Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero

by James Cross Giblin

Pilot Charles A. Lindbergh was one of the first Americans to be lionized by the news media. When LIndbergh made his nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927, radio and sound movies were just beginning to be popular, enabling people to learn of events almost as soon as they happened. Overnight, the 25-year-old Lindbergh, a man of modest means and education, was catapulted into the public limelight. He became the American hero whom everyone adored and thought could do no wrong. Lindbergh's popularity lasted little more than a decade. His ties to Nazi Germany and his outspoken isolationist views prior to World War II cost him the respect of many close friend and relatives, and of the general public as well. The story of Lindbergh's rise to fame and abrupt descent into disgrace is told here with frankness and understanding. The meticulously researched text and generous selection of archival photographs present a lively and rounded portrait of a man who earned his place in aviation history despite his faults.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1997

About the author

James Cross Giblin was an American children's author and editor, known for his award-winning works. He won the Golden Kite Award and the Sibert Medal for his contributions to children's literature. Giblin was born in Cleveland and raised in Painesville, Ohio. He graduated from Western Reserve University and earned a master's in playwriting from Columbia University. After a brief acting career, he entered publishing, founding Clarion Books, a children's imprint later acquired by Houghton Mifflin. At Clarion, he edited works by notable authors like Eileen Christelow and Mary Downing Hahn. Giblin’s works include The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler and Good Brother, Bad Brother.

Reviews

[Nikhil Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read a biography book for my reading class. I’m glad I picked this book. I have no knowledge of who this was from before I read this book, though I did guess that Charles A. Lindbergh was as aviator from the book cover. I was wondering how an aviator could considered a hero. I was amazed that he could make a non-stop flight from New York to Paris, by himself too. Charles wasn’t even tired either. From the beginning of the book, I wouldn’t have thought Charles would've have anything to do with politics from the beggining of the book. I was amazed at how camera shy he was in the beginning and how he didn’t say much in his speeches, and he turned to speak out more when the war came. He spoke his beliefs out loud without being shy. But I still wonder why his beliefs were the way they were, why would did he not want the US to help in the war? Even with these questions, I still liked the book a lot. It was filled with action and adventure. It showed the life of aviators in the 1900s.

[Hayley Hancock]

book about the life of “Lucky Lindy” or “The Lone Eagle” also known as Charles A. Lindbergh. The author, Giblin, writes about the amazing man who made the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris in thirty-four hours. Lindbergh was well-known for that flight across the Atlantic Ocean but this book goes into detail about his life beyond the flight. It explains how he prepared for the flight and the steps he took to become a pilot. It also goes into detail about his life after the flight when he was known around the world and when he married his wife Anne Morrow who blessed him with three boys. Giblin also wrote about details that I personally never knew about Lindbergh, like the fact that his first born son was kidnapped and held for ransom and then was murdered even after Lindbergh paid the ransom. Also, he taught his wife to fly and together they broke the speed record for the flight to Los Angeles to New York in 1930. So this nonfiction book is very informative and provides excellent details about Lucky Lindy.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading/knowing more about Charles Lindbergh since I'm such a fan of his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I knew that he was a quiet man that didn't like the press at all, and partially blamed them for the kidnap/murder of his son, but I had no idea about his politics. Anyway, pretty good read. I might just bump it up to I really liked it. But I'll have to think about it first. I did like it though, and felt it was very informative.