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Sundowner of the Skies: the story of Oscar Garden, the forgotten aviator
In the early morning of 16 October 1930, Oscar Garden taxied his tiny Gipsy Moth across London’s Croydon aerodrome and, with a wave of his hand to the only person there to farewell him, took off. His plan was to fly to Australia, which was sheer madness as he only had a mere 39 flying hours under his belt. When he landed at Wyndham 18 days later no one was expecting him. However, his flight – the third fastest after veteran aviators Bert Hinkler and Charles Kingsford – captured the world’s imagination. With a lack of fanfare, he had given the impression he had just set out on a short pleasure trip, instead of the most formidable feat in aerial navigation. The press dubbed him ‘Sundowner of the Skies’. Unlike most of his contemporaries who died in crashes, Oscar survived and went on to a career in commercial aviation. He ended up as Chief Pilot of Tasman Empire Airways, the forerunner of Air New Zealand, but left suddenly in 1947. He never flew a plane again. Sundowner of Skies is a deeply personal study told by his daughter Mary Garden. This book is her journey of discovery. Until recently, she knew little about her father’s life as an aviator. As well as digging up his amazing flying adventures, she uncovers his tumultuous childhood in north Scotland, the ghosts of his past, which he could not escape, and shines a light on the intergenerational trauma that impacted her own life
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 13, 2019
What would make a young man with little flying experience jump in a second-hand plane with an open cockpit with hand-drawn maps and fly from the UK to Australia? It would seem a suicide mission, but Oscar Garden completed the flight with very little fanfare and has still not been recognised for his extraordinary feat of aviation. Now, thanks to his daughter, Mary Garden, his legacy is not lost. She has written a warts-and-all account of Oscar, a brilliant pilot but a flawed family man. Beautifully written and rich in detail, this is both an accurate historical account and an emotionally charged biography about one of history's forgotten heroes. A fascinating read - highly recommended.
August 27, 2020
An account of Oscar Garden written by his daughter Mary is a testimony to history, family saga and skeletons and a yearning to understand the man who was like an mysterious Island.
This type of an account is why I love reading.
An expose’ of his achievements, emotional disconnection, the history that shaped him and the possible mental illness that governed him.
Oscar Garden flew from England to Australia in an open air plane in 1930, he was the youngest and least experienced in the ilk of pilot pioneers of the era.
A dangerous and arduous milestone, one that came with fame and respect.
An influential and pivotal figure in the aviation circles.
The anecdotes from his journeys are fascinating and reflect his passion.
A career that ended abruptly and never revisited except in occasional stories and tribute pieces.
Reclusive and anti social traits that basically erased his efforts and milestones from social history.
Behind every feat is the mental psyche and in this case manipulation laced with self centred behaviour.
The true hero is a mother and wife who endured this and stayed for the long haul.
An account written by a daughter who experienced the distance and coldness wrote this tribute to honour the achievements of Oscar in a warts and all way.
Worthy of the literary nominations and awards won.
For those who love history and those who love family saga will really enjoy Sundowner Of The Skies.
June 12, 2019
This is a must read for any aviation history enthusiasts. You will know of Kingsford-Smith, Amelia Earhart and Jean Batten. Oscar Garden was equally remarkable, although virtually unknown, with his 3rd fastest flight from England to Australia in a Gypsy Moth with minimal flying experience. This book also puts flesh on his interesting swashbuckling, brave, but flawed personality and historical family life. A great read
June 12, 2019
I had difficulty in putting this book down. I had real interest in getting into Mary's book as her dad came from my part of Scotland coupled with my love of history and air travel. So great that Mary Garden took the effort to tell her father's lost story as well as giving us "warts and all" story of life under her dad.
October 7, 2019
I was particularly keen to read this book as I too began my 40 year aviation career at the Norfolk & Norwich Aero Club, which formed in 1927 and is still in existence, albeit under a new name.
The more I read this book, the more I was completely stunned by Oscar Garden's sheer audacity to complete each and every flight on the way out to Australia in 1930 with so little flying experience - yet as with most pilots, to him it was achievable so he just did it armed with a certain confidence that all would be well.
But to set off across such huge distances armed with a compass and modest map and to forget to take any water over a desert was just extraordinary and yet he did it and with modesty expected of all aircrew - he would argue that he was just doing his job.
Oscar Gardens flying career spanned a fascinating post WW 1 period to nearly the jet age, but the WW 2 years were extraordinary as we all have to change our plans to match world events.
Mary Garden has clearly put an immense amount of work into putting the reader into the cockpit and I think she has done a superb job of sharing all of her father's flying life with the reader. He was a true 'Trail Blazer', but was one of the few to survive to a ripe old age.
Not much has been left out of this readable book, so one learns about his families life in the North of Scotland islands before those flying years and then also explores his career when he suddenly stopped flying, which many pilots have to deal with for various reasons.
All in all - I was delighted to read this particularly engrossing book and felt quite exhausted by the end, but as a professional pilot I can assure anyone that they are getting a remarkable, unique story and I both recommend this book and commend Mary Garden - her father would have been secretly delighted to share his forgotten life with the rest of the world. Enjoy!!
John Hoyte
The more I read this book, the more I was completely stunned by Oscar Garden's sheer audacity to complete each and every flight on the way out to Australia in 1930 with so little flying experience - yet as with most pilots, to him it was achievable so he just did it armed with a certain confidence that all would be well.
But to set off across such huge distances armed with a compass and modest map and to forget to take any water over a desert was just extraordinary and yet he did it and with modesty expected of all aircrew - he would argue that he was just doing his job.
Oscar Gardens flying career spanned a fascinating post WW 1 period to nearly the jet age, but the WW 2 years were extraordinary as we all have to change our plans to match world events.
Mary Garden has clearly put an immense amount of work into putting the reader into the cockpit and I think she has done a superb job of sharing all of her father's flying life with the reader. He was a true 'Trail Blazer', but was one of the few to survive to a ripe old age.
Not much has been left out of this readable book, so one learns about his families life in the North of Scotland islands before those flying years and then also explores his career when he suddenly stopped flying, which many pilots have to deal with for various reasons.
All in all - I was delighted to read this particularly engrossing book and felt quite exhausted by the end, but as a professional pilot I can assure anyone that they are getting a remarkable, unique story and I both recommend this book and commend Mary Garden - her father would have been secretly delighted to share his forgotten life with the rest of the world. Enjoy!!
John Hoyte
October 7, 2019
What an achievement! Mary Garden has written a riveting story of a young man's courageous sense of adventure, that made history at the time but which ultimately turned into bitterness and mental illness. The untold story of a forgotten aviator is woven around research unearthed in unlikely coincidences and personal recollections to make sense of a childhood with a remote and cold father. Mary has healed her family line and personal history as well as putting Oscar Garden back into aviation history, where he belongs. It is a testament of how much she loved her father in spite of the legacy of family trauma and her mother saying "He was a bastard of a husband and a bastard of a father". Mary's magical writing reached into my own cellular memory to trigger forgotten ancestral pain from a different era in the course of reading this book. I savoured it til the end and it touched me deeply. A must read!!
September 30, 2019
I have been absorbed by Mary Gardens carefully researched and revealing biography of her father Oscar Garden.
His achievements in aviation are remarkable and so deserving of recognition. To be such an inexperienced aviator ( although skilled mechanic) and embark on what seems like an impossible journey is remarkably courageous (or foolhardy). I found myself fascinated by the magnitude of this trip; looking at data; how many kilometres / per hour, how much fuel was required, wondering how an aviator could sit stationary for such long periods in a small cockpit, without cramps, without drifting off to sleep and yes how did he pee!!! I can not imagine crossing from Wyndham to Alice Springs in 1 day and in November heat. What if there were engine issues requiring forced landing... surely survival was unlikely.
This is, however, so much more than a simple biography. Mary Garden’s father is a complex, damaged man; never satisfied, seeking new jobs, moving house. He was so embittered when not appointed General Manager at TEAL and his meanness and cruelty towards his wives and children perpetuates the trauma of his own childhood. He thinks to write to his mother but doesn’t tell her he is married. Some of his actions are very odd indeed. Mary Garden gives an honest, warts and all portrayal of her dysfunctional family in an attempt to understand her father and how his trauma and angst has impacted his children. Her insight and openness are admirable and I think will resonate with many readers.
This is an absorbing, thought provoking and recommended read.
His achievements in aviation are remarkable and so deserving of recognition. To be such an inexperienced aviator ( although skilled mechanic) and embark on what seems like an impossible journey is remarkably courageous (or foolhardy). I found myself fascinated by the magnitude of this trip; looking at data; how many kilometres / per hour, how much fuel was required, wondering how an aviator could sit stationary for such long periods in a small cockpit, without cramps, without drifting off to sleep and yes how did he pee!!! I can not imagine crossing from Wyndham to Alice Springs in 1 day and in November heat. What if there were engine issues requiring forced landing... surely survival was unlikely.
This is, however, so much more than a simple biography. Mary Garden’s father is a complex, damaged man; never satisfied, seeking new jobs, moving house. He was so embittered when not appointed General Manager at TEAL and his meanness and cruelty towards his wives and children perpetuates the trauma of his own childhood. He thinks to write to his mother but doesn’t tell her he is married. Some of his actions are very odd indeed. Mary Garden gives an honest, warts and all portrayal of her dysfunctional family in an attempt to understand her father and how his trauma and angst has impacted his children. Her insight and openness are admirable and I think will resonate with many readers.
This is an absorbing, thought provoking and recommended read.
June 25, 2019
If you need to fill in an outrageous gap in early aviation history then read about this giant of his time. If you are not the slightest bit interested in early aviation then this book is still for you. Told without pathos and dramatics and yet we feel it. Told without self absorption and yet we sorrow for those caught in the web of Oscar's strange and bitter persona . This biography encompasses a family saga of privation, heroics, adventure, conflict, repression, bitterness, anguish and triumph. In the writing of this story Mary Garden has gained her own wings.
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October 8, 2019From the very first page I was hooked on this story. I had to pace myself when reading it because I didn't want it to finish! Not only was the sharing of aviation experiences important to me, the general life events showed a lot of parallels to that I was exposed to when growing up was amazing. Each turn of the page gave new insights in Oscar Gardens life and family and the challenges faced.
The complexity of Oscars family tree added to the intrigue of his life. It is great that Mary has given us all the opportunity to be part of history.
A well written book that was a much appreciated gift to me and it will take front and center position on my bookshelf.
The complexity of Oscars family tree added to the intrigue of his life. It is great that Mary has given us all the opportunity to be part of history.
A well written book that was a much appreciated gift to me and it will take front and center position on my bookshelf.
October 10, 2019
Sundowner of the Skies is a must read for aviation enthusiasts as well as Aussies and Kiwis from the Scottish Immigration influxes during the 1900s.
Mary Garden shares the intriguing life and journey of her father Oscar Garden, who made the historic flight from London to Australia in 1930 with only 39 hours of previous flying time.
Oscar's expedition itself is fascinating, however the story of the Garden family life and history uncovers many of the struggles and suffering people of that generation endured, life that many men and families can relate to today.
Mary Garden shares the intriguing life and journey of her father Oscar Garden, who made the historic flight from London to Australia in 1930 with only 39 hours of previous flying time.
Oscar's expedition itself is fascinating, however the story of the Garden family life and history uncovers many of the struggles and suffering people of that generation endured, life that many men and families can relate to today.
October 8, 2019
"Sundowner of the Skies" took me on a journey to wonderful locations I have never visited, it introduced me to a real-life character full of good old fashioned derring-do; a character who thumbed his nose at convention and frequently followed his instincts instead of a rule book.
Of course, there were consequences, some of which were to have a devastating effect on his close family members.
But more importantly, the book uncovers the circumstances surrounding one of the most incredible achievements in aviation history.
This well researched book is woven in an elegant writing style that keeps the reader intrigued from start to finish.
Of course, there were consequences, some of which were to have a devastating effect on his close family members.
But more importantly, the book uncovers the circumstances surrounding one of the most incredible achievements in aviation history.
This well researched book is woven in an elegant writing style that keeps the reader intrigued from start to finish.
October 8, 2019
Beautifully written book full of intrigue and wonderful human observation. Could not put it down and would thoroughly recommend to everyone. Mary writes honestly and openly and it is indeed a refreshing perspective. Oscar is absolutely a hero who deserves to be recognised, but like most from his generation, comes with his own demons that impact on his personal relationships throughout his life.
October 8, 2019
Sundowner of the Skies is a wonderfully researched and written book.
It is a"must read" for anyone interested in aviation, telling the story of an unknown aviator who
accomplished an amazing flight from England to Australia in the days of pioneer aviators, with very
few flying hours experience.
Mary's research is very thorough, and it is put together in a very well written story.
It is a"must read" for anyone interested in aviation, telling the story of an unknown aviator who
accomplished an amazing flight from England to Australia in the days of pioneer aviators, with very
few flying hours experience.
Mary's research is very thorough, and it is put together in a very well written story.
October 4, 2019
I loved this book! It is very easy reading, beautifully written and obviously a huge amount of research has gone into it. An amazing story about a fearless aviator but with a difficult personality which impacted on the lives of his family.
February 11, 2020
Sundowner of the Skies: The Story of Oscar Garden, The Forgotten Aviator (New Holland Publishers 2019) is author Mary Garden’s biographical account of the early life of her father, Oscar Garden, interspersed with her own personal memoir and memories of him in his later years. Complete with photographs, the book is an almost forensic examination of her father’s adventures and subsequent career as an early aviator, blended with the author’s own relationship with him, and the anthropological research she has conducted into her family history.
Oscar Garden achieved notoriety in 1930 when he became the youngest and most inexperienced pilot to fly solo from England to Australia, doing so with only 39 hours of flying experience to his name. He was one of the original daredevil pilots, in the company of peers such as Charles Kingsford Smith, Bert Hinkler and Amy Johnson, and went on to a 17-year career in aviation, in 1943 becoming the Chief Pilot and Operations Manager of Tasman Empire Airways, which subsequently became Air New Zealand. Mary Garden has traced her family tree back to her great, great-grandparents and beyond, and with meticulous detail has searched out information from family members themselves, from historical records, and from members of the public who knew of her father’s exploits as an early aviator and his joy-riding days, and his contribution to the air travel industry. For the last 20 years of his working life, Oscar Garden was a tomato grower, and Mary Garden knew little about his aviation career. But once she began researching, the truth of his fantastical antics and incredible achievements seemed completely at odds with her recollection of the father she knew as cold, distant and harsh. Everything she discovered was a new revelation. In the Author’s Note, Mary Garden says that her father would have only wanted the ‘good bits’ of his life known, as a pioneer aviator, and yet she claims that ‘…history … can be a healing process … digging up his past and going on this journey helped me, and my mother, understand in part why he became who he was.’ From the wealthy fortunes of her great-grandfather The Merchant Prince of Orkney, a successful businessman and trader, to the family secrets and many skeletons that she discovered in the cupboards, to Oscar Garden’s singular personality and unquenchable thirst for everything related to adventurous early air travel and record-breaking attempts, Mary Garden has written an account that is complimentary of her father’s achievements whilst also questioning the toll his nature took on his family and home life. Much like Melissa Fagan’s historical family memoir What Will Be Worn, Mary Garden sets aside her rose-coloured glasses and writes what she admits is a ‘warts and all’ biography of the most famous early aviator you’ve never heard of, and uses what she discovers to help her understand her own legacy of family trauma and to identify the patterns that continued through several generations.
Oscar Garden achieved notoriety in 1930 when he became the youngest and most inexperienced pilot to fly solo from England to Australia, doing so with only 39 hours of flying experience to his name. He was one of the original daredevil pilots, in the company of peers such as Charles Kingsford Smith, Bert Hinkler and Amy Johnson, and went on to a 17-year career in aviation, in 1943 becoming the Chief Pilot and Operations Manager of Tasman Empire Airways, which subsequently became Air New Zealand. Mary Garden has traced her family tree back to her great, great-grandparents and beyond, and with meticulous detail has searched out information from family members themselves, from historical records, and from members of the public who knew of her father’s exploits as an early aviator and his joy-riding days, and his contribution to the air travel industry. For the last 20 years of his working life, Oscar Garden was a tomato grower, and Mary Garden knew little about his aviation career. But once she began researching, the truth of his fantastical antics and incredible achievements seemed completely at odds with her recollection of the father she knew as cold, distant and harsh. Everything she discovered was a new revelation. In the Author’s Note, Mary Garden says that her father would have only wanted the ‘good bits’ of his life known, as a pioneer aviator, and yet she claims that ‘…history … can be a healing process … digging up his past and going on this journey helped me, and my mother, understand in part why he became who he was.’ From the wealthy fortunes of her great-grandfather The Merchant Prince of Orkney, a successful businessman and trader, to the family secrets and many skeletons that she discovered in the cupboards, to Oscar Garden’s singular personality and unquenchable thirst for everything related to adventurous early air travel and record-breaking attempts, Mary Garden has written an account that is complimentary of her father’s achievements whilst also questioning the toll his nature took on his family and home life. Much like Melissa Fagan’s historical family memoir What Will Be Worn, Mary Garden sets aside her rose-coloured glasses and writes what she admits is a ‘warts and all’ biography of the most famous early aviator you’ve never heard of, and uses what she discovers to help her understand her own legacy of family trauma and to identify the patterns that continued through several generations.
September 6, 2019
Brilliant, engaging and informative insight into early aviation.
Really enjoyed this book, very well written
Really enjoyed this book, very well written
February 9, 2020
An exceptional book tackling a major and now largely forgotten figure from the swashbuckling days of early aviation in Australia and New Zealand. Oscar Garden took huge risks flying tiny and unreliable planes over vast swathes of ocean and inhospitable desert, and did so with the low-key laconicism typical of the time. As brave as he was in the air, his personal life was something of a wreck. The author (his daughter) reveals a personality distorted by a very troubled upbringing and a man who proved unable to bestow love or generosity upon his own family. Mary Garden writes fluently and engagingly about this very interesting figure, and brings a fascinating era of exploration and civic boosterism vividly to life.
November 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this honest and beautifully written book about the author’s father, Oscar Garden. Oscar was a complex man with a complicated family history and the author’s journey to discover him has revealed so much about his extraordinary life in the very earliest days of aviation in Australia and New Zealand.
December 29, 2019
I read this book in a couple of days, eager to hear more about the aviation achievements of the man as well as his journey from the Scotland of his youth to the distant shores of New Zealand. I learnt so much and appreciated the significant research which had gone into this amazing story.
February 5, 2025
The Sundowner of the Skies - Updated Edition: The Story of Oscar Garden, the Forgotten Aviator by Mary Garden is a captivating exploration of the life of an often-overlooked aviation pioneer whose daring achievements left a lasting mark on the world of flight. This updated edition gives readers an intimate look at Oscar Garden, an aviator whose incredible bravery and skill deserve more recognition than he has received.
The story of Oscar Garden starts with his audacious solo flight from London to Australia in 1930, despite having only 39 hours of flying experience. His journey, which took just 18 days, was a remarkable feat in aviation history, yet his name has been lost in the shadows of more famous contemporaries. In this biography, Mary Garden paints a vivid picture of her father’s fearless nature and determination, providing gripping details of the flight and its immense challenges. Oscar Garden’s achievement as the ‘Sundowner of the Skies’ may have been overshadowed by other aviators of the time, but his story is a testament to the resilience and grit required to face such daunting challenges. The book explores his character, showing how he possessed an unyielding resolve that allowed him to survive where others might have faltered.
After his legendary flight, Oscar’s aviation career transitioned into the commercial sector, where he played a pivotal role in the early years of Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), which would eventually become Air New Zealand. His leadership and operational contributions helped lay the foundation for the success of the airline, and it’s clear that Oscar’s influence in aviation stretched far beyond his famous solo flight. However, his sudden departure from TEAL in 1947, followed by his decision to never fly again, adds an air of mystery to his life that Mary Garden thoughtfully explores in the book. Mary’s writing is both personal and well-researched, allowing readers to connect with Oscar as more than just an aviator—he is portrayed as a man with personal struggles, complex relationships, and an intriguing past. The book provides a well-rounded view of his life, balancing the adventurous spirit of his flights with a closer look at his personal and professional struggles. As the daughter of Oscar, Mary brings a unique perspective, sharing intimate family details that add depth to the narrative.
The inclusion of historical context and photographs adds to the richness of the biography, offering readers a glimpse into the time and place in which Oscar lived and flew. It’s clear that Mary has put immense effort into ensuring this story is told with accuracy and care, and in doing so, she has provided a valuable contribution to aviation history. Ultimately, The Sundowner of the Skies is a captivating, well-written tribute to Oscar Garden’s achievements, ensuring that this unsung hero is no longer forgotten. Mary Garden has done an excellent job of bringing her father’s story to life in a way that is both informative and engaging. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a history buff, or someone interested in stories of resilience and adventure, this book is a must-read.
The story of Oscar Garden starts with his audacious solo flight from London to Australia in 1930, despite having only 39 hours of flying experience. His journey, which took just 18 days, was a remarkable feat in aviation history, yet his name has been lost in the shadows of more famous contemporaries. In this biography, Mary Garden paints a vivid picture of her father’s fearless nature and determination, providing gripping details of the flight and its immense challenges. Oscar Garden’s achievement as the ‘Sundowner of the Skies’ may have been overshadowed by other aviators of the time, but his story is a testament to the resilience and grit required to face such daunting challenges. The book explores his character, showing how he possessed an unyielding resolve that allowed him to survive where others might have faltered.
After his legendary flight, Oscar’s aviation career transitioned into the commercial sector, where he played a pivotal role in the early years of Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), which would eventually become Air New Zealand. His leadership and operational contributions helped lay the foundation for the success of the airline, and it’s clear that Oscar’s influence in aviation stretched far beyond his famous solo flight. However, his sudden departure from TEAL in 1947, followed by his decision to never fly again, adds an air of mystery to his life that Mary Garden thoughtfully explores in the book. Mary’s writing is both personal and well-researched, allowing readers to connect with Oscar as more than just an aviator—he is portrayed as a man with personal struggles, complex relationships, and an intriguing past. The book provides a well-rounded view of his life, balancing the adventurous spirit of his flights with a closer look at his personal and professional struggles. As the daughter of Oscar, Mary brings a unique perspective, sharing intimate family details that add depth to the narrative.
The inclusion of historical context and photographs adds to the richness of the biography, offering readers a glimpse into the time and place in which Oscar lived and flew. It’s clear that Mary has put immense effort into ensuring this story is told with accuracy and care, and in doing so, she has provided a valuable contribution to aviation history. Ultimately, The Sundowner of the Skies is a captivating, well-written tribute to Oscar Garden’s achievements, ensuring that this unsung hero is no longer forgotten. Mary Garden has done an excellent job of bringing her father’s story to life in a way that is both informative and engaging. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a history buff, or someone interested in stories of resilience and adventure, this book is a must-read.
October 20, 2019
I was initially interested by the Clan (Garden) connection, but found there was no family tie. I was however very taken by Mary's research of her father's family background and his decision to learn to fly and his incredible flight to Australia, noteworthy even today.
Oscar was of course a contemporary of all the greats of early aviation in Australia and New Zealand, most of whom came to a sticky end. There are countless opportunities for disaster for aviators, even today; the fact that he survived to a respectable old age is a tribute -- to his skills as a pilot, that he got out before his luck ran out -- even the famed, 'Luck of the Gardens'.
Mary has produced a very useful, reader-friendly book. ………………………...Ernest Patrick Garden.
February 23, 2020
Sundowner of the Skies by Mary Garden, what a story.
The amount of research by Mary to write this FASCINATING STORY, thus this Book, was immense.
Story isn't the right word, it is FACT.
Today,Air Travel is accepted as normal yet the vast majority of people have NO IDEA about the people who PIONEERED THE WAY to what we have today.
What makes me upset, is that our Education Systems HAVE FAILED to Mention/ Teach " OUR HISTORY".
Mary is to be congratulated on her book, " Warts and All ", I certainly enjoyed, an excellent read.
Dennis Birt
The amount of research by Mary to write this FASCINATING STORY, thus this Book, was immense.
Story isn't the right word, it is FACT.
Today,Air Travel is accepted as normal yet the vast majority of people have NO IDEA about the people who PIONEERED THE WAY to what we have today.
What makes me upset, is that our Education Systems HAVE FAILED to Mention/ Teach " OUR HISTORY".
Mary is to be congratulated on her book, " Warts and All ", I certainly enjoyed, an excellent read.
Dennis Birt
November 15, 2019
If you’re interested in aviation history and the machinations of those that made it, this is the book for you. It’s mostly biographical but with some memoir mixed in, which I would have liked more of. I find the author just as fascinating as the subject.
Thoroughly researched and well written, Sundowner of the Skies is the perfect title for a time when air travel was the new frontier. And how could a man who achieved so much be so easily forgotten? Mary Garden has written a fine book which makes sure her father is no longer the forgotten aviator.
Thoroughly researched and well written, Sundowner of the Skies is the perfect title for a time when air travel was the new frontier. And how could a man who achieved so much be so easily forgotten? Mary Garden has written a fine book which makes sure her father is no longer the forgotten aviator.
December 18, 2019
This is a ripping yarn with a difference, a big difference.
It is rare to read a biography of a national hero that is also a memoir by the author. Rarer still to find one as compelling and honest as this. Artfully told, it has the right amount of detail to hook anyone who didn’t think they were interested in aviation milestones.
This is absolutely not just a book for plane spotters!
It is rare to read a biography of a national hero that is also a memoir by the author. Rarer still to find one as compelling and honest as this. Artfully told, it has the right amount of detail to hook anyone who didn’t think they were interested in aviation milestones.
This is absolutely not just a book for plane spotters!
April 28, 2020
Sundowner of the Skies is a must read for those interested in early aviation and the remarkable flights of a young pioneer adventurer, Oscar Garden. Mary has captured the essence of those days and embellished it with personal insights into her father’s amazing life. I just couldn’t stop turning the pages.
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November 20, 2019A fascinating tale of raw courage and of an aviation era long gone. A forgotten Hero that should be remembered and brought to our attention. Mary Garden has achieved this and also had the courage to give a warts and all account of their family life.
A book which is hard to put down.
A book which is hard to put down.
April 16, 2021
Great historical correction.
March 23, 2022
An engaging read. Open, honest and raw.
June 4, 2020
With just sandwiches and wearing carpet slippers, Oscar Garden sets off in his newly acquired second-hand Gypsy Moth on an incredible journey. There is no fanfare instead there is only one person to see him off.
"Sundowner of the Skies" is the fascinating biography of the, unassuming, pioneer aviator, Oscar Garden. In 1930 he became the youngest and most inexperienced pilot to fly from England to Australia. He was not one to flaunt his heroism. His extraordinary accomplishments have been largely forgotten until now. With this highly researched account written by his own daughter, Mary Garden sets the record straight. But this is more than just a historical document, Mary interweaves her own personal struggle trying to fathom this remarkable, mysterious and yet flawed man.
I found this book to be an engrossing read. I learnt so much. Mary takes you on a journey back in time. We meet her famous great-grandfather the "Merchant Prince of Orkney" in Scotland. We travel with Oscar on his record breaking trip to Australia experiencing all the technical and physical problems he faced. There are forced landings in places where planes had never before been seen. She compares Oscar achievements with his peers such as Bert Hinkler, Kingsford Smith and Jean Batten and talks about his relationship with them. She describes Oscar's involvement with the flying circus and his experiences of being a pilot of the early flying boats which traveled from New Zealand to Australia.
This well written book flows easily. It is filled with interesting historical photos and graphics. But what I find most remarkable is Mary's courageous honesty which makes this book more whole and accessible to a wider audience. It is a book that will intrigue not just aviator enthusiasts but anyone who enjoys learning about history and the legacy of a hero.
"Sundowner of the Skies" is the fascinating biography of the, unassuming, pioneer aviator, Oscar Garden. In 1930 he became the youngest and most inexperienced pilot to fly from England to Australia. He was not one to flaunt his heroism. His extraordinary accomplishments have been largely forgotten until now. With this highly researched account written by his own daughter, Mary Garden sets the record straight. But this is more than just a historical document, Mary interweaves her own personal struggle trying to fathom this remarkable, mysterious and yet flawed man.
I found this book to be an engrossing read. I learnt so much. Mary takes you on a journey back in time. We meet her famous great-grandfather the "Merchant Prince of Orkney" in Scotland. We travel with Oscar on his record breaking trip to Australia experiencing all the technical and physical problems he faced. There are forced landings in places where planes had never before been seen. She compares Oscar achievements with his peers such as Bert Hinkler, Kingsford Smith and Jean Batten and talks about his relationship with them. She describes Oscar's involvement with the flying circus and his experiences of being a pilot of the early flying boats which traveled from New Zealand to Australia.
This well written book flows easily. It is filled with interesting historical photos and graphics. But what I find most remarkable is Mary's courageous honesty which makes this book more whole and accessible to a wider audience. It is a book that will intrigue not just aviator enthusiasts but anyone who enjoys learning about history and the legacy of a hero.
November 3, 2023
Great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews