Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War

by Catherine Grace Katz

*GLIBA Regional Bestseller*

“Narrative history at its best.”
—Air Mail

The gripping, definitive history of the Hindenburg disaster, the rise of the Nazis, and the road to World War II as never before told

On the evening of May 6, 1937, the majestic German zeppelin Hindenburg arrived before cheering crowds in Lakehurst, New Jersey, when suddenly, a titanic inferno lit up the sky. Thirty-four seconds later, the greatest airship ever to take flight was gone, destroyed in a ferocious blaze and eternally seared into historical memory.

Acclaimed historian Catherine Grace Katz unites groundbreaking research with thrilling narrative that situates this famous disaster squarely on the collision course between the decade’s two prevailing currents. The Hindenburg began as a symbol of hope and progress, a gleaming technological marvel in the nascent age of aviation. But soon, the airship of dreams became a propaganda tool powering the rising Nazi regime. In this sweeping drama, Katz illustrates the story of the Hindenburg through the captivating passengers and crew caught in the grip of an adventurous heiress, a renowned vaudeville star, a Chicago industrialist with German Jewish roots, an esteemed zeppelin captain, and a young cabin boy on his first voyage to the United States. Meanwhile, on the ground, two intrepid journalists’ reporting on the Hindenburg fundamentally changed breaking news, paving the way for modern media.

In this rigorously researched, ticking-clock account, Shadow Before the Flame offers a portrait of an era when illusions of peace, fueled by the hubris of invention, hovered in suspended time as the clouds of an inevitable war loomed on the horizon. Above all, it is a story of humanity and of lives forever changed by a moment that served as a harbinger for the global conflagration yet to come.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Germany, American History, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two types of disaster books in my mind. The first, and much less interesting, is laser-focused on the event. The narrative revolves around the event itself and the carnage and drama around the tragedy. It is about setting things up only as far as necessary to get to the calamity.

The second, and infinitely better, type of disaster book is the one which understands the catastrophe never happens in a vacuum. There is a whole world of people and circumstances that led to a terrible cataclysm. It's the difference between telling you about something and showing you why you should care at all.

Obviously, I wouldn't go through all of my pretentious nonsense unless I was about to tell you how wonderful and complex Catherine Grace Katz's Shadow Before the Flame is. Sure, for all my high rhetoric, I of course was drawn like a moth to the flame (hell yeah, pun intended) of the Hindenburg disaster. Luckily, Katz's tendencies are far less base. Instead, she tells the story of the people on the Hindenburg, the people who would indelibly record the tragedy in real time, and the fall of Germany into some of the darkest days in human history. You'll learn about people you have never heard of before next to people like William Shirer, who should be remembered way more than he currently is.

All of this comes with, not a warning per se, but a disclaimer. The reader needs to be ready to let the story breathe. Katz is not content to just jump to the gory details. Her narrative is about feeling something when the awful moment happens. You have to take the time to set up the story and explore the world these people live in. Why were these people even on an airship instead of an airplane? How did people feel about the gigantic swastika on the tail? Why the heck was it there in the first place? Katz is taking the reader on a journey and damn is it worth it.

(This book was provided as a review copy by Viking Books.)

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author remarks that most people have an image of the fiery Hindenburg in their mind and might even connect it to the famous "Oh, the humanity!" quote but have little knowledge of when, where, or why the Hindenburg disaster occurred. I sadly counted myself among this group, and that is why I picked up this book. I love to read about bits of history that everyone knows but few people really know.

For example, I had no idea when along its journey the Hindenberg caught fire but had a vague idea that it must have been at take-off since the image familiar to us all pictures it near the ground. (Wrong.) I also did not recall that it happened in 1937 or that the airship had the Nazi flag proudly emblazoned on its tail. And were their survivors? I wasn't sure, which made reading this book almost like thriller fiction, I was so eager to discover which of the people met a tragic end and which went on to tell their story.

If all of this sounds like you, I highly recommend reading this book. I hesitate to say such a tragic story was entertaining, but it was absolutely captivating.

From the moment the Hindenburg takes off with Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress is Our God) playing to send them off until the last moments, when I was forced to give up remaining hope of more survivors just as their families had to do, I had a difficult time putting this book down. It includes a nice blend of scientific information about the airships, political maneuvering that the aviation industry was inevitably caught up in, evolution of the broadcasting industry that was impacted by this event, and the human stories of passengers and crew. There were the near misses of people who could have been on the Hindenburg but weren't and the tragedies of those who decided to board at the last minute - frequent fliers and those making their first flight - as well as ties into the rise of Nazism that I was not anticipating at all.

"Oh, the humanity," indeed.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Kindle copy. Opinions are my own.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about the Hindenburg disaster—honestly, way more than I realized I needed to know. By the time the book finally got to the actual explosion, I was fully locked in because it did something a lot of nonfiction doesn’t bother with: it made me care about the people. When I’d learned about the Hindenburg before, it was very “okay, big disaster, got it.” But this book gave me the human side of it, and that’s what pulled me in.

That said, some parts felt a little drawn out. I loved getting to know the people, but it occasionally tipped into “okay, we can move along now.” Still, the mix of personal stories, the science behind how the airship worked, and the political drama around it all kept things interesting.

Overall, it was a genuinely solid read, and I walked away feeling like I learned a ton.

Thank you to @vikingbooks for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* rounded down. This is a time period I really like reading about because no matter whether it's the nth book written about WWII, there's always something new to learn. I wasn't aware that the Hindenberg had any specific involvement in Nazi propaganda, although it makes sense that anything on its scale would be appropriated by the regime. I also didn't know much about the development of dirigibles, or the specifics that made hydrogen the most common gas used, to catastrophic effect. I liked that this book loops in a lot of concurrent events, like the press corps in Berlin sending warnings throughout the 30s of the Nazis, of progress in aviation that captured the public imagination, and of developments in telecomms that made this such a news event. All interesting!
That said, the first half or more of the book, up until the Hindenburg reaches North America, felt fairly tedious. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and it's unclear who you should pay most attention to and who is just referenced more because they left behind more historical record. I think this would have benefitted from an intro chapter about the disaster, possibly highlighting a few people to give some context markers as the story goes along. As it was, I knew what was coming in a big sense, but it's too much to hold on to the suspense over each person's fate.
This is worth a read, but I'm not sure it's on the grand scale that the subtitle implies. Recommended for folks with interest in any of the areas above, or just the 30s vibes generally. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book not knowing anything whatsoever about this big thing in the sky that blew up. It had just never occurred to me what the thing was, where it came from, were people actually using it to travel, etc. There is a whole history around it! It's a super interesting story.

Also, clearly this isn't the main event, but useful to know: "During the Depression, radio was an industry that actually grew. By 1937, 74 percent of American homes had at least one radio, and the average household listened to over four and a half hours of radio programming per day."

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an advance copy of this history of one of the greatest flying machines ever made, a lighter than air craft that was to soar all over the world, bringing people to places never thought of, and one whose destruction cost more than lives, but a mode of transportation that might have changed the way we traveled.

I was an eclectic reader as a child. I loved science fiction, fantasy, mysterys, books about the paranormal, and books about disasters. I am not sure why, but I had a lot of books on the Titanic, the Andrea Doria and of course the Hindenburg. Many of these were factual, but many of the them all ended with Conspiracy in the title, both fiction and nonfiction. Big events are like that. Humans hate to think that weather or well bad gas could bring down something humans created. Many of these books focus on the darkness. Some books spend a lot of time on the survivors, what they saw, and how they made it through the fire. This book does far more, focusing on the history of the times, the heroism of those involved, as well as the hubris. Most importantly it looks at the human factor, those caught in the wake, and those left behind. Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War by Catherine Grace Katz is a story of tragedy, the events that led up to it, the history of lighter than air travel, and the people who were under its shadow.

The book begins with a look at the era, a time that was full of political strife and mounting fears. Above this was the idea of lighter than air travel. The Germans were at the forefront with their zeppelins, first used in World War I to bomb London, but adapted in many was to be a civilized way of flying. Considered safer than airplanes, and far more comfortable the idea of zeppelins traveling the world was considered pretty much the future. Records were made, oceans crossed, globes circled. The biggest problem was an explosive problem. The gas, hydrogen used as lift, could explode under the right condition, and the only replacement, helium, was under the control of the United States. As the zeppelins were being used by the Nazi government as propaganda, there was no way the United States would allow helium to be used. A problem that could turn a routine excursion, into a disaster that changed travel, the lives of many,and even the media landscape.

A book that really covers a very broad range of subjects. Science, politics, history, aeronautics, and even media. Katz does a wonderful job of keeping the story moving, covering all these subjects in a way that makes them interesting, but never bogging the reader down in details. Katz creates profiles of most of the major people, reporters, inventors, businessmen and families, both on and under the shadow of the Hindenburg. Katz really shines at these profiles, making these people come alive, and leaving the reader with an understanding of who they were, and in many cases the sadness at there loss. Many authors can do science, many author can write about people, but it is the rare writer who can bring this all together, and inform, not exploit a tragedy. I learned far more here than I have in probably the dozens of books I have previously read.

A really interesting history, one for fans of aviation, and for readers who enjoy well written nonfiction. Not just about the tragedy, but about the lives of those lost, and those that went on. This is the first book I have read by Catherine Grace Katz, but I can't wait to read more.

[William de_Rham · Rating 5 out of 5]

On May 6, 1937, while attempting to moor at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey, the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg burst into flames and crashed, killing 35 of the 97 passengers and crew aboard. The catastrophe was witnessed and recorded by the press and reported to the nation and around the world via newspaper, newsreel, and radio, resulting in the loss of confidence in the safety of zeppelin travel.

“Shadow Before the Flame” is a thoroughly researched, very well-written, and comprehensive history of not only the disaster, but the Hindenburg itself and the era during which it flew. To tell the Hindenburg’s story, author Catherine Grace Katz covers a wide range of topics including:

Germany in the aftermath of WWI and the rise of National Socialism;

The zeppelin industry in Germany and other countries;

The construction and configuration of the Hindenburg;

Biographical information about the passengers and crew;

The involvement of various public figures—including Adolph Hitler, Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebbels, President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, reporter/author William Shirer, and Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh—in the Hindenburg’s story;

Developments in the nascent radio and aviation industries in the United States;

The voyage of the Hindenburg from Frankfurt to Lakehurst;

How Chicago reporter Herbert Morrison—famous for his emotional narration of the disaster--came to be in Lakehurst to cover the Hindenburg’s arrival, which was supposed to be not a very newsworthy event;

The Hindenburg's catastrophic explosion and its aftermath, including the investigation into its cause;

"Shadow Before the Flame" tells a fascinating story, one filled with interesting facts and anecdotes about the Hindenburg, her passengers and crew, the airship industry, and the period. Scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026, it's a book that should appeal to anyone interested in aviation, zeppelins, the 1930s in general, and relations between Germany and the United States in the years leading to WWII.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Katherine Grace Katz, and publisher Viking Penguin/Viking for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know the story of the catastrophic conflagration that engulfed the zeppelin Hindenburg as it approached to moor at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Author Katz puts the Hindenburg and its disaster into its historical context; i.e., Germany in the 1930s. In her deeply researched account, she tells of the rise of the Nazis, their pressure on the principal architect of zeppelins, their co-opting of the majestic image of the industry, how the Hindenburg was built and staffed, and the political and social milieus of Germany and the US as Hindenburg was built and sailed from Germany to its fate in the US.

This was an era when radio became a dominant form of communication and entertainment, allowing for mass experiences and instant spread of ideas, both positive and negative. Without radio, and Chicago’s WLS reporter Herbert Morrison’s live radio broadcast of the catastrophe, would the Hindenburg disaster be as etched in historical memory as it is?

Katz zooms in on numerous personalities. Herb Morrison almost wasn’t at Lakehurst, because WLS didn’t think a zeppelin was particularly newsworthy. Katz details how Morrison got to be a radio reporter and his insistence on finding his way to Lakehurst. Famed journalist, broadcaster and writer William Shirer was offered passage on the Hindenburg but turned it down. Heavyweight boxer Max Schmeling had a ticket, but cancelled at the last minute.

The Hindenburg crew get their spotlights, from the captain down to the 14-year-old cabin boy on his first trip. The passengers are a varied group, and Katz looks closely at several of them and at the unexpected circumstances that brought some of them on board. Reading about the passengers and crew, it’s hard not to think ahead and wonder about their coming fates.

After the vivid description of the catastrophe, Katz follows up with the investigation into the catastrophe, the historical aftermath, and, of course, the later lives of the survivors.

While Katz isn’t able to draw the significant connections between the Hindenburg and World War II that the subtitle implies, this is a compelling read.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning follow-up to Katz’s commercially successful first book, Daughters of Yalta, Shadow Before the Flame is not only an immersive look at the flight of the Hindenburg but at the impact this historical event had on the world.

Well researched and brilliantly written Katz takes us on a journey into the emergence of Nazi Germany and modern broadcast journalism, the history of the Zeppelins and its symbol of technological progress to its propaganda use by the Nazis, placing the historical event within its context in the 28 month before the start of WWII in a time of false peace and rising fascism. Katz also puts a personal face on the story following passengers and crew on that fateful voyage drawing on personal reports of the survivors (of the 97 passengers and crew, 63 survived).

This such a fascinating story. I’ve seen pictures of the Hindenburg arriving in Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937, and the inferno that occurred within 34 seconds of its arrival. The Zeppelin was a symbol of hope and progress, a technological marvel. The catastrophe was even more astounding coming at an inflection point between the Third Reich and other Western counties. Particularly it should be noted Germany could not secure helium gas from the US to replace the highly inflammable hydrogen gas. This helped fuel tensions between the two countries. Additionally the book chronicles Herbert Morrison’s radio broadcast of the disaster which revolutionized media outreach.

This is a holistic account of an historical event which should appeal to readers who enjoy reading more then just about the event itself but its place within the whole context of time. As a side note, for readers of historical fiction looking for a book on the Hindenburg disaster, I highly recommend Ariel Lawton’s Flight of Dreams.

I gave this book five stars because of its topic - though the event itself had been written in other nonfiction and even fictional books, this book paints a broader picture then just the event itself; for it being well researched and including personal viewpoints of some of the survivors and for the enjoyment I derived from reading it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for granting me access to this ARC.

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Grace Katz’s Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War goes far beyond the familiar images of the Hindenburg engulfed in flames at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937. Katz places the disaster within the much larger world surrounding it: the rise of Nazi Germany, the development of zeppelin travel, tensions between Germany and the United States, advances in aviation and radio broadcasting, and the lives of the passengers and crew aboard the final flight. By following individual people and explaining how they came to be on the Hindenburg, she gives a human face to an event often remembered mainly through photographs and Herbert Morrison’s famous radio report.

What I appreciated most about Shadow Before the Flame was how it turned an event I thought I knew into a much larger, more personal story. I enjoyed learning not only about the Hindenburg itself, but also about the passengers and crew, the rise of Nazi Germany, the politics surrounding airship travel, and the changing worlds of aviation and radio broadcasting. Katz takes her time building this larger picture, but that makes the eventual disaster much more meaningful because by then I understood who these people were and how they ended up aboard that final flight. I especially liked the combination of history, science, politics, and individual stories, and I was surprised by how much there was to learn beyond that iconic image of the burning airship. Even knowing how the story ends, I found myself completely invested in what happened to the people I had come to know. This is exactly the kind of historical nonfiction I enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin Press for the advance reader copy. Thanks also to Catherine Grace Katz for this suspenseful and engaging read. I'm excited to read more of your books!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written and documented! I just can’t imagine the amount of research that went into writing Shadow Before the Flame, but there it is, documented in the Notes.

I’m part of a non-fiction book club and will be recommending for them to read Shadow Before the Flame, probably going to buy a copy for the librarian who leads the book club.

I loved all the details included in this book, even if they weren’t entirely specific to the Hindenburg. Like TWA and United launched a “fly wives free” promotion (to encourage more women travelers) and then they followed up with the wives for feedback, some feedback was “What flight?!?!”

A passenger on the flight noted in the investigation that the altimeter in the lounge showed 300 meters, but that is too high, because (I understand) the landing ropes were only 400 feet. (300 meters ~ 984 feet; 121.9 meter ~ 400 feet).

When the German crew of the Hindenburg were returned to Germany for the funeral, neither Hitler nor Goring attended; Hitler did send a wreath. It was noted the absence of any “reference to God” during the final remarks. They “passed on to Valhalla and to the eternity of the history of the German people.”

Approx 500 pages, approx. 21% of the book is Notes. Released Sept 2026.

Kudos to author Catherine Grace Katz. A solid and very captivating non-fiction read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin Publishing for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Shadow Before the Flame in exchange for an honest review.

[Tom Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hindenburg disaster is one of those historical events that feels like we should know all about it yet we actually don't. That was certainly my feeling when I started reading Shadow Before The Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster And The Prelude To War by Catherine Grace Katz. By the end, I not only had a greater understanding of the disaster itself and the human cost associated with it but also had a better understanding of the context within which the events occurred.

Katz opens the book by introducing us to several of the key.passengers and crew that were part if the ill stated voyage. By tracing each of their individual stories, we gain a better understanding of how the disaster affected so many people. Katz also does an excellent job of showing the larger geopolitical tensions involved. The Nazis were trying to flex their muscle in air superiority by using the Hindenburg as a propaganda tool. Katz does a great job by reminding us that the disaster occurs just before Hitler annexes Austria setting the stage for a coming World War.

Through very careful research, Katz has created a compelling tale of the very human cost of one of the world's greatest air tragedies. Not only does the disaster forever change the trajectory of sir travel, it also has significant cultural implications as well.

Thanks to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. No other consideration was received in exchange for this review.

[William Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War," by Catherine Grace Katz is scheduled to be released by Viking Penguin on October 22 of 2026, The publisher was good enough to grant me an early look at the work in return for my review. While a work of serious historical scholarship, the text is good at standing out from the formidable field of existing scholarship. That is because the author is careful not to simply get lost in the very intriguing world of dirigibles but instead focuses her attentions on the sociological and cultural significance of this particular dirigible and its famous fate. Most of the existing scholarship spends little time on the larger cultural impact of what happened at Lakehurst, New Jersey and tends to get lost in the mystery surrounding it. Instead, this author offers an interesting look into the passenger manifest and what brought those people aboard, not to speak of how they fared in the disaster itself. In doing so she offers interesting insights into everything from the propaganda benefits the Third Reich hoped to garner to the newly spreading popularity of radio and newsreel outlets, particularly in the United States. One leaves the book with a much less sterile and forensic attitude than is common in books on this subject precisely because the author insists on visiting the human faces and costs of what happened. It is well worth a read, and certainly should find a place in any library.

[Nick · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed how the author tried to humanize the story of the passengers and crew; something often left out in the telling of the tragedy. It was interesting and informative, you could tell that the author did her research.

At the same time, this was a very dense book, while it focuses on a lot of the passengers, it often goes into very deep dive that at times I personally struggled with how it was supposed to move the narrative forward. I understand too that when you’re writing about a specific event that occurred over roughly 2 days, there isn’t necessarily a lot of material, but it seemed a bit drawn out. That said, I actually found the history behind the Zeppelins interesting and informative, and it was nice in the epilogue to see what became of some of the survivors over the course of the rest of their lives.

I didn’t really understand the connection between the Hindenburg and the subtitle of the book, The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War. The author never really provided any evidence how these were linked other than the disaster happened while the world was marching towards what became the Second World War. But even then, other than events in Austria, not much time was spent on it.

End of the day, I liked this book and I think history buffs will appreciate it more than a causal reader.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley/

Even today the Hindenburg captures the imagination. In part, it may be because of when it happened. In part, because of the iconic film of the disaster. Perhaps because why still isn’t entirely clear. Still, one might wonder if we need another book about disasters.
Perhaps not, but Katz’s book is a great read. She tells the story with vigor and highlights the less than famous people who died in the disaster. The ones that are forgotten for whatever reason.
Katz chronicles, briefly, the development of not only the airspace but the background of those riding in it, be it crew or passengers. This is important because the crew did not have the fame that some of the passengers did. There is even a discussion on how to balance the airships and the different types of positions that the crew could hold. It may sound boring, but Katz conveys the information with flair. In her description of the fateful trip, Katz can keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
Katz also considers the impact, not just on the survivors but on the world of the time, in particular in the build up to the Second World War. Katz does an excellent job in placing the disaster in the time. What I found most moving was her discussion about the dead crew members.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a book about the human factor of the Hindenburg disaster. In story form the author presents the lives of many of the people who built, flew, reported on and travelled on what was hoped to be the way of travel for the future. It is a very moving story with an amazing amount of detail up to the disaster.
Then the book seems to take a different tone. The Hindenburg was always a propaganda tool. It was supposed to show the world the advances of German technology and afterword the deaths were used to unite the German people with the tragedy. Then all airships lost importance as Hitler tried to take over the world.
There is a very scientific explanation about what most likely caused the Hindenburg to catch fire. There was a big explanation how the disaster would never have happened if the US had sold Germany helium.
There is also a finale of the people after the war as well as anniversaries and memorials of the disaster.
Included are over 90 pages of notes and bibliography.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-researched account details not only the Hindenburg disaster, but also how the airship fit into the zeitgeist of the 1930s. Sadly, “the golden age of airships ended on May 6, 1937.” As the author says, “The German zeppelins began as a character in the hopeful story of the 1930s, a gleaming technological marvel…. [until] the ship of dreams…became yet another propaganda tool powering the Nazi machine.” She tells us about the passengers and their experience on the luxury airship. Zeppelin travel certainly sounded appealing to me—I would have like to try it, though preferably not on the Hindenburg. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advance copy.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've been to a Titanic exhibit or the Holocaust museum you'll have had the experience of getting to know characters, aware that they might very well die by the end. Katz uses a similar method here - she introduces us to several of the passengers and crew on that ill-fated Hindenburg flight in May 1937, and the fact that they might not make it hangs over the tale. This and all the other stories about what was going on at the time with the rise of Nazi Germany, early aviation, the birth of modern journalism ("Oh, the humanity!"), and more, made this a very good read for me. I learned many things I didn't know and I always love that.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have done my own study of the Hindenburg and was interested to learn anything more. This book places the disaster within the context of its time, including the rise of fascism, zeppelin development in multiple countries, and delayed radio broadcasting. I most appreciated the details of the Hindenburg and what the passengers experienced. A few passengers were highlighted and we learned their family ancestry. The relevance of the section on Charles Lindbergh is debatable. The cause of the disaster was never determined and I skimmed through the investigation chapters.

[Hayley Drozd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovers of history, aviation and literature will be infatuated with Shadow Before the Flame. Katz does a remarkable job not only telling the story of the Hindenburg but painting such a clear picture of what it was like onboard that you feel like you’re transported back to 1937 on the airship. I can’t wait to see what Catherine Grace Katz comes out with next - she is no doubt one of the best historians and authors of our time.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Week (091826) on History Happy Hour: On May 6, 1937, the majestic German zeppelin Hindenburgarrived in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Suddenly, a titanic inferno lit up the sky, and within seconds the proud symbol of Nazi Germany was gone.  Historian Catherine Grace Katz returns to History Happy Hour

[Dale · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good. A well rounded account of the people involved in the accident and the surrounding events. Dispelling many of the myths about the hindenburg.

I did find at times that the author could repeat the same information on multiple occasions which does detract somewhat, when, the information repeated was not necessary for reinforcement.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Shadow Before the Flame, by Catherine Grace Katz, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Most of us remember learning about the Hindenburg disaster in school as I did. This book is a great tool on learning more about the disaster and the war.

[Brendan O'Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gripping read. The only thing I knew about the Hindenburg was that it burned up in New Jersey. I didn't know how and I didn't know the people aboard the airship. Highly recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of Erik Larson or David Grann.

[Mary · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I still remember watching the 70's movie of the Hinderburg disaster. This is an excellent history that discusses why it happened, but also the development of the Zepplin fleet and its brief moment of fame. I enjoyed this a lot.

[Erica Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely riveting, one of the best historical nonfiction books I have ever read. Perfect for aviation enthusiasts, people interested in the prelude to WWII, and anyone who wants to read a great historical narrative that is beautifully researched and expertly paced. Katz's thorough research and gift for weaving together the storylines of the individual passengers on the airship, coupled with fascinating details and factoids made for a truly wonderful read. I will be recommending this to everyone!

[Joel Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as it gets

[Lou Chodosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book. A must for any student of mid 20th century history, but really for anyone. Well written , well researched, and extremely informative.

[Christine Eskilson · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Sometimes overly comprehensive accounting of another disaster that has obsessed me. The stories of the individual passengers and crew brought the tragedy to life.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have been an article. The narrator was awful and doesn’t speak German or know how to say vaudeville or zeppelin.