The Aviator's Wife: A Novel

By Melanie Benjamin

In the spirit of Loving Frank and The Paris Wife, acclaimed novelist Melanie Benjamin pulls back the curtain on the marriage of one of America’s most extraordinary couples: Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
 
“The history [is] exhilarating. . . . The Aviator’s Wife soars.”—USA Today
 
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

When Anne Morrow, a shy college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family, she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. In the years that follow, Anne becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States. But despite this and other major achievements, she is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.
 
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Praise for The Aviator’s Wife
 
“Remarkable . . . The Aviator’s Wife succeeds [in] putting the reader inside Anne Lindbergh’s life with her famous husband.”—The Denver Post

“Anne Morrow Lindbergh narrates the story of the Lindberghs’ troubled marriage in all its triumph and tragedy.”—USA Today
 
“[This novel] will fascinate history buffs and surprise those who know of her only as ‘the aviator’s wife.’ ”—People
 
“It’s hard to quit reading this intimate historical fiction.”—The Dallas Morning News
 
“Fictional biography at its finest.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Utterly unforgettable.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“An intimate examination of the life and emotional mettle of Anne Morrow.”—The Washington Post

“A story of both triumph and pain that will take your breath away.”—Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9780345534699

Reviews for The Aviator's Wife

[almin-70827 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had a difficult time getting interested in this book....but once it got going it held my interest. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was an extremely accomplished woman, although, from reading this book I have a hard time understanding how she became so accomplished. One good thing that has come from my reading this book is it has made me interested in reading her published diaries and journals to try and understand this woman who was a pilot and the first woman to earn a glider pilot's license...she was amazing and I can't understand how she is not better known in the world of famous/accomplished women. She was her husband's co-pilot on many flights in which they mapped routes that are used today by airlines world wide. Keep in mind that this was done in the 1930's where the only female pilot known in the world was Amelia Earhart, and the book intimates that she was a better pilot than Earhart, but lived in the shadow of her famous husband.
I would recommend this book if for no other reason than it will spark an interest in reading more about this amazing woman.

[pamv-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was just plain boring. I have picked it up and put t back down countless times since February. I officially give up.

[far2manybooks · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Re-imagining actual people and calling it fiction seems a little disrespectful. Anne Morrow Lindbergh, I thought, was an appealing character, and I too read this book to discover more about her, but just found that Charles overwhelmed her in this fictional telling as well as in real life.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the #1 book of the year for me. I couldn't put it down! Historical fiction has always been my choice of reading. This book brought me back to this genre. Narrated from Ann Morrow Lindbergh's point of view, we learn her strength, her weakness (staying with a cad for so many years while he left his family alone, with no contact information for long, long periods of time), and the reader learns of the sharp, determined, egocentric, controlling, self centered hero, Charles Lindbergh.While he roamed the world, admonishing her grief when their first born was kidnapped and killed, Ann stayed behind as five more children were born and raised by her.She was a strong, intelligent woman who was the first female to obtain a pilot's license. Taught by Charles in a demanding fashion, she soon learned to navigate both with instruments, and by Polaris, the bright constant star.Despite her growing anger and longing to claim her individuality, Charles remained her constant star throughout the many years of their marriage.The mark of great historical fiction challenges the reader to learn more, to separate the facts from the fiction. Melanie Benjamin does an amazing job of this!While the author writes of Ann's supreme anger, dismay of betrayal when, before Charles' death, she discovered there were three German mistresses with whom he sired a total of seven children, in fact, I researched to learn that it was their children, who when contacted by their half siblings, discovered their father's other lives, long after Ann's death.Mainly, I was in awe of the author's ability to paint Ann's feelings of love and hate of the hero Charles Lindbergh. And, haven't we all felt that at times in our lives, ie the longing to be loved, the disappointment in ourselves when we know we have loved too much to receive so very little in return?

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good historical fiction makes the reader want to know more, and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE does do that. It discusses Charles Lindburgh's book (written, you will learn, with Ann Morrow Lindburgh, although he gives her no credit), THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, and Ann's own book much later, GIFT FROM THE SEA. You'll probably want to read them after you read THE AVIATOR'S WIFE.But good historical fiction can also be dangerous. Because it is so well written, the reader too easily forgets that she is reading fiction, that this is not biography but is partly, maybe even largely, right out of the author's imagination. Although Ann's contributions to Charles's life and reputation should be recognized, the reader should also remember that much (or most) of this book is fiction and is not what Ann, herself, said or wrote.Even if you remember this may not be true, THE AVIATOR'S WIFE is difficult to read. It concentrates on the Lindberghs' horrible marriage, Charles's eccentricities, and Ann's compliance with whatever Charles mandated. It claims that, until the latter part of the marriage, Ann acted the way she did, said what she said, and wrote what she wrote because Charles did. For nearly 45 years, Ann was a sap. For nearly 400 pages of this book, Ann was a sap.So Ann may aggravate you throughout the book. But you may also be glad to know that she really did fly airplanes and act as Charles's crew on so many flights he, alone, took credit for. Maybe Ann, the sap, is fiction.

[cherybear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I keep saying after so many books this year, THIS was my favorite book this year. I'm saying it again about this book. I knew of the Lindberghs, of course, knew about the Spirit of St. Louis, knew about the kidnapping, and that they had other children afterward (but I didn't know how many!), and I knew a little about Anne, and of course The Gift from the Sea. I also knew something about Lindbergh being considered a supporter of Nazi Germany and an anti-Semite. But, oh, how much I didn't know, about Charles, Anne, their marriage, and their lives. The book is written from Anne's point of view (she is the narrator). Did you know she was also a pilot, and his co-pilot on many flights? Some points are fictionalized, but the book is based on fact, and includes many events that really happened. You will be angry with some of Anne's decisions, but you will sympathize with her, and care about her.

[wirtley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fiction about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Charles Lindbergh s wife. Captivating. GREAT BOOK CLUB BOOK!

[l_manning · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anne Morrow is used to being in the shadows. The one time she gets noticed is the one time she least expects to get noticed. When the very famous aviator Charles Lindbergh visits her family, Anne is once again prepared to fall back into the shadows. Everything changes for her when Charles Lindbergh not only notices her but wants to spend time with her. Anne is soon caught up in a marriage unlike any other. Spanning many decades, Anne's life is one with many highs and lows. Through it all, Anne must figure out to make herself happy and not just be "Mrs. Lindbergh."I love books based on real people, so I was excited to read this. It was extremely interesting. Charles and Anne Lindbergh were really like a celebrity couple of today. They had people after them and interested in their every move. The kidnap and murder of their first son is prime evidence of this. Everyone wanted a piece of the Lindbergh's for their own reasons. I can't even begin to imagine being hounded as much as they were. That must have been awful to be hunted down like that. I think this really hurt Anne is ways she couldn't quite measure also. A running theme seems to be Anne's need for independence, something that was impossible under the circumstances. Of course, Anne also really was in the shadow of her extremely famous husband. Anne herself was actually very accomplished. However this was always overshadowed by everything her husband did. Charles Lindbergh doesn't come off particularly well here; often he seems very cold and calculating to me at least. I really wanted things to work out better for Anne, especially knowing that Charles Lindbergh was less than faithful. In the end though, this book is a thoroughly fascinating look at what could very well be one of the first modern super-couples. Galley provided for review.

[tippygirl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully written novel with depth and passion from the perspective of one of the greatest, and most unrecognized female heroine, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I couldn't read it fast enough!

[readyreader_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thoroughly enjoyed this "novel" which seemed totally real to me. An unusual family in a momentous era, the story of Anne Morrow Lindberg is probably representative in terms of the marriage relationship of husband and wife in that era of many not so known couples. Hopefully, the institution of marriage has evolved to a better place today but no doubt other issues have risen which are the result of our culture and society. The book has motivated me to research more about this famous couple and especially to read Morrow's writings.

[marysgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction frequently sends me off in search of non-fiction about the person, the time, or the place. I usually rate those books more highly because the author did a good job of piquing my interest beyond their own story. In this case, however, I want this story to be true. Benjamin has crafted a perfect fictional autobiography of Ann Morrow Lindbergh--initially compliant, but adventurous--a woman who deals with tragedy, raises a large family by herself after being essentially abandoned by her heroic but deeply flawed husband. Ann's resilience, intelligence, and bravery shine through this narrative that deals with a woman's life writ large. She struggles with issues all women will find familiar, but in the harsh light of public scrutiny, hounded by the press and strangers who feel they have a claim on her and her husband because of their fame.Back to my original premise, I want to read Ann's book Gift from the Sea, but I don't want to read a biography of her life. I did peek ahead at the Author's Note to see how closely Benjamin followed the known story and was satisfied that she did her homework. It's the emotional truth of The Aviator's Wife that I don't want spoiled with the facts. Benjamin did her job well.

[mathenam_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin for a book discussion group, otherwise I probably would have missed reading this book, as it's not something I would normally pick up. I really enjoyed this book, and found the Lindbergh's to be a fascinating couple. I also liked the authors writing style. This book made me want to learn more about Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

[pmaurer_11 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Couldn't get into this story of the Lindbergs. Sounded depressing, and very slow. Too many books...so little time.

[nfmgirl2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

(Note: I was supposed to have won this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers, but I never did receive it. So I bought it to read for my book club.)This is the fictional account of aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow. Anne was the shy sister-- socially awkward and quiet-- when she meet Charles Lindbergh at a family party. In the story, she is shocked to discover that Lindbergh is interested in her, rather than her sister Elizabeth (the sickly yet pretty one that was socially in demand). After a rather sedate courtship, Lindbergh and Anne were married in May 1929.Soon she is Lindbergh's partner, learning everything she can about flying and soon sharing the workload on the worldwide flights together. Yet this was the 30s, and Anne was simply seen as the wife of Charles Lindbergh, despite her personal accomplishments.In 1930, their first son Charles Jr. was born. And, of course, that little baby was quite famously kidnapped for ransom at 20 months of age. Probably the most famous kidnapping in history. (His body was found months later about 4 miles from his home. It is speculated that the kidnapper dropped him when the ladder broke as he carried Charles Jr. down, and the infant died.)The author outlined her goal in a note at the end of the book:"...I wanted to make Anne the heroine of her own story, finally-- as in memory (both her written accounts and the public's perception), she is far too often overshadowed by the dominant personality that is Charles Lindbergh. (p. 336)"I think this book succeeded on that point. You find yourself frustrated with the lack of acknowledgement of her accomplishments, since she did some pretty amazing things.My final word: The book isn't poorly written, isn't horribly boring or filled with drivel. It simply wasn't very exciting, nor did I find it very interesting. I didn't find myself hanging on the book's every word, wondering what would happen next. In fact, it was so forgettable that I didn't think I had finished it, since I couldn't remember anything about the ending. So I picked it up to finish it, and found I recognized everything I was reading, and realized I'd finished this book a month or so ago, and totally forgot it. I thought Lindbergh was really unlikable. I just don't get the public's love affair with him. He was sympathetic to Hitler, and yet they loved him. He could do no wrong. I found some of the dialogue to be unrealistic. This is one of those books that I would have been happy to have never read, even though I like Melanie Benjamin's writing well enough.

[markmeg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The fictionalized story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Starts out good, but then becomes repetitious. Her dissatisfaction with him, but inability to change things is repeated throughout the story. The kidnap and death of their son is tragic and the fact that they each handle it differently is interesting, but 100 pages less would have been better.

[lindathompson-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspired me to read more about this remarkable woman. Now reading, "Gift from the Sea"

[carolvanbrocklin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant historical novel of just how hard it was to be American's Hero even in the 1930's, let alone his wife. Get for the high school.

[mchwest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting book. Well written too, I will add. This makes the 3rd type of historical fiction I've read this year and it is fun to learn so much more about people in history I would never had known had I not read fabulous fiction! The only thing I would love to know is where they stayed on the Vineyard ,we have friends who grew up there and they aren't sure either!

[crazy4reading · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I actually enjoyed this book. I wasn't all that familiar with Anne Morrow and Charles Lindbergh. I did find it fascinating at the end with the author's notes and what was actually the made up parts of the story. It was interesting to learn how she changed things to make the story appealing. I am now interested in actually looking up the books that were mentioned and also learning more about them.

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the fictionalized first person narrative of the life of Anne Morrow who married the aviator Charles Lindbergh. It is a very well written and fascinating story of an extremely intelligent and well educated woman. She was the daughter of Elizabeth and Dwight Morrow. She first met Lindbergh in Mexico City while her father was the American Ambassador. At the time Lindbergh was an international hero because of his solo transatlantic flight in 1927. They were married in 1929 and began their life together by flying and mapping flight paths. She became an aviator in her own right, earning a pilot's licence and learning to fly solo, without instruments.In their day, they were huge celebrities and tried to hide from the press as do celebrities today. The book tells the tragic story of the kidnapping and murder of their first child Charles and the ensuing media storm. The tragic outcome was extremely difficult on the family, especially Anne as Charles locked it away in his mind. Their marriage was happy but he was an introvert and a control freak who wanted to hide his family away. Ann stood by him, even when he adopted his America First and anti-Semitic philosophy before WWII which alienated many colleagues, friends and family. She was basically a single parent while he travelled the world for PanAm airways. Once her children leave home, she gets and apartment in New York and begins to lead a happier life among friends. She begins a long affair with her family doctor. Charles Lindbergh died in 1974 of lymphoma and is buried in Maui. He and Anne had six children, including baby Charles. As he lays dying, she discovers that he had seven other children with 3 women in Germany. She cannot forgive him for betraying his children.This is very good book and a very good insight into a long but lonely marriage.

[maggie1944 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A historical novel based on good research which made it quite believable. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was married to Charles Lindbergh, famous pioneer pilot who flew over the Atlantic Ocean, solo, for the first time. The Lindberghs also were famous due to their first born child being kidnapped, and murdered. The novelist wrote from the wife's POV making the descriptions of the couple's life very poignant. At first, I reacted to the novel as if it was a romance novel written for young adults but I learned later that it read that way because in her early life Anne Morrow Lindbergh was a romantic young woman, an ambassador's daughter. As the novel progressed it did become more sophisticated and complex, as did her life. In the end I was very glad to have read the book and I do recommend it, especially for small book groups who enjoy talking about women's lives.

[debs4jc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There was so much that I didn't know about the lives of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh before I read this book. It was one of those historical novels that had me searching for more information about events such as the flights that Anne and Charles took together, the details of their honeymoon, and the tragic kidnapping of their son. I always enjoy books that help me learn more in this way, and this well told story of Anne's life certainly did that. I'm not sure I would agree entirely with how every event was portrayed, or with the "voice" that the author gave to Anne but it was an enjoyable read none-the-less. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction that delves into the lives of well known figures while also telling a compelling story would find this a good read - along with Melanie Benjamin's other novels.

[yourotherleft_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shy Anne Morrow is just a 21-year-old Smith College graduate, unsure of herself or her future when she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh for the first time. Anne's father is the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Lindbergh, fresh from his heroic trans-Atlantic flight to Paris, is at work spreading flight diplomacy. Shy Anne is sure Charles will be taken with her prettier, more outgoing sister, so she's amazed to find the hero that her whole country worships has taken an unexpected interest in her. Before she knows it, she's flying with the best pilot ever to grace the skies, and he chooses her to share his life. Little does Anne suspect that the exciting beginning days of their romance, buoyed by their flights together mapping routes for the future of commercial flight will melt into years where she is stolen away from her children and family to appease her stubborn husband's demands. The couple's fame means they can't even go to the theatre without a disguise, and eventually marks them for tragedy when their firstborn son is kidnapped. The Aviator's Wife explores the couple's shared history from Anne's point of view and reveals the lesser known half of the famous couple. The Aviator's Wife is a vividly imagined, nuanced portrait of one of America's best loved couples, a pair that was looked to for strength and guidance throughout pivotal parts of American history regardless of how normal or even flawed they might have been. In Benjamin's hands, Anne Morrow Lindbergh emerges from her famous husband's shadow as a woman who may easily have been stronger than the man himself, despite her often frustrating deference to her husband. The couple's story comes to life in Benjamin's perfectly-pitched first-person narration. I loved how Benjamin broke down a complicated relationship between two complicated individuals and made it fairly leap off the page from its uncertain beginnings to its heartrending end. Additionally, seeing Charles Lindbergh through his imagined wife's eyes is similarly captivating. A stoic hero and a difficult man leaps off Benjamin's pages. He is stubborn and frustrating, better able to maneuver machines than deal with people, but he is also a man fiercely determined from a young age to do right by the American people who made him a hero, who is bent on protecting his wife and family, who believes his wife can do whatever she sets her mind to and urges her to become always more. Through Anne's eyes we find a man who was terribly flawed, but a man that Anne admired and loved just the same. Benjamin draws out the human being behind the myth and does it with such flair that we feel just as eager to love or to hate him as Anne herself might have. In her author's note, Melanie Benjamin says, "That is what historical fiction does best, I think; it leaves the reader with a desire to know more," and so The Aviator's Wife has. I went into the book knowing relatively little about the "First Couple of the Air," and came out fully satisfied with Benjamin's beautifully told story, but also with a great curiosity to learn even more about Charles Lindbergh, and his wife who had the courage both to live in and finally to emerge from his shadow.

[teeth_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this was a great historical fiction account of Anne Morrow Lindberg. It tells of her life and difficult marriage to an iconic man and how she triumphs.

[briandrewz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very well written fictionalized account of the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of one of the greatest aviator's of all time. The book centers on Anne's relationship with Charles, and it's not a traditional relationship in any sense. It will really make you think about how you view the Lindberghs. Marvelously written!

[etxgardener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those historical novels that make me want to head to the biography section of the public library so I can read more about the characters portrayed here in fiction. Everyone knows about Charles Lindbergh's historic solo flight from New York to Paris in the 1920's and know that his first born child was kidnapped and killed as a baby. Aldo most people of a certain age also recognize Anne Morrow Lindbergh as the author of A Gift From the Sea But this novel, told from Anne Lindbergh's perspective flush's out the story of the "Lone Eagle" and his upper class wife who was the daughter of the United States' Ambassador to Mexico.I don't want to say too much to give away some of the surprising revelations that appear in this novel. Suffice it to say that Anne's story is told with compassion and admiration. At the end of the book, I felt compassion for her too and was very glad that she triumphed over a difficult marriage (to say the least!) and came through it in the end, her own strong person.Highly recommended.

[micahmom2002 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction based on the lives of Charles and Anne Lindbergh.

[sovranty · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Written with high-flying and crash-landing emotions, it is easy to forget that this is historical fiction and not a real account of the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the wife of Charles Lindbergh. There is so much potential put into Anne's life. Keeping the times in mind, it makes you want more for her. Accomplished in her own right, she is often overlooked and forgotten when it comes to popular history.

[dawnlovesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I hate stories about women who are controlled by men. This fictional account of Anne Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh made him look like a real ass.

[alphawoman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The good: a terrific story about Anne Lindenberg marriage to Charles Lindenberg. I could absolutely relate to Anne's destiny to follow her husband's destiny as a substitute for her own. To see Annies struggle to "find herself " ( as we baby boomers love to call it) and find happiness that she rightly deserves. The bad : the gnawing feeling that Charles Lindenberg was a bully, a racist, egotistical maniac, narcissistic, selfish self-centered manipulating Nazi made this real life hero diminish considerably.The ugly: even though this is a work of fiction the Lindenberg's has many children excluding baby Lindenberg and by his admission seven more with several other women. I found this horrifying. The way the media hounded this family was a recipe for diaster that paved the way for the horrible car accident that ended Princess Diana ' s life