Lindbergh

Feb 17, 2010 Arminius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history

Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg begins with Charles A. Lindbergh’s very interesting parents. His father was a very respectful and successful lawyer in Minnesota who became a congressman and eventually a nomad. His mother was an educated school teacher from Detroit whose father was a controversial dentist at the time. He had a shop where he would invent numerous machines to work on teeth. Young Charles would visit and his grandfather would teach him to work with his various tools. This sparked an inte...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Will Byrnes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-autobiography-memoir, non-fiction, adventuring, american-history

The book is well-deserving of its Pulitzer. Lindbergh was one of the most interesting people of the 20th century and this book gives us a fly-on-the-wall look at many critical parts of his life, the heroics of his early aviation triumphs, the horror of the kidnapping of his child, his elevation and victimization by the press. I learned much that I did not know about Lindbergh, for instance that he helped design an early artificial heart, that he applied his aviation expertise to revolutionize ar...more

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Jan 16, 2013 David Glad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies

For most people, in an always online age, the idea of flying across the Atlantic would likely elicit a reaction of "So what?" or "How much of your human dignity did airport security take this time?" I was drawn to his biography by how he seemed the most famous of the "America First" group (mentioned in William Manchester's (and Paul Reid's) biography of Churchill) that fought to keep the US out of World War II when FDR and Britain were desperately trying to bait the US into it.

The book naturally...more For most people, in an always online age, the idea of flying across the Atlantic would likely elicit a reaction of "So what?" or "How much of your human dignity did airport security take this time?" I was drawn to his biography by how he seemed the most famous of the "America First" group (mentioned in William Manchester's (and Paul Reid's) biography of Churchill) that fought to keep the US out of World War II when FDR and Britain were desperately trying to bait the US into it.

The book naturally begins with notable mention of father, Charles August Lindbergh, who was a Swedish emigrant, US Congressman (Minnesota's 6th district), and opponent of entering The Great War on the basis that a country loses its best men that way among other consequences. (DEBT, sovereignty, restrained commerce, etc. It is a rather huge and somewhat persistent myth that war is good for an economy, as it might initially be during downturns but ultimately steals skilled workers among other costs) According to Wikipedia, he also opposed the creation of the Federal Reserve which could have made for an interesting topic in the book.

Charles's early life is likely unknown by most who "think" they know him, as he apparently had poor grades in half of his classes when he first started college. His family had poor finances overall as he entered the infant industry of flying and, unlike so many people these days, he had to be inventive (work unpaid, including personal expenses) to get his pilot's license. (Since he was such a great showman, the man he toured with ultimately did give him a stipend and he would often stand on the wing of the plane when they flew into town for "barnstorming" events.) After buying and using a World War I surplus plane (book said he had his pick, since not many people were in the market for one), he would enter a military program which would permit him to use then-state of the art equipment.

As for flying the Atlantic Ocean, he had to stay awake the whole time (20+ hours) at the controls or risk falling into the ocean. (Decent number of people had previously unsuccessfully attempted it, including some Frenchmen, and yet he still kept the flight a secret until probably the day before he took off in case someone else tried to beat him to it.. Even if in correspondence, he thought flying the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Australia might be more impressive.) He saved his food until he caught sight of Ireland, as a contingency in case he was either off course or became stranded in the ocean and had to wait to be (hopefully) rescued. There was also mention of hearing voices/phantoms in the fumes caused by the equipment late into the flight which he would not talk about until decades later. (He found their message motivating as he was weary by that point, while under other circumstances he would have been freaked out.) As mentioned at the start of the book, 150,000+ Frenchmen greeted him along with various dignitaries.

As for Post-Flight, not knowing how huge the accomplishment would be considered (and his celebrity status), he originally planned to travel around Europe before heading back to the states but quickly realized he would not be able to. He turned down acting offers from Hollywood that could have netted him well over $7 million, wanting to instead advance the cause of aviation. (He considered himself merely a part of the process.) Decades later a movie was made about the flight and, at a test screening, a child in the audience could be heard asking his parent "Is he going to make it?"

Curiously it was not until the part of his son being named Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. that I remembered the whole Lindbergh baby kidnapping, which slipped my mind when I decided to get his biography and started listening to the audiobook. (Shamefully our watered down society probably has most people's perceptions coming from a scene in Family Guy which depicts their child fooling around on a toilet seat -- presumably because of its novelty -- and getting sucked down, with Charles saying "We'll say he was kidnapped!") Although Wikipedia suggests Bruno Richard Hauptmann was innocent and his widow spent 50 years trying to get his name cleared by making various claims (such as the ransom money being left by someone else and the rail having been planted that matched the ladder used), it seems more likely than not that he did it. (Even if the circus surrounding the case and pressure on the police to bring justice does lend credibility to them making him a scapegoat, but still seems like he would have also had to have been the ultimate fall guy and probably duped by the real criminals.) Interesting choice of words too on his part how he tried to calm his wife by telling her (in German) that the police were just there to investigate his gambling. (Could suggest he gambled and lost in the kidnapping.) The boy appearing to have sustained a head injury from being dropped from the ladder also would make one think it was a one man job.

As for evidence, I found entertainment value on how they investigated the wood composition of the ladder, thinking to myself nowadays the only thing police would find by investigating the composition is that it came from Wal-Mart and was made in China. At trial, an examiner said Hauptmann had an increase of $44000 in assets when he had no source of income. (AND that of course was real money back in those days; kidnapping the ransomer received was $50000.) Hauptmann never did confess, despite being offered $90000 to by Hearst's papers and offered to be spared by the death penalty (death did seem accidental after all), or even when he was beaten while initially interrogated at the police station.

As for my initial attraction to this biography, there did seem to be plenty on him being in the "America First" movement, but did not find anything too unique about it other than him at one point saying the interest groups trying to get America into the war were the FDR Administration (hey, they were), the British (trying to ease their burden), and a lot of notable Jewish people. His wife tried to warm him against it, since, like today, yellow journalism had a field day with the headlines and the public would likely not care as much about what was said beyond the headlines. However, once America entered the war, he did provide his support and offered to return to his military post.

After the war, he published his memoirs, journals, and diaries. His wife would too, so much of their life was quite public knowledge and, as author Scott Berg notes, Lindbergh was a true patriot all the way.(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Edward Wright rated it 4 of 5 stars

A major biography of a giant of American aviation. Lindbergh's historic 1927 crossing of the Atlantic, which made him the most famous person on Earth, & the 1932 kidnap-murder of his son, which drove him to seek privacy & security for his family, are cornerstones of the book. But I brought away other things too, including the excitement of his early years as a mail carrier, flying rickety & dangerous planes (he had to parachute to safety more than once), & how he spent the rest o...more

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May 21, 2012 Spencer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

Since we are moving to St. Louis this summer, I figured I should read a book about Charles Lindbergh (you know, to catch the spirit of St. Louis....okay, sorry, terrible joke). Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Lindbergh. It was amazing to me that his global-fame-inducing solo flight across the Atlantic occurred so early on in this book (and in his life). There was so much more to his life than just that flight. Equally amazing was the astounding fame that tha...more Since we are moving to St. Louis this summer, I figured I should read a book about Charles Lindbergh (you know, to catch the spirit of St. Louis....okay, sorry, terrible joke). Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Lindbergh. It was amazing to me that his global-fame-inducing solo flight across the Atlantic occurred so early on in this book (and in his life). There was so much more to his life than just that flight. Equally amazing was the astounding fame that that single flight brought to him. He was literally worshipped around the world for achieving what was thought to be impossible. The descriptions of celebrations, rallies, parties, etc. thrown in his honor for years after was really amazing to read about. After his flight, Lindbergh stayed very involved in aviation and did much throughout his life to promote and advance this relatively new field - in fact, he was involved all the way up through the first trips to outer space. He also became involved in scientific research, and in particular, helped make some significant advances in organ culture systems - which I doubt anyone realizes today. Lindbergh was heartily criticized and scorned for his admiration of Nazi Germany, and his unwillingness to admit his erred judgement in this regard dampened his universal appeal to many. In later life, he became involved in conservation efforts and travelled the world (literally) on behalf of many different causes. Through all the professional success, Lindbergh had a complicated home life. His relationship with his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was often difficult and turbulent, and he was a distant, absent, and at times difficult father to his children. The darkest experience of his life was the abduction and murder of his infant firstborn son, that involved a ransom paid to a mysterious man, over two years of detective work, a globally-followed criminal trial, and finally, an execution of the man responsible. The extensive public involvement throughout this time made the experience all the harder for the Lindbergh family to endure. All in all, I really enjoyed reading about the life of this incredibly interesting yet complicated man. The book was well written and very enjoyable to read. (less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Faith rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, biography, historical

For me, one of the most interesting things about books are their ability to illuminate the lives and experiences of people with lives vastly different than mine. That's why I read, to explore these different worlds. The rules of biography are vastly different than fantasy or historical fiction, my two favorite genres, and I do understand that, but I don't understand writing an account of a person's life which completely skirts the issue of the subject having "feelings" or "reasons for their acti...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Edward Waverley is currently reading it

www.natvanbooks.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/...

Scott Berg
Recently published autobiography of one of America's greatest sons. He was a hero from the time of his historic solo trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris up to the moment he decided to intervene in Jewish plans to enlist America's support in a war against National Socialist Germany. Charles Lindbergh was an admirer of Hitler and his regime and although not an overt racialist, felt that another world war would spell disaster for the White...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Kristi Fleming rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Lindbergh" by Scott Berg is the first biography I've ever read. That being said I didn't know what to expect but felt propelled to read it after reading "The Aviator's Wife". There were substantial portions that I found very interesting but also sections that plainly said were downright boring. I was disappointed that the book lacked emotion and at times felt like just words drafted on a page rather than exposing the deep soul of a man.

There is so much more to this man than that of his transatl...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Steve Stegman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Berg's writing is excellent. He appears to have done extensive research and had access to personal journals such that when he expresses someone's thoughts, he doesn't seem to be guessing.

I began the book really liking Lindbergh, rooting for him. In the middle of the book I felt sorry for him in the loss of his child and as he was hounded by the press. He was also so misunderstood in the years before the war.

He was a brillant man who contributed so much to aviation, science and preservation. Yet...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Brendan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Assembling a biography of someone as equally reviled and revered as Lindbergh can't be easy, but to his credit Berg avoids both vilifying and idolizing in this satisfying story. More than just a mere pilot, Lindbergh was also an aviation expert, US diplomat, and accomplished author. Berg deftly maneuvers through the disparate phases of Lindbergh's life, along the way giving appropriate attention to the tragedy of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and the turmoil when Lindbergh was viewed as an anti...more

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Aug 21, 2009 Linda M rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love biographies and I wasn't disappointed in this one. I can't wait to chat with my grandmother about her thoughts; she was 9 when he crossed the Atlantic. I do feel that Berg did a great job capturing the effects of obsessive hero worship on an individual--a desire for peace and quiet, obviously, but more interestingly, permission to be a controlling, bullying husband and father. I am completely intrigued by the "Lindbergh baby" trial and would love any recommendations about a good book that...more

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Mar 18, 2009 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is definitely the longest biography I have ever read, and I didn't begrudge a single page. A. Scott Berg is a thorough, complete, and engaging author, and I can't wait to read more. His unrestricted access to everything about the Lindberghs enabled him to paint a full picture of the life of Charles Lindberg. This biography is written chronologically, full of details and information at every stage of Charles's life in the public eye. Private details are generously given. When I finished this...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Michael T. rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very well written biography which illuminates not only the man but, through that illumination, the eras though which he lived, from his flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 to his death in 1973. Needless to say, quite a lot happened in the years in between. Lindbergh's instant, and mostly unwanted fame has very significant resonances for our own time. (Although in some sense, it was also nice to see that the modern media is closer to carrying on a bizarre tradition than it is to having act...more A very well written biography which illuminates not only the man but, through that illumination, the eras though which he lived, from his flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 to his death in 1973. Needless to say, quite a lot happened in the years in between. Lindbergh's instant, and mostly unwanted fame has very significant resonances for our own time. (Although in some sense, it was also nice to see that the modern media is closer to carrying on a bizarre tradition than it is to having actually invented it.) But it was this unsought fame which was directly responsible for the kidnapping & murder of the Lindberghs' first child. And, in the wake of this atrocity, it is not surprising that both Lindbergh and his wife became very elusive and distrustful when it came to press attention. And yet, even in this light, the one quibble I do have with A. Scott Berg's take on Lindbergh is that while he does not shy completely away from Lindbergh's more anti-Semitically tinged statements & speeches, Berg seems always at pains to submit them in the light which will be the least damaging to Lindbergh's reputation. (Lindbergh, by the way, did himself no favors in the regard, simultaneously using his fame as a springboard for his beliefs, while refusing to explain himself when his words or actions were misunderstood or twisted by the press.) While it is inaccurate to refer to Lindbergh as a traitor or a crypto-Nazi (as some did during his lifetime), it is important to recognize that, at least on a certain level, and at least early on, before the Nazis worst acts were known to the world, he WAS what could be described as a sympathizer. He admired their initiative, their drive, their sense of order, and especially their stance as a bulwark against what he saw as the far greater threat -- Soviet Communism. And while Lindbergh's anti-Semitism never was comparable to the monomaniacal level of hatred to which the Nazis took it (the Guggenheim family & several other prominent American Jews were lifelong friends, for instance), his words are still tinged with the grossly mistaken racial theories of his day, and upon which the Nazis capitalized. Lindbergh stated, for instance, that while a small number of Jews were beneficial to a society, too large a number of them could lead to it's ruination. He also expressed, in his fear of Stalin & Communism, a racially tinged fear of "Asiatic hoards" as well as fear of the contaminating effects on the "white race" of "Moors" and "Saracens." And, even long after his flirtation with the Third Reich (he was, for instance, given a Nazi medal by Herman Goering himself on one diplomatic visit), Lindbergh clung to his belief in the pseudoscience of eugenics until his dying day. All very fascinating, and all much more troubling BECAUSE Lindbergh was, at his core, clearly a more or less descent man. And yet also, very clearly, he was a stubborn man. He resisted any kind of apology or recantation of his past statements and beliefs for the remainder of his life -- even the suggestion that, in conjunction with the British & the Roosevelt Administration, it was a powerful cabal of American Jews (stop me when some of this begins to sound familiar) who were responsible for America's "unnecessary" entry into World War II in opposition to the Nazis. Ah well, so much for that quibble. Lindbergh also foresaw the importance of rocketry, and the space program, which he lived to see come to fruition with the Apollo program. He also did very influential work in such disparate fields as artificial organ development, anthropological studies, and early conservation efforts. All in all a very informative look at the man & his time.(less)

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May 21, 2009 Raymond rated it 4 of 5 stars

I talked lately with a representative of the Minnesota Historical Society. About 10,000 people still tour the Minnesota boyhood home of Charles A. Lindbergh each year. Lindbergh is a faded historical personality. "Lindbergh,"is a literary achievement, a definitive and lively biography. But - the irony - after Berg lays out all of consequence that is to be said of Charles Lindbergh through more than 550 pages, when finis could be said of the subject, investigators published their findings: Charle...more

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May 15, 2010 Fran rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was much more than a biography. It was filled with mystery, adventure, history, politics, and much, much more. A book full of unknown happenings in the life of Charles Lindbergh other than aviation. Who knew that Lindbergh invented technology to assist in organ transplants. The author's access to the diaries of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh allowed him to present Lindbergh honestly at each point in his life. A lot was also told about his wife, Anne's feelings throughout t...more

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Jun 10, 2009 kmg rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read Berg's Katherine Hepburn biography a few years ago and loved it (she's easy to love) so I grabbed this when I saw it at Magers and Quinn even though I've never been all that interested in Lindbergh. The sections on his earliest years in aviation, his Atlantic crossing, and the true-crime discussion of his first child's kidnapping were unexpectedly engrossing. The admiration of Nazi engineering efficiencies was decidedly creepier, but if you are interested what it looks like to be on the w...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Michael Gerald rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good take on the life and times of one of the greatest aviators and adventurers, 'Lindbergh' chronicles the man's family history, birth, experiences as a child, adulthood, career, his historic and memorable flight across the Atlantic, his marriage to Anne Morrow, the infamous kidnapping and murder of his eldest son, the abusive press coverage and the trial of the purported murderer, his controversial association with Nazi Germany, World War II, his advocacy for the environment, and his death....more

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Sep 06, 2011 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anne Morrow Lindbergh has been my interest, so I picked this up to get better acquainted with her husband. I was not disappointed. The biography is an easy read and gives a seemingly unbiased account of Charles A. Lindbergh. (He certainly wasn't everyone's American hero.) I appreciate the vast amount of content given to the kidnapping and murder of Charlie and the investigation and trial that followed. I always wondered. . . Charles Lindbergh? New York to Paris, 1927? - why the big deal? Now I k...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The life of this great aviator can no better be summarised than by the observation of his future wife, Anne Morrow, on his epic flight across the Atlantic and landing in Paris, in May 1927. 'Fame - Oportunity - Wealth - and also tragedy & loneliness & frustration rushed at him in those running figures on the field at La Bourget'. The author perfectly captures the juxtaposition between Lindbergh's own interpretation of his achievement as merely 'part of the continuum of human endeavour',...more The life of this great aviator can no better be summarised than by the observation of his future wife, Anne Morrow, on his epic flight across the Atlantic and landing in Paris, in May 1927. 'Fame - Oportunity - Wealth - and also tragedy & loneliness & frustration rushed at him in those running figures on the field at La Bourget'. The author perfectly captures the juxtaposition between Lindbergh's own interpretation of his achievement as merely 'part of the continuum of human endeavour', and the adulation in which he was held as the rugged superstar of the new era of global communication. Lindbergh's own personal development would be largely shaped by his family's dark history. His father's stubborn pursuit of political ambition was in response to his own father's fleeing from justice amid corruption charges in his native Sweden, and his illegitimate birth as child of the young mistress with whom his father had absconded, emigrating to America. Lindbergh himself was the sole child from his father's estranged second marriage to a wife twenty years his junior. Thus, despite occasions when he accompanied his father to Congressional sessions in Washington and meeting President Woodrow Wilson, his childhood was marked by constant uprooting between the family home on the banks of the Mississippi in Minnesota, the capital, and his mother's native city of Detroit. The war ended before Lindbergh reached an age to enlist, and his father's political and financial demise was soon followed by his own dropping out of college. He was drawn to a boyhood dream of flight, training while working in an aviation factory. A period of aerial daredevil displays then ensued until his enlisting within the air-force, from which he graduated top of his class. Yet, he turned his back on a military career to continue his joy of pushing the envelope in performing ever more risky stunts, while awaiting civilian service as one of the first pilots to deliver Air Mail, between St Louis and Chicago. The author provides great detail in presenting Lindy's aerial exploits and the dangers of flying this pioneer mail route, from helping to conduct the first mid-air marriage ceremony, to three edge-of-seat crashes which he escaped by the skin of his teeth. Lindbergh would not be the only aviator seeking to be the first to cross the Atlantic, as the interwar period witnessed the continued furthering of aerial endurance. Aviation had made leaps and bounds in its development since the turn of the century, with the Wright brothers achieving flight in December 1903, followed by Bleriot's crossing of the Channel in 1909. Then in 1911, C P Rodgers crossed the American continent from Long Island to Long Beach, while in 1913 Roland Garros had flown non-stop across the Mediterranean. Alcock and Brown had traversed the Atlantic in 1919, but this had been flown in stages, but now the prize of $25,000 was on offer for a non-stop crossing. Lindbergh faced stiff competition from the likes of Richard Byrd, whose expedition to fly across the North Pole Lindbergh had unsuccessfully applied to join in 1925. The story of his Atlantic crossing is one of sheer guts and determination, breaking the record for a non-stop flight in covering 3,500 miles. Aside from the constant dangers posed by the cold and drowsiness, Lindbergh had to contend with thick fog and at one point had to fly just fifty feet above a fishing fleet to enquire as to the exact direction for Ireland. One enthusiastic follower of his exploits through radio updates was the 19 year-old son of an Indiana hardware store-owner, laid low with scarlet fever. This impressionable youth would be destined to portray his hero on film. Feted in Paris and across Europe, Lindbergh quickly became a prisoner of ceremonial life, courted by the great, such as King George V and the future Edward VIII, whose own damaging involvement with Nazism would shadow his own. However, at heart he did not allow such fame to colour his recognition of his place among his peers, as revealed by his meeting with the suffering mother of the missing French pilot Nungesser, who with his co-pilot Coli had disappeared making their own Atlantic crossing, and by his refusal to accept a gift of 150,000 francs for his achievement from the ‘Aeroclub’ of France, requesting that the money be donated to the families of these ill-fated aviators. This period would also introduce Lindbergh to the dangers of the press and celebrity, with his first interview with the New York Times being published representing him as a provincial ingénue. Returning home aboard a US destroyer commissioned for the purpose by US President Calvin Coolidge, he was welcomed with a ticker-tape parade in New York before receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross at the White House. His popularity fuelled offers from Hollywood and from William Randolph Hearst to appear in a movie with the mogul’s girlfriend, Marion Davies, while the US government even muted the idea of offering him a cabinet post as Secretary of Aviation. Moreover, in an attempt to boost sales for its fledgling publication, ‘Time’ named him their inaugural ‘man of the Year’. Despite such glamorous acclaim, he rejected all offers of employment for one from the Guggenheim fund to tour the country promoting civil aviation. During this tour he would give Henry Ford his first airplane flight over Detroit, and such was the impact of his own flight, that in 1927 alone there was a 300% increase in the number of applicants for pilot licenses. Lindbergh regarded the pursuit of personal celebrity pointless, and made the birth of commercial aviation his personal crusade. Thus, in 1929 he entered a business partnership with Juan Trippe, a former navy flying instructor, who had just founded ‘Pan-Am Airways’, acting as paid technical advisor. Trippe, who is frequently portrayed as an intrepid pioneer or as a ruthless ‘pirate’ of the airways, shared Lindbergh’s vision for commercial aircraft and had just gained the contract to run the airmail service between Key West and Havana. The 1927 tour would also introduce him to his future wife, with her father, distinguished banker, Dwight Morrow, acting as one of his advisers. He would always remain conscious of the threat of media intrusion into his marriage, but also relished any opportunity to share his love of aviation with Anne. Consequently, though their honeymoon became a secret escape with the press in hot pursuit, he acknowledged his own and his wife’s image as fearless fliers to persuade the public to take to the skies. On hearing of one early civic flight’s disappearance, their own participation in the search party and public appearances helped diminish the negative outcome of the plane’s eventual discovery with no survivors. Having taught Anne to fly with her becoming the first female glider pilot in the country, Lindbergh would over the ensuing decade undertake ever more adventurous aerial adventures accompanied by Anne, from aerial photography of the Mayan ruins to flights over the frozen northern wastes. The intrepid aviator would never lose his ‘wanderlust’, and shared his own father’s seeming inability to connect with his new-born son. He was therefore able to persuade Anne to abandon their baby in July 1931 and fly across Alaska and the northern reaches of the Pacific to Japan. Despite Anne’s wishes to return home, he then planned a brief stopover in China before returning across the pacific via South America. Their hair-raising exploits brought them even further international acclaim, especially their flying in emergency supplies to the flood victims along the Yangtse river. The expedition would only be cut short by the death of Anne’s father, and the ultimate price for such celebrity would be the media circus which enveloped the kidnapping and murder of his first-born son in March 1931. Determined to shield his family from unwanted media attention, Lindbergh had already incurred the lasting wrath of elements of the press, especially from the Hearst empire, by banning certain newspapers from the official announcement of the birth. Disturbingly, there were enough indications of the looming danger, with Anne expressing her concerns that the household servants were inexperienced at dealing with such media and public interest, and by the fact that her own sister had been the target of a recent kidnap attempt, while disturbing letters had already been received at the family home. The case inevitably drew worldwide interest, with the largest manhunt in history being launched. So shocking were the events that Congress would react by moving pending legislation to the top of the agenda making cross-state kidnapping a capital offence – this would become known as the ‘Lindbergh Law’. This was in response to the fact that in Depression-hit America, kidnapping had become rife with 400 such crimes reported in 1930 in Chicago alone. From the outset, the case proved strange and complicated, with the kidnap note surrounded by strange intricate symbols and worded in a way which suggested European origin. Moreover, the ladder used to access the child’s bedroom had been left at the scene and was obviously home-made to make it more portable. What was quickly apparent was that Lindbergh was convinced of the need to appeal to the kidnappers directly, and his willingness to consult and approach all those who could help gain access to those responsible. As such, he was prepared to take advantage of criminal elements and those with the knowledge of the criminal underground to open channels of communication with the kidnappers. Even Al Capone, about to start an 11-year sentence, sent his condolences and offered a $10,000 reward for anyone with information on the whereabouts of the kidnappers. Aside from the mystics and cranks who made their appearance, one strange figure to offer the Lindberghs assistance was a former school principal from the Bronx, John Condon, who had advertised in his local area to act as go-between between the kidnappers and the famous couple. When he received a reply in the same style as that used by the kidnap note he approached Lindbergh directly with the latter sanctioning his role. Unfortunately, despite the handing over of $50,000 dollars by Condon in a darkened alley in the Bronx in return for news of the baby’s whereabouts, subsequent events led the exasperated parents on a wild goose-chase surrounding a supposed boat lying offshore of Martha’s Vineyard. The futility of this attempt quickly surfaced with the discovery of the rashly buried corpse of the child a mere four miles from the Lindbergh residence. The ensuing autopsy revealed that the cause of death had been a blow to the head, probably delivered in the attempt to remove the baby from the family home. The baby would not be the only victim of this tragedy, as when Violet Sharp, one of the English maids working for the Lindberghs, fell under suspicion and could not provide a water-tight alibi, she committed suicide by drinking cleaning solvent. The first firm suspect of the murder would not arise until September 1934 when a German immigrant carpenter, Bernard Hauptmann was traced back through the timber order for the makeshift ladder and the discovery of marked ransom banknotes in his possession which equated to those recorded as part of the sum exchanged previously in the Bronx. To highlight his possible complicity, his house lay within walking distance of that ill-fated exchange. Despite Hauptmann’s claims that the money had been left by a fellow immigrant who had returned to Germany, a search of police records back in his home country revealed that he had a history of burglaries and armed robberies. Moreover, analysis of his handwriting revealed striking similarities to that of the idiosyncratic kidnap note. Though he would never confess to the crime, Lindbergh would always personally be assured of Hauptmann’s guilt. In addition, though no DNA evidence ever emerged to link him to the crime scene, his secretiveness even left his wife ignorant of the fact that his given name was not Richard but Bruno till this fact emerged in the press. Attempts were made to no avail to commute his capital sentence, with supporters such as Clarence Darrow and Eleanor Roosevelt, and, even though he was offered life imprisonment in return for a signed confession, Hauptmann adamantly refused to plead guilty and was executed in April 1936. As he was sent to the chair he steadfastly declared his innocence and hoped that his own wrongful execution would lead to an eventual abolishing of the death penalty. Though Lindbergh would never shed a tear over the death of his infant son, he would be so outraged by the press coverage that he would seek exile in Europe to escape the unnecessary attention of the country’s press. Indeed, so tasteless was the media attention on the grisly details of the case that a press photographer would even break into the mortuary to take a photo of the baby’s badly decomposed corpse, copies of which were sold for $5 each. It appeared that scandal was destined to dog the Lindberghs as in July 1936 they were requested at the instigation of the American embassy to visit Berlin. Ostensibly, though his mission was in the national interest to estimate the exact strength of the Luftwaffe, his trip would ultimately sow the seeds for besmirching his reputation as a Nazi sympathiser. Despite being impressed by the development of their air-force and the energetic leadership of the Nazi regime, Lindbergh would war the Fuhrer’s regime of the dangers inherent to a military build-up. Yet, what would be remembered would be photos of a dinner in his honour hosted by Goering and his receipt on a subsequent mission in 1938 of the Service Cross of the German Eagle for his services to world aviation. This award had previously been made to Henry Ford, but Lindbergh would be vilified in the bitter light of day in the aftermath a mere fortnight later of the destruction and outrages committed on ‘Kristallnacht’. Criticism would always surround his refusal to return this honour, and would overshadow the actual revulsion he felt for anti-Semitism. Worse, his friendship and collaboration with Dr Alexis Carrel, a pioneer in transplantation, whose public support of eugenics mirrored those of the Nazis, and whose eventual collaboration with the Vichy regime brought further unwanted attention.The mistaken perception of his sharing of discriminatory views against the Jews can no better be revealed than by Lindbergh’s assistance to a young German Jewish doctor to gain exile in the US to escape the persecution he would face under Nazism. Yet, Lindbergh admired Hitler’s leadership and regarded the Fuhrer’s regime as an excellent buffer against the greater danger to democracy posed by Communism and the Asiatic hordes. This attitude coloured his opposition to America entering hostilities at the outset of the Second World War, and his entry into politics calling for strict adherence to an arms embargo on all belligerents and America’s neutrality. The seeds for a lifelong feud with Roosevelt had already been sowed as early as 1934 when the latter’s new administration ended licenses for all domestic airline contracts subject to investigation into any criminal responsibility over the granting of such contracts. Lindbergh gained the lasting enmity of FDR for the successful lobbying of the former on this issue which led to the latter’s forced climbdown. Lindbergh's isolationist stance was largely influenced by his own father's opposition to involvement in the First World War, which he regarded as only benefitting the major banking interests and financiers, the cause for which his father had fought and lost a Senate campaign in 1916. Meanwhile, the ‘America First’ campaign had mushroomed out of a movement established by a small group of Yale law students. Containing a mix of liberals and conservatives, the movement also attracted the support of Henry Ford and Frank Lloyd Wright. Yet, it would be Lindbergh who would emerge as its figurehead embroiled in a battle for the conscience of the nation over an 11-month tour. It would be his speech delivered at Des Moines in July 1941 which would cement his growing unpopularity and his reputation as an anti-Semite. Despite warnings from Anne over the wording of his speech, Lindbergh was adamant in defending his right to identify which elements of American society were nakedly pursuing entry into the conflict. Thus, though his words made it clear that he did not condone any persecution of the Jewish race, his naming of them as sharing responsibility for warmongering alongside the British and the Roosevelt administration, together with unfortunate comments over their control of the media, led to the charge of anti-Semitism sticking, and the subsequent plummeting of his popularity. Events would turn with the attack on Pearl Harbour, and Lindbergh’s realisation that his two-year crusade was at an end. He now urged retaliation and development of the country’s military preparedness. By this point the damage had already been done, with Roosevelt determined to ‘clip his wings’. As such, he was not allowed to enlist, until support was provided by Ford, and his serving as guinea- pig for high altitude flying and test pilot for altitude bombing. This gave him the opportunity to fly on missions in New Guinea, and with the death of FDR, the Truman administration brought him in from the cold with a mission to return to war-torn Europe. Lindbergh had shown great interest in the possible applications of the technology of rocketry, actively seeking out and providing with funding, Robert Goddard, the pioneer in this field. With victory in Europe secured, Lindbergh was despatched to ascertain the level of German development with their V2 rockets. Though he advocated rapid development of rocketry’s martial application, he condemned the dropping of the atomic bomb, which he considered a blot on American history. Furthermore, he regarded the MAD doctrine as ridiculous, and supported America’s role to police international affairs, so as to prevent the spread of communism. In his later years, he would devote all his time and energy to being an ecological crusader, serving on the board of the WWF, and decrying the perversion of science to serve the narrow interests of militarisation and industry. What emerges from this engaging biography is a man of both undoubted courage and intuitiveness, but one whose lack of warmth in his private life led to growing estrangement with his wife, and whose personal tragedy would reveal the growth of the paparazzi and prove to be the forerunner of today’s celebrity scandals.

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Jul 01, 2009 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Celebrity in America is a fixation. What do you need to do to be a celebrity? Well, it'll help if your parents or husband is rich. Fertility drugs plus multiple births almost assures you of a television show. If that doesn't work, you can always willingly place yourself on a "deserted" island and engage in various frivolous challenges.

How did you become a celebrity in the old days? Try getting into a monoplane, take off from New York, fly across the Atlantic, and land in Paris, doing something...more

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Jun 13, 2007 amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am amazed at the potency of Lindbergh's charisma in granting him access to the tip-top leadership of pretty much any subject he took an interest in, whether it be pre-war escalation of aeronautical advances, space research, the development of a safer organ transplant system and artificial heart, archaeology, conservation and environmentalism, and the list goes on. Some of these interests his Mad Pilot Skillz gave him an in to pursue, while others seem simply out of the blue, an impression that...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Sara Kupper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good bio as far as basic info and detail on aviation,medical research, WWII, books etc. Lacking is what kind of man, husband, father he was in his real life. Disappointing this large book did not delve much into who the man and myth was personally: his love for his wife and children, his grief (did he have any) when his first born son was murdered as a toddler, his other children, etc. Who was this man really? I feel this book taught Lindbergh facts, but not who the man was at the end of the day...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: translated-literature

Lindbergh is a heavy and very complete book. Although this is mostly a compliment, it's the only disadvantage as well. It's great A. Scott Berg took the time to do his research on C.A.L's roots but the first chapters were hard to get through.

Luckily that got better. Reading about the St. Louis was both refreshing and fascinating since it's a topic I knew literally nothing about. I admired Lindy through this part of the book. It saddened me to read as he grew older he turned more and more like hi...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Craig rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 20th-century-american-history, general-biographies

Interesting book. It was a fascinating look at a complicated hero, but you sort of wonder why certain aspects of Lindbergh's life (his multiple affairs and fathered children, for instance) were ignored why Anne Morrow Lindbergh's affair was included. And while the coverage of Lindbergh's involvement with America First was fairly inclusive, I would have liked to have read more of Lindbergh's comments there. Didn't he once say that FDR was more dangerous than Hitler?

But I did enjoy the book.

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Aug 03, 2008 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history-stuff

A big fat biography seems like the perfect thing for a vacation read.
It took me almost the whole week in Colorado to read this, but it was well worth it. A few years ago, I read Susan Hertog's bio of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, so this book completes the picture.
Gripping, easy (but slow) to read and a page turner, I found the parts about his preparations for the flight to Paris and the aftermath amazing. Berg also spends valuable time explaining the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, setting it well in the c...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Kevin Sheives rated it 3 of 5 stars

At times, this bio was excellent. When it hit on the more interesting parts of Lindbergh's life - the crossing of the Atlantic, the kidnapping of his baby, Berg's writing was gripping and interesting. But at other times, it fell flat. He consistently hit on Lindbergh's struggles with fame. Not too long, but again - I could have done without the less interesting parts of Lindbergh's life.

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Aug 04, 2010 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

What attracted me to this book was wondering how in the world you could put this extraordinary man's life into one book...but A. Scott Berg did it. I decided to read right from the beginning (instead of skip to the end), and I found that Berg has beautiful prose that made Lindbergh human. At times it didn't even feel like I was reading a book; his life jumped out at me from the many pages. I read this book to simplify some of my term paper about Lindbergh; I cited several quotes and bits of his...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Joe O'Neill rated it 5 of 5 stars

An absolutely amazing book and one of my favorites of the past twenty years. Beautifully written and captivating... it tells the story of Charles Lindbergh, the first man to cross the Atlantic ocean by airplane. It shows that Lindbergh is far from perfect, but definitely an adventurer and complex individual. I really enjoyed it.

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Jan 07, 2008 Brandon O'Neill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Brandon by: Book club

This was a Pulitzer Prize winning bio and I think it was deserved! Lindbergh was a fascinating character - since his flight across the Atlantic, he was the most popular man on earth, and the first to be stalked by the media. Surprisingly, less time was devoted to his flight than to the kidnapping of his first child (which was interesting as well. Yes, I think they got the right guy). I downgraded it a bit as I thought it slowed during the World War II years - Lingbergh wanted to stay out and was...more

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Apr 02, 2010 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent biography. Berg weaves the dry facts of a life into the exciting saga of a great hero. The details are so well chronicled and arranged that even the least interesting parts are important to the overall understanding of the legend of this man in his time.

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