Fearless: Harriet Quimby A Life without Limit

by Don Dahler

In the spirit of the bestseller Fly Girls comes the definitive and compelling true story of Harriet Quimby, the first American woman to receive a pilot's license.

In the early twentieth century, headlines declared that "the era of women has dawned." Against this changing historical backdrop, Harriet Quimby's extraordinary life stands out as the embodiment of this tumultuous, exciting era—when flight was measured in minutes, not miles.

This untold piece of feminist history unveils Quimby's incredible rising from humble beginnings as a dirt-poor farm girl to become a globe-trotting journalist, history-making aviator, and international celebrity. With her tragic death in 1912 at the age of thirty-seven, her story faded, with her many accomplishments—the first woman to fly solo over the English Channel among them—overshadowed by major events, including the sinking of the Titanic.

With black and white illustrations throughout, Fearless is the definitive biography of the first licensed female American one of the most inspiring hidden figures of history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Aviation, American History, Biography Memoir

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2022

About the author

Don Dahler is a correspondent for CBS-News and author of several novels, including the mysteries A Tight Lie and Water Hazard, a thriller Do A Little Wrong, a historical mystery/thriller The Lost King, and a new YA sci-fi series My Soul To Keep. Dahler has also written a screenplay, Wild Air, about America's first aviatrix, Harriet Quimby, and a pilot for a television series about the early days of the CIA, SPOOKS.

Reviews

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

Fearless tells the story of Harriet Quimby, an independent-minded American woman who became one of the first licensed pilots in the States and the first to fly over the English Channel on her own--with the latter accomplishment buried in the headlines because of the Titanic disaster. Quimby would be dead herself only a few months later in a tragic airplane accident, vaulted from her plane at a 1000 feet over mudflats near Boston.

Dahler does a wonderful job of placing Quimby's life and death within the context of her times. She was born in Michigan, raised in California, and started off as an intrepid 'girl reporter' in San Francisco before going for the big-time in New York City. She packed an incredible amount of living into her thirty-seven years, and she is due the extra attention that this book will provide her.

[Ronald Roseborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fearless, Harriet Quimby: A Life Without Limit, is an excellent book about the life of a woman who would not be tied down to expectations. In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s women were for the most part still expected to stick to norms established by male society. Harriet was never going to be tied down to that life. She was full of life and derring-do even as a child. Early on she found she loved to write. As a young woman in San Fransisco, she talked her way into a job at a local paper. As time went on she found a following for her news stories among the local populace. Her stories and news coverage were very popular among the women of the Bay Area. She didn’t just write fluff pieces. She wrote about her experiences such as driving the new automobiles that were becoming more readily available. She loved to go speeding down the streets. She even was the first woman to ride in a car that was moving faster than a hundred miles per hour. She accomplished this by talking her way into a test ride on one of the cars that were entered into a race. Her love for speed and excitement were piqued when she first saw a flying machine in action. She vowed she would be the first woman to pilot a plane. In 1911, she realized her dream and was awarded the first pilot’s license given to a woman. The planes of the time were little more than wooden frames covered by linen and held together with baling wire. Harriet combined her love of flying with her love of writing. She wrote articles of newspapers and magazines giving the woman’s view of flying and accomplishing things that were heretofore thought to be the purview of men only. The book is a very easy read. It details all of Harriet’s accomplishments and her eventual tragedy.This book was provided for review by the publisher, Princeton Architectural Press.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another woman who has pretty much been written out of history, but who at last is being paid some well-deserved attention in this well-researched biography. The style is a little pedestrian, but the story is a fascinating one, especially if you are interested in aviation history. I admit that some of the technical details of these early planes went over my head, but the human story is definitely worth discovering. Harriet Quimby is finally having her moment in the sun. From humble beginnings, she made her way in the world in journalism and the theatre, and eventually found herself bitten by the flying bug. Women were pretty much considered incapable of flying. Indeed it was considered dangerous for their fragile physique. Harriet Quimby was determined to prove the naysayers wrong, and battling all the challenges and obstructions put in her way she became the first American woman to receive a pilot’s licence. From her lowly origins she became an international celebrity and the book documents her rise and tragic fall. Many illustrations accompany the text. The author places Quimby in the context of her time and place, and also goes into some detail about these early days of flying in general, turning his attention to many of the other pilots Harriet knew and worked with. There’s much to learn and enjoy here.

[Sally Mander · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, Live by your own rules

FEARLESS: HARRIET QUIMBY A LIFE WITHOUT LIMIT
by Don Dahler

Harriet Quimby comes from humble beginnings and soars to the skies, by pursuing her own hopes and dreams. First by conquering journalism and then by taking up flying. This was back in the day when airplane prototypes were simply fabric-covered wooden wings, which sounds terrifying to me.

Ms. Quimby believed in real journalism, not that fake variety that we see so much of in today's culture. She died as she had lived, fearlessly at age 37.

I received a complimentary copy of #fearless from #papress I was under no obligation to post a review.

#womenpioneers #aviation #prototypes #journalism

[Ann Otto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dahler is the latest in a line of authors giving credit long overdue to the first American woman to earn a pilot's license, Harriet Quimby. She was also a journalist, photographer, actress, and Hollywood scenario writer among other talents. He acknowledges his predecessors including Giacinta Bradley Koontz and Ed Y. Hall whose works give detailed information and illustrations for any Quimby researcher. A good book for anyone interested in history, especially aviation history up to 1912, and women's studies.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
Having grown up near Arcadia, MI, I have always been curious about this woman whose name is on a monument. I did not learn that much about her, she was a very private person, but I did learn about the era she grew up in. It appears her life in Michigan was very difficult, thus the family moved to California. Harriet was a smart, possibly self-educated journalist. She was very accomplished with columns in many prominent newspapers of the day. She was addicted to the new "sport" of flying. She was the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. Why don't we know this? She accomplished this feat on April 15, 1912.

[Joseph Sunderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about America's first female aviator who was the first woman in the U.S. to receive a pilots license and went on to become the first woman to pilot a plane across the English channel. Her rise from poverty to becoming an actress, a writee and then a pilot is a great read and I am thankful Don Dahler has told her story so that many more will now know of her exploits.

[Christine Mathieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-researched biography on the first American woman who made her pilot's license in 1910.
It's not just on Harriet Quimby, but also on her contemporaries, other aviation pioneers.

I was running out of books during our week in D. C., so I bought this book at the Air & Space Museum (in lack of a book store in a large city like D. C.!!!) and it did not disappoint.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Harriet Quimby's journey from journalist to aviator! The story is inspiring and presents her clear viewpoint that aviation wasn't just for a select few men, but for anyone willing to take it seriously and learn. There are lots of interesting stories from the early days of flight so you come away with a feel for the entire aviation world of the 1910 era, not just Harriet's life.

[Aimee Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read on the first American woman to get her pilots license. It also includes the second to receive a pilots license in a lesser role, but one which got my attention when they noted her last flight was in my hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas!

[Goddardcc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The incredible biography of a young woman determined to not let gender stereotypes stop her from achieving her goals. She has a successful career as a magazine writer but falls in love with flying, learns how to fly and achieves many firsts in the world of female aviators.

[NonFiction 24/7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 is generous. Is this a book about Harriet and newspapers, Harriet and flying or a history of early flying. The book is hard to follow. The author also uses my technique to get through college, fill up a paper with lots of quotes to make it look longer.

[Emma Rauschert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific read. Extremely inspiring. A courageous woman in a time when women didn’t even have the right to vote. I loved the history surrounding the early 1900s that was also thrown right alongside her story line.

[Tricia Iveson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written tale of an early American aviator/woman of whom I was previously unaware but am glad to now understand to be among those who set a standard for other women with big dreams.

[Tiandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an Advanced Reader's copy. The book was okay. I felt it was really light on Harriet's life in some areas and I really would have liked to know more about her.

[Tanya Burcham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish the book gave more details about Harriet than other people in the book.

[Nick Burridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story about early women pilots

[Courtney Smith Atkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas gift read #2! This was interesting to read, I had no idea of her history in MI. She is featured at the Kalamazoo air museum and relentlessly pursued flight.

[Sandra Lintz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is amazing! Harriet is amazing! I am critical of this male author who, in my opinion, could not cover a woman's story without adding aspects of his own ego.

[Philip B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh … fresh air!

To live one’s life rather than to dream it is a compliment owed to but a few. Harriet Quimby did it and with an extraordinary breadth of talent.