January 15, 2013 / Leslie

Review: The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin

The Aviator’s Wife
by Melanie Benjamin

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publish Date: January 15, 2013
Format: Hardcover | 416 pages
Rating: 4 of 5

Most of us have heard of the Lindberghs; Charles’ contributions to aviation is part of the history books as is the horrific story of the kidnapping of their baby, considered one of the most notorious Crimes of the Century.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh lived much of her life in the shadow of her extraordinary husband. But she, too, had many achievements. In addition to being an accomplished author, Anne learned to fly a plane, was her husbands copilot, a skilled navigator, licensed radio operator, and was always at her husband’s side on their many excursions across the planet.

The Aviator’s Wife is Anne’s story. Written in the first person and set in 1974, Charles is dying and the family is on their way to Hawaii at Charles request. Anne flashes back to 1927 when she was a young girl and first met the newly famous Colonel Charles Lindbergh and begins to recall the events of her life.

We observe Anne’s evolution from shy girl to mature woman emerging from the shadow of a very famous and beloved man. Unfortunately for Anne, most of her accomplishments were overshadowed by the dominant personality of her husband. Over and over she deferred to her husband, never pushing for what she wanted or attempting a compromise. When their first child was only an infant, Charles assumed that she would gladly accompany him on a six month expedition to chart an air route over the Arctic and on to the Orient with no consideration of how Anne might feel about being away from home; after all, the child had a nanny and was well-cared for, she need not worry.

While I often found Anne’s behavior annoying and frustrating, I realize she was a victim of the times she lived in. It’s easy to forget that until the late 20th Century women were not often treated as equals. It isn’t fair to view Anne through the prism of the times I grew up in when women had already won the right to be recognized as accomplished individuals. Ultimately I found her to be a sympathetic and well-developed character, and one many women can relate to.

Although a fictionalized story, many of the events are factual. The author did a wonderful job of bringing Anne, a sympathetic and well-developed character, to life. Recommended