The Flight of the Century: Charles Lindberg and the Rise of American Aviation
Thomas Kessner.
In May 1927 an unassuming 25-year-old airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh stunned the world by making the first nonstop transatlantic flight, from New York to Paris�a spectacular feat of individual daring and collective technological accomplishment that ushered in America's age of commercial aviation. Thomas Kessner takes a fresh look at one of America's greatest moments, explaining how what was essentially a publicity stunt became a turning point in history, vividly re-creating the flight itself and the euphoric reaction to it on both sides of the Atlantic. Much has been made of Lindbergh's personal integrity and his refusal to cash in on his fame, but Kessner reveals that Lindbergh was closely allied with, and managed by, a group of powerful businessmen, and the author fully explores Lindbergh's central role in promoting the airline industry."It's difficult to imagine how anything new could be written about Charles Lindbergh. But Thomas Kessner has examined his subject more deeply than any other biographer... Kessner weaves a fascinating tale, chronicling Lindy's many accomplishments but also revealing someone who clearly never appreciated the full extent of his notoriety."�Aviation History