(Originally published 1998, Paperback edition 562 pages)
There is a reason why Mr. Berg's book won the Pulitzer Prize. It's that good. I
knew very little of Charles Lindbergh beyond his famous flight over the
Atlantic, the kidnapping of their child and the famous pilot being labelled a
Nazi sympathizer during WWII. Mr. Berg's biography does an excellent job of
fleshing out the man and the times he lived in. The story starts with his
grandfather emigrating to the United States, then explains the father's colorful
life and how it effected Charles Lindbergh. The author also spends a great deal
of time explaining the difficulties of trying to be the first person(s)to cross
the Atlantic; Lindbergh's meteoric rise to worldwide fame; the kidnapping of
their first child by Bruno Hauptmann; his World War Two service; and the battle
between him and President Roosevelt.
I knew Lindberg was famous, but not THAT famous. It was completely believable that he had no clue his crossing of the Atlantic would receive such a reception. Lindbergh's engineer-brain was always focused on end results and not fame and fortune. What made him happy was discovering and solving problems. His supposedly mild-mannered nature, along with his American apple-pie looks and do-it-yourself attitude, epitomized our ideal of a hero. Lindbergh's impenetrable personality allowed people to imagine this unknown young man as fitting their own personal standards, hope and dreams. He truly was the first modern celebrity hounded by fans and the press. The guy couldn't break wind without it making front-page headlines.
I was somewhat shocked after reading most of the one-starred Amazon reviews. The accusations that it is a sympathetic, gushy book are untrue especially when it discussed his relationship with his wife Anne and their five kids. I typically read about four to six biographies per year. Mr. Berg's work easily falls into the category of being a well-rounded representation of Lindbergh.
On a more personal note: because of our family's unique situation, I have become very good at picking out individuals who show many of the characteristics of someone with high-functioning autism (aka Asperger's Syndrome.) While reading the biography, so many major red flags popped up about Charles Lindbergh's personality and actions that qualify as high-functioning autism, I lost count. If he wasn't one, I'll friggin' eat the Spirit of St. Louis.
I knew Lindberg was famous, but not THAT famous. It was completely believable that he had no clue his crossing of the Atlantic would receive such a reception. Lindbergh's engineer-brain was always focused on end results and not fame and fortune. What made him happy was discovering and solving problems. His supposedly mild-mannered nature, along with his American apple-pie looks and do-it-yourself attitude, epitomized our ideal of a hero. Lindbergh's impenetrable personality allowed people to imagine this unknown young man as fitting their own personal standards, hope and dreams. He truly was the first modern celebrity hounded by fans and the press. The guy couldn't break wind without it making front-page headlines.
I was somewhat shocked after reading most of the one-starred Amazon reviews. The accusations that it is a sympathetic, gushy book are untrue especially when it discussed his relationship with his wife Anne and their five kids. I typically read about four to six biographies per year. Mr. Berg's work easily falls into the category of being a well-rounded representation of Lindbergh.
On a more personal note: because of our family's unique situation, I have become very good at picking out individuals who show many of the characteristics of someone with high-functioning autism (aka Asperger's Syndrome.) While reading the biography, so many major red flags popped up about Charles Lindbergh's personality and actions that qualify as high-functioning autism, I lost count. If he wasn't one, I'll friggin' eat the Spirit of St. Louis.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #349)
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