormous. Anne betrays Charles when she asks the Colonel to go against Charles in the kidnapping investigation. The Colonel even states that it would be difficult to go against your spouse and she simply says, “This is my child we’re talking about. It was very easy (Page 208).” He betrays her with infidelity, and she does as well. They betray their marriage because they do not care for it or nurture it.
The theme of manipulation is prevalent as well. “Colonel, you are in an enviable position. You have no political standing, yet you are a world figure (Page 251).” This is the manipulation of Charles by the Nazis that gives them the credibility as a powerful nation. “I don’t mean to sound vulgar…But-so far no one has dared attack you…the baby’s bereaved mother, and so above reproach. Which is why you are in the perfect position, really (Page 288).” This is the manipulation of Anne by Charles to encourage the idea of treason of her country alongside him.
But, the greatest of themes in this book is that of self-discovery. Anne’s self-discovery takes a lifetime but it does happen gradually. She states that: “I wished I could claim my achievements with the pride of accomplishment, but I simply couldn’t (page 239-240).” Over time and with the separation from Charles’ iron fist, Anne begins to realize the enormous importance of her own accomplishments. Mostly, it becomes real to her as her children begin to uncover Anne’s history and undertakings. Her daughter Reeve says “You were pretty brave then, I bet (Page338),” after discovering Anne’s pilots license. Anne is forced to reflect upon herself and define herself. “I was Mom. I was Wife. I was Tragedy. I was Pilot (Page 340).”
After reading this book and learning how much of it is based in reality, I can honestly say that my opinion of Charles Lindbergh has been changed. I always considered him a true hero and a true explorer but I did not know anything about his personal life other than the fact that his son was kidnapped. I can also honestly say that I knew absolutely nothing about Anne Morrow Lindbergh before reading this book and I am impressed, disappointed, proud, sad, happy…all the feels! This was a truly great story about a resilient woman who was just as brave and heroic as any man of her day…including her husband!
What was your opinion of Charles Lindbergh prior to reading this book? And after?
Why do you think the Lindbergh’s decided not to tell their living children about Charles Jr.?
During the kidnapping, Anne says: “Privilege, I was not ashamed to admit at that moment, had its perks (page 55).” Should she have used it more or was this the extent of her privilege as a woman?
Did the paparazzi in this book make you more sympathetic to the hounding that famous people get in the press presently?
What did you think Charles meant when he said: “No irregularities…Our children will be pure (Page 135)”?
Were the Lindbergh’s Nazi supporters? How do you view their actions at the start of WWII?
One of my favorite lines is “I was Mom. I was Wife. I was Tragedy. I was Pilot (Page 340).” How many “personas” are we that we forget to list? Anne downgraded her own importance, do you?
What was your opinion of Anne Morrow Lindbergh prior to reading this book? How did you feel about Anne at the end of the book? Did her indiscretions make her less likeable?
What did you think when you learned that Charles had other families/children in Germany?
Did you like this Historical fiction novel? Why or why not?
I really enjoyed this book! It took me a while to read it (a little late with the review) but it was easy to read and get through. It was quite a story.
I didn’t know much about Charles prior to reading this. I knew he did the first transatlantic flight and I knew of the Lindbergh baby but didn’t know that it was all related and that he was really the pioneer of aviation and of course knew nothing about her. After reading this, I didn’t like him at all. I think he was very much like Howard Hughes in a way. Maybe not as crazy, but controlling and very reclusive in that manner.
I don’t think they told their children about Charles Jr. because they didn’t want to relive it. I think Charles forced Anne to disregard it so much that she ended up not thinking about it as much, but when she did, I think it was much too painful. I think as much of a tragedy as it was, if they had talked about, they would have been able to heal in the proper way.
I think she used the privilege as much as possible. No other family would have had the help they did when the baby went missing. I think they had every resource imaginable at their fingertips. I think Charles didn’t help in the situation at all.
I’ve always had sympathy for famous people with the paparazzi. I think they have so much to deal with in that world. They have such wonderful and easy lives, but once they step out the door they get hunted. I always think of Princess Diana and what a toll that took and what it did to her children.
I hated when he said that because it was a total Hitler thing to say. It’s like he only married Anne to have perfect, pure bred children and that because of the two of them, they’re kids would be perfect and not have any issues. It’s absurd to me.
I do think they were Nazi supporters, but only supporting what they actually saw. They didn’t visit the camps or see what he was doing to the Jewish people. They say that he was creating a utopia, but didn’t see how he was creating it. So I think they liked what he was doing, but didn’t get the full picture of what was happening.
Of course!!! I forget all the stuff I do. I always think of myself as a wife and mother and I forget that I do a lot of other things. I think it’s the nature of a woman to only see herself for the major things, but we forget about all of the smaller roles that we take on, even though they are just as important!
I loved that she cheated on him! I wish she had left him, but at least she found some happiness eventually! I think she seemed meek in the beginning and I do think he brought out an adventurous person out of her, but I think she took control of her life in the end and was satisfied with what she had been able to do. I think he elevated her at some points and then deflated at others. I don’t think he ever wanted her to get too high, especially above him.
I was so mad that he other families, but I assumed something was happening since he never wanted to be home and was never there. It made me so mad and that he acted like it was nothing.
I liked this book. For the most part it seemed factual, but of course for entertainment, you have to have some exaggeration to make it entertaining. I loved it and I love learning about the women behind some of the men that we all know. It’s fascinating to see what’s happening behind the scenes where most of these women stay.
Great book! Cannot wait for the next one!
Great comparison to Howard Hughes! I totally didn’t put it together until you mentioned it. Maybe being successful requires some eccentricities and loner-type personalities. Definitely both intelligent but not necessarily people-friendly. Also a great analysis of the paparazzi and link to Princess Diana. Its scary to know that people want a piece of you and that you have a price on your head, so to speak. I agree that I have sympathy for the famous because they will never know what a “normal” life is like. There’s no one documenting my every move thank goodness!
I also came out of this story not liking Charles at all and I was truly impressed by Anne. I wish the history books would do a better job of showcasing all people who achieve greatness…including women! Our society does a poor job of recognizing the impact women have on our history. I’m glad that the book captured a true story with depth and a different perspective. I am interested to see what their children have accomplished although I think only the youngest daughter is a writer.
Thank you for your post!!!!
I agree that history should showcase the women involved in some of these great feats in history. I feel like sometimes we don’t know the people behind the one’s that get all of the glory. Sometimes it’s the one’s in the background that do the same amount of work or more and they aren’t praised for it.
I would like to see what the kids are doing too, but I’m really interested in the additional families he had in Europe. I’d love to hear that side of the story.
Again, great choice and not what I expected to come from the title.
I feel like our history likes to talk about feminism and that women get equal recognition for their work but there is no true record of the things that have been solely accomplished by women. Its like they decided that Amelia Earhart would be the only representative of females in aviation, when there were actually others before and after her! But, we only focus on the one image of feminism and its really only because she died doing it.
I am so glad that I picked up this book! I don’t think I would have normally chosen it and it never came up on my reading lists but it just sounded intriguing…and it was!
I am late with my posts too due to work and illness. Thank goodness this book club is flexible towards all the crazy things life throws at us!
Like Valerie, I really didn’t know a lot about Charles Lindbergh prior to reading this book. I knew of his flying accomplishments and about the “Lindbergh Baby” through history class. My opinion of him before reading this book was “he is just another guy did something big and who was famous.” I never understood the gravitas behind that until reading this book. Although I also learned very disturbing things that showed how flawed of a person Charles Lindbergh really was.
I think the Lindbergh’s decided not to tell their living children about Charles Jr. so that they could have their own identities. And so they wouldn’t grow up in fear. Fear that someone would try to kidnap or kill them.
During the kidnapping, Anne says: “Privilege, I was not ashamed to admit at that moment, had its perks (page 55).” I really feel as though the Lindbergh’s used their privilege quite a bit. Especially since the first ten year’s of Anne and Charles’s marriage was during the great depression. They always had food on their table, clothes on their backs and a nice roof over their head.
The paparazzi in this book did make me marginally more sympathetic to the hounding that famous people get in the press today. I say marginally because most entertainers are asking for this publicity and it comes with the territory. I feel much more sympathy for those in the lime light that didn’t ask for it and/or don’t want it.
I believe when Charles Lindbergh said he wanted “No irregularities…Our children will be pure (Page 135),” he was looking at breeding from an analytical, objective, calculated and systematic stand point. I took it to mean that the children would come from healthy, hearty stock, with no known history of mental challenges.”
I immediately thought he acted as though he had Asberger’s Syndrome. He had difficulty with social interactions and exhibited a restricted range of interests and repetitive behaviors. His statement was probably also an anti-semitic reference.
I was very disappointed to learn that Charles Lindbergh was a Nazi supporter and anti-semitic. It is shocking that the Lindbergh’s traveled to Germany prior to WWII and that Charles served as a consultant for the German military. The fact that Anne wrote “The Wave of the Future” in 1940 supporting America’s isolationism, and that she never repudiated Charles’s anti-semitic words and actions, led to her own guilt by omission. The Los Angeles Times wrote in Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s obituary that “at various times… (Mrs.) Lindbergh was the most envied, pitied and hated woman in America” and goes on to say that in her 1940 book “was condemned as a pro-Nazi traitor, a reputation that took years to fade.”
Anne’s perception of herself was very telling in the line “I was Mom. I was Wife. I was Tragedy. I was Pilot (Page 340).” All of us have many personas that we forget to list. I am wife, stepmom, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, friend, co-worker, boss, colleague, employee, neighbor, sister-in-Christ, Army civilian, Airman, farmer, runner, rower, kayaker, spelunker, tea enthusiast, avid reader, animal lover, and so much more. I think we all tend to downgrade our importance, but women especially. So often women limit themselves simply to “wife” and “mother.” Those two titles are important, but women are also so much more than that. It is too easy to get lost in titles that others immediately identify you with.
I really had no opinion of Anne Morrow Lindbergh prior to reading this book. Now that I know about her, and her accomplishments, I think she was a strong woman who had many great accomplishments in her life. Her indiscretions made her more human. Until we learned of her affairs, I felt like Anne was a doormat and took a lot of crap from Charles. After learning that she had her own affairs, I realized she was even stronger than I thought.
When I learned that Charles had other families/children in Germany I was disappointed. Having a secret family seems like the most selfish act possible. And hurtful for all involved. Not only did he have one secret family–he had three! Honestly, learning about Charles Lindbergh’s secret families made me like him even less and appreciate Anne even more.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel. As soon as I finished reading the book I researched both Charles and Anne Lindbergh quite a bit so that I could learn what was truly fact and fiction. My interest was thoroughly piqued and to my surprise, most of the book is factual. I know I learned much more about the Lindbergh’s both while reading this book, and researching the content afterwards, than I would have ever learned on my own or in a history class. This was an excellent book selection!
I agree with you “I was very disappointed to learn that Charles Lindbergh was a Nazi supporter and anti-Semitic.” OMG!!!! I was stunned. It was not what I imagined at all but once I finished this book, I did some research on the Lindbergh’s and found out that all of these things were true! I was shocked by him but I was even more upset that she went along with his thoughts instead of making her voice and opinion be heard I know that during that era women were not “allowed” to have their own opinions but did she have to write a whole book about it?!?!?
I think we all felt like Anne was a doormat and that once she started breaking away from her husband intellectually and physically, we truly saw who she was and who she wanted to be. I think that her mother was a true feminist and would love to learn more about her! She was so accomplished during a time where women were not viewed as capable of higher education and being authoritative figures. Anne really came from a forward thinking family which is why it was so difficult to watch her be submissive to Charles.
Glad you enjoyed the book! Glad you were still able to read with me! I love this format for a book club too…because I can post when I have time too!