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The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart
Mary S. Lovell's bestselling biography The Sound of Wings is the basis for the major movie Amelia, starring Richard Gere and Hilary Swank.
When Amelia Earhart mysteriously disappeared in 1937 during her attempted flight around the world, she was already known as America's most famous female aviator. Her sense of daring and determination, rare for women of her time, brought her insurmountable fame from the day she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane.
In this definitive biography, Mary S. Lovell delivers a brilliantly researched account on Earhart's life using the original documents, letters, the logbooks of Earhart and her contemporaries, and personal interviews with members of Amelia's family, friends and rival aviators. The Sound of Wings vividly captures the drama and mystery behind the most influential woman in "The Golden Age of Flight"―from her tomboy days at the turn of the century and her early fascinations with flying, to the unique relationship she shared with G.P. Putnam, the flamboyant publisher and public relations agent who became both her husband and her business manager.
This is a revealing biography of an uncommonly brave woman, and the man who both aided and took advantage of her dreams.
When Amelia Earhart mysteriously disappeared in 1937 during her attempted flight around the world, she was already known as America's most famous female aviator. Her sense of daring and determination, rare for women of her time, brought her insurmountable fame from the day she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane.
In this definitive biography, Mary S. Lovell delivers a brilliantly researched account on Earhart's life using the original documents, letters, the logbooks of Earhart and her contemporaries, and personal interviews with members of Amelia's family, friends and rival aviators. The Sound of Wings vividly captures the drama and mystery behind the most influential woman in "The Golden Age of Flight"―from her tomboy days at the turn of the century and her early fascinations with flying, to the unique relationship she shared with G.P. Putnam, the flamboyant publisher and public relations agent who became both her husband and her business manager.
This is a revealing biography of an uncommonly brave woman, and the man who both aided and took advantage of her dreams.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
57 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Mary S. Lovell
16 books219 followersMary was an accountant and company director for 20 years before becoming a writer. She wrote her first book in 1981 at the age of 40, while recovering from a broken back which was the result of a riding accident. She returned to accountancy but during the following 5 years she also published two further non-fiction books that were written in her spare time.
She lives in the New Forest in Hampshire, England.
She lives in the New Forest in Hampshire, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 15, 2020
An eloquent and good bio of Earheart, if a little bit dry in places. This gives a good idea of the way things were in the early age of aviation and those rather small engine planes they were flying back then. As Earheart became a myth in the public consciousness, we thought she must have been the greatest woman pilot or a rare woman pilot: neither is true. There were many woman pilots and most ALL of them were better pilots than Earheart. She was daring and adventurous and she married a publicist, George Putnam, who made sure she became famous. She was a writer and speaker on feminism, she wrote articles and books and spoke to young women on campuses. She said, "all women should fly planes." She encouraged young women to seek their own careers. Because of her fame and connections (including Eleanor Roosevelt) she was selected for the fateful trip of which she would never return.
Is it just me or does the author Mary Lovell bear an uncanny resemblance to Amelia Earheart? Or at least a quality? As well as a love of flight, I have always had a fascination with Amelia being that she was an early pilot and feminist but the history of women in flight had been erased and there were many women pilots of the day. Their stories are possibly even more fascinating than this one.
May she rest in peace wherever that resting place may be.
Is it just me or does the author Mary Lovell bear an uncanny resemblance to Amelia Earheart? Or at least a quality? As well as a love of flight, I have always had a fascination with Amelia being that she was an early pilot and feminist but the history of women in flight had been erased and there were many women pilots of the day. Their stories are possibly even more fascinating than this one.
May she rest in peace wherever that resting place may be.
November 17, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. First I have to say I LOVED Lovell's bio on Beryl Markham Straight on Till Morning: A Biography of Beryl Markham, so I expected another great read about a remarkable woman. Well-researched but SO dry, it was a slog most of the time.
I didn't realize that so much of Earhart's renown was due to her promoter/manager George Putnam, who became her husband. She was one of quite a few pioneering women in aviation at the time, but George knew how to package her and branded her as the best woman pilot. The truth is, she wasn't. And she had difficulty admitting that, not one of her crashes or mishaps did she admit to pilot error.
Having said that. before that final flight in a note to her husband she wrote: I know that if I fail or I am lost you will be blamed for allowing me to leave on this trip, the backers of the flight will be blamed & everyone connected with it. But it's my responsibility and mine alone.
I admire her ambition and determination as she tried to find her place in the world that provided few opportunities for an independent woman. She became an inspiration to those who came after her.
I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others.
The bio portion of the book covers 334pp. The rest of the book includes 4 appendices: Radio communications, Technical aspects of the Lae-Howland flight, The Earhart Disappearance theories (fascinating), & Chronology of Important Events. Also there are extensive notes & citations, as well as a list of selected readings.
I didn't realize that so much of Earhart's renown was due to her promoter/manager George Putnam, who became her husband. She was one of quite a few pioneering women in aviation at the time, but George knew how to package her and branded her as the best woman pilot. The truth is, she wasn't. And she had difficulty admitting that, not one of her crashes or mishaps did she admit to pilot error.
Having said that. before that final flight in a note to her husband she wrote: I know that if I fail or I am lost you will be blamed for allowing me to leave on this trip, the backers of the flight will be blamed & everyone connected with it. But it's my responsibility and mine alone.
I admire her ambition and determination as she tried to find her place in the world that provided few opportunities for an independent woman. She became an inspiration to those who came after her.
I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others.
The bio portion of the book covers 334pp. The rest of the book includes 4 appendices: Radio communications, Technical aspects of the Lae-Howland flight, The Earhart Disappearance theories (fascinating), & Chronology of Important Events. Also there are extensive notes & citations, as well as a list of selected readings.
July 21, 2017
Through a good portion of "The Sound of Wings", I believed the book was going to rate a 4. But reading the final third became a real chore and dragged down the rating. While the writing is good, the actual telling of the story hit too many snags.
To me, the book was more a biography on Amelia Earhart AND George Putnam. Interesting, but not what I was looking for. Maybe a truer cover portrait would be a snapshot of both of them so the reader is prepared. I understand that a nuanced picture of George is essential to getting a complete grasp on Amelia's life, but I got the feeling that Ms. Lovell really wanted to write a biography about George Putnam, a book which would not sell as well as one with Amelia Earhart's picture on the cover. Once finished, I have a much better picture of George than I do of Amelia. Not the book I had planned on reading.
I also felt the book was very biased toward George and the author went to great lengths to excuse his behavior and paint him in a favorable light even as she's relaying all the shitty things he does (such as cheating on his wife, trying to ruin the careers of other female pilots such as Elinor Smith and Mary Heath, bullying people to get his way, etc.). All of which dims my view of Amelia. I can't believe she had no knowledge of the dirty tricks he pulled on the aforementioned pilots, making her complacency quite troubling, and the fact she had no qualms about getting involved with a married man. Yes, people fall out of love with their spouses, but get a divorce and then start fooling around instead of needlessly adding to the third party's hurt. I was especially disgusted by George's successful attempt to drum up publicity for his book by claiming facist terrorists were sending threatening letters, etc., a stunt which prompted a large police investigation costing a great deal of manpower and money. And, still, the author attempts to portray George in a favorable light.
Lovell makes a persuasive case that Amelia and George truly loved one another and that their marriage was not simply a business arrangement as so many people have previously claimed, but she fails to persuade me into thinking that George was anything but an arrogant bully. Not that Amelia didn't have her faults, too. While I understand her resentment of her mother and sister (having to financially support, not only them, but a brother-in-law, too), she could be really annoyingly bossy and condescending, right down to telling them what clothes they could and could not wear. Of course, at the end, her mother is no better, trying to make money off her dead daughter's name.
I really struggled through the last third of the book. Too many technical terms which didn't interest me and too much George, so I started skimming paragraphs in order to get to the meat of the story, Amelia's disappearance and the subsequent search. (I did watch the recent History Channel special about Amelia and Fred Noonan being held prisoner and executed by the Japanese and found it quite interesting and credible.)
I'll end by apologizing if this review does not give you a good overview of Amelia Earhart. All I can say is take that as a warning. If you want a book which discusses her accomplishments, but gives a much clearer view of her husband's personality, then this book is for you. I will end with a question. Can anyone recommend a biography on Amelia Earhart which focuses mainly on her? While I'm glad to have read "The Sound of Wings", as stated previously in this review, this was not the book I was hoping to read.
To me, the book was more a biography on Amelia Earhart AND George Putnam. Interesting, but not what I was looking for. Maybe a truer cover portrait would be a snapshot of both of them so the reader is prepared. I understand that a nuanced picture of George is essential to getting a complete grasp on Amelia's life, but I got the feeling that Ms. Lovell really wanted to write a biography about George Putnam, a book which would not sell as well as one with Amelia Earhart's picture on the cover. Once finished, I have a much better picture of George than I do of Amelia. Not the book I had planned on reading.
I also felt the book was very biased toward George and the author went to great lengths to excuse his behavior and paint him in a favorable light even as she's relaying all the shitty things he does (such as cheating on his wife, trying to ruin the careers of other female pilots such as Elinor Smith and Mary Heath, bullying people to get his way, etc.). All of which dims my view of Amelia. I can't believe she had no knowledge of the dirty tricks he pulled on the aforementioned pilots, making her complacency quite troubling, and the fact she had no qualms about getting involved with a married man. Yes, people fall out of love with their spouses, but get a divorce and then start fooling around instead of needlessly adding to the third party's hurt. I was especially disgusted by George's successful attempt to drum up publicity for his book by claiming facist terrorists were sending threatening letters, etc., a stunt which prompted a large police investigation costing a great deal of manpower and money. And, still, the author attempts to portray George in a favorable light.
Lovell makes a persuasive case that Amelia and George truly loved one another and that their marriage was not simply a business arrangement as so many people have previously claimed, but she fails to persuade me into thinking that George was anything but an arrogant bully. Not that Amelia didn't have her faults, too. While I understand her resentment of her mother and sister (having to financially support, not only them, but a brother-in-law, too), she could be really annoyingly bossy and condescending, right down to telling them what clothes they could and could not wear. Of course, at the end, her mother is no better, trying to make money off her dead daughter's name.
I really struggled through the last third of the book. Too many technical terms which didn't interest me and too much George, so I started skimming paragraphs in order to get to the meat of the story, Amelia's disappearance and the subsequent search. (I did watch the recent History Channel special about Amelia and Fred Noonan being held prisoner and executed by the Japanese and found it quite interesting and credible.)
I'll end by apologizing if this review does not give you a good overview of Amelia Earhart. All I can say is take that as a warning. If you want a book which discusses her accomplishments, but gives a much clearer view of her husband's personality, then this book is for you. I will end with a question. Can anyone recommend a biography on Amelia Earhart which focuses mainly on her? While I'm glad to have read "The Sound of Wings", as stated previously in this review, this was not the book I was hoping to read.
October 2, 2012
This book does an excellent job of explaining Amelia Earhart's achievements and putting them in the context of her time. It also highlights the achievements of a number of her now lesser known contemporaries, which I found fascinating.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the intrepid women aviators at the national races:
This is really a double biography - it devotes significant time to the early life of Earhart's husband, George Putnam. I did not find this as interesting, especially as the author was quite defensive about Putnam and his reputation. She seemed to assume the audience had a pre-conceived attitude towards him that needed correcting. This may be true in general, but I had not heard of him prior, so found it a bit laboured in these sections.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the intrepid women aviators at the national races:
This is really a double biography - it devotes significant time to the early life of Earhart's husband, George Putnam. I did not find this as interesting, especially as the author was quite defensive about Putnam and his reputation. She seemed to assume the audience had a pre-conceived attitude towards him that needed correcting. This may be true in general, but I had not heard of him prior, so found it a bit laboured in these sections.
August 4, 2025
This book got very technical at some points ( I don’t know a lot about planes) but I really appreciated how it focused on Amelia’s life and not theories about her disappearance. Overall a good biography!
August 2, 2012
I read a biography written for children on Amelia Earhart years ago. So this is my first foray in reading about her from an adult perspective. I've read several books that talked about Lindbergh and WWI flyers so I feel I have some background in the times and aviation history she lived in.
One reason I liked this book is the author really wrote a dual biography here. She told the story of Amelia but also of her one and only husband, George Putnam. Others can tell so much about us about the books we read, the shows we watch, and the people we choose to be close to. If this is true then a good biography should also examine the subject’s relationships with people close to them.
Putnam and Earhart left the people they loved for each other. Putnam had been married for almost 20 years, Amelia was engaged but broke things off for Putnam. While such behavior frequently does not end well in their case their love lasted for years and only death separated them. They called each other by their initials. A.E. and G.P. They also had other pet names for each other.
A.E. traveled a lot on lecture tours. But they made a point that they called each other every day and/or wrote or cabled each other. The fact that G.P. was also her business partner and promoter certainly helped drive them together and keep them constantly engaged in the same endeavors. They were both very hard workers when they decided what they wanted. Putnam mentored many writers and knew how to have a book written quickly after an event to capitalize on public interest in some happening.
A.E. was a feminist in the sense that she believed that women should have the same opportunities to work outside the home that men have. Many people felt like a woman couldn't fly over the ocean alone, that they did not have enough stamina. She proved those naysayers wrong.
The author discusses the events that lead to her disappearance. The author touches on the different theories about what happened but does not take a side.
A.E. was very influential in her time. Without G.P. she probably would have faded from the scene fairly quickly. His skills as a publicist and his network of friends helped fund and draw attention to what A.E. did. Her story would not be the story it is without him. But, she forged her own path and decided what flights and records she wanted to shoot for while G.P. preferred to travel closer to the earth.
Overall well written.
One reason I liked this book is the author really wrote a dual biography here. She told the story of Amelia but also of her one and only husband, George Putnam. Others can tell so much about us about the books we read, the shows we watch, and the people we choose to be close to. If this is true then a good biography should also examine the subject’s relationships with people close to them.
Putnam and Earhart left the people they loved for each other. Putnam had been married for almost 20 years, Amelia was engaged but broke things off for Putnam. While such behavior frequently does not end well in their case their love lasted for years and only death separated them. They called each other by their initials. A.E. and G.P. They also had other pet names for each other.
A.E. traveled a lot on lecture tours. But they made a point that they called each other every day and/or wrote or cabled each other. The fact that G.P. was also her business partner and promoter certainly helped drive them together and keep them constantly engaged in the same endeavors. They were both very hard workers when they decided what they wanted. Putnam mentored many writers and knew how to have a book written quickly after an event to capitalize on public interest in some happening.
A.E. was a feminist in the sense that she believed that women should have the same opportunities to work outside the home that men have. Many people felt like a woman couldn't fly over the ocean alone, that they did not have enough stamina. She proved those naysayers wrong.
The author discusses the events that lead to her disappearance. The author touches on the different theories about what happened but does not take a side.
A.E. was very influential in her time. Without G.P. she probably would have faded from the scene fairly quickly. His skills as a publicist and his network of friends helped fund and draw attention to what A.E. did. Her story would not be the story it is without him. But, she forged her own path and decided what flights and records she wanted to shoot for while G.P. preferred to travel closer to the earth.
Overall well written.
September 29, 2016
I came to this bio almost complete ignorant of Amelia Earhart. I knew only that she was a pilot and that she mysteriously disappeared. So who is this American icon and why is she so admired? That is what I wanted to find out.
First off, Lovell is more interested in G.P Putnam than Amelia. Not that she doesn't like Amelia, but that Amelia feels like a shadow beside her energetic husband. Really, this bio is a defense of the Putnam-Earhart marriage. Which I appreciate. Secondly, I didn't come away with much sympathy or admiration for either character. It doesn't help that I once worked with someone very like Putnam. It was an unhappy awakening to discover that Amelia Earhart is somewhat of a myth created by George Putnam. She was not the sole female pilot with the guts and ambition to undertake such daring flights and that George sabotaged the careers of far more capable women (like Elinor Smith) so that Amelia could be first. Amelia wasn't even a stellar pilot! But in saying this, we can thank Lovell for avoiding hagiography.
First off, Lovell is more interested in G.P Putnam than Amelia. Not that she doesn't like Amelia, but that Amelia feels like a shadow beside her energetic husband. Really, this bio is a defense of the Putnam-Earhart marriage. Which I appreciate. Secondly, I didn't come away with much sympathy or admiration for either character. It doesn't help that I once worked with someone very like Putnam. It was an unhappy awakening to discover that Amelia Earhart is somewhat of a myth created by George Putnam. She was not the sole female pilot with the guts and ambition to undertake such daring flights and that George sabotaged the careers of far more capable women (like Elinor Smith) so that Amelia could be first. Amelia wasn't even a stellar pilot! But in saying this, we can thank Lovell for avoiding hagiography.
January 16, 2025
I requested this book for Christmas a few years ago as I have always admired Amelia Earhart's determination, not only in regards to flying but for the work she did in promoting women's equality, proving to everyone that women could indeed pilot a plane to the same degree as men.
The story wasn't what I expected - for example, I was surprised to learn that Earhart, the famous aviation legend, in truth wasn't the best female pilot around at that time and many actually surpassed her to a wide degree. I would have liked to read a little less about her husband George Putnam and more about the other female pilots who unfortunately did not reach the same level of stardom that Earhart did. That being said, even if she was technically not the most skilled pilot, I still like Earhart for her sheer determination to reach her goals, although Putnam is responsible for using a lot of ethically questionable methods of publicity to support his wife's career.
There are some slower parts in the book which drag it down as they were very tedious to get through - usually the non-Earhart sections, of which there are too many. In my opinion, the book should have been a fair deal shorter and had the slow parts cut out completely. All in all, it was a good read, but needed some further changes to make it great.
The story wasn't what I expected - for example, I was surprised to learn that Earhart, the famous aviation legend, in truth wasn't the best female pilot around at that time and many actually surpassed her to a wide degree. I would have liked to read a little less about her husband George Putnam and more about the other female pilots who unfortunately did not reach the same level of stardom that Earhart did. That being said, even if she was technically not the most skilled pilot, I still like Earhart for her sheer determination to reach her goals, although Putnam is responsible for using a lot of ethically questionable methods of publicity to support his wife's career.
There are some slower parts in the book which drag it down as they were very tedious to get through - usually the non-Earhart sections, of which there are too many. In my opinion, the book should have been a fair deal shorter and had the slow parts cut out completely. All in all, it was a good read, but needed some further changes to make it great.
November 17, 2024
Now that Amelia Earhart is in the news again because a deep sea exploration company thinks it might have located the wreckage of her plane, I thought it was a good time to re-read this excellent biography of the famous aviatrix by Mary S. Lovell.
(This is also the book on which the 2009 movie "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere, was based on.)
Meticulously researched, The Sound of Wings is probably the best bio out of the many that have been written about Earhart.
Using letters, archives, published material, and interviews with surviving family members, friends, and colleagues, it traces Amelia’s early life; her rise to fame as one of the foremost female pilots of the era; her many flying achievements; and her disappearance and presumed death in 1937 during her attempt at a round-the-world flight.
Unlike many other authors who have written about Earhart, Lovell is objective enough not to fall into “canonization” mode. For example, she states bluntly that Amelia was not the best woman pilot of the period, but the most well known, thanks to the publicity genius of her manager/husband, George Palmer Putnam.
Speaking of George Palmer Putnam, Lovell admits that she at first believed in the prevalent view that he “used” Amelia and drove her too hard. But after researching his letters and interviewing friends and family, she changed her opinion and became an apologist for him, including a mini biography of him in this book.
Lovell does not propose yet another theory of what could have happened to Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan in 1937, since that kind of speculation doesn’t belong in a proper biography.
However, she does include an appendix at the end of the book which describes some of the most common disappearance theories that have been circulated in the more than 80 years since Amelia’s last flight.
(This is also the book on which the 2009 movie "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere, was based on.)
Meticulously researched, The Sound of Wings is probably the best bio out of the many that have been written about Earhart.
Using letters, archives, published material, and interviews with surviving family members, friends, and colleagues, it traces Amelia’s early life; her rise to fame as one of the foremost female pilots of the era; her many flying achievements; and her disappearance and presumed death in 1937 during her attempt at a round-the-world flight.
Unlike many other authors who have written about Earhart, Lovell is objective enough not to fall into “canonization” mode. For example, she states bluntly that Amelia was not the best woman pilot of the period, but the most well known, thanks to the publicity genius of her manager/husband, George Palmer Putnam.
Her natural intelligence made her a reasonably competent pilot, but she lacked the inherent ability that makes a great pilot. . . Today, prospective jet-fighter pilots can be recognized long before they set foot in an airplane, for this ability is apparent even in flight simulators. For these people, the air is simply their element and this skill appears to be built in; it cannot be learned. . . Unfortunately, though highly intelligent, a quick learner, and possessed of great enthusiasm, Amelia did not, it seems, possess natural ability as a pilot. This is no disparagement of Amelia; it is simply the view of many of her contemporaries in the flying world. Indeed, given this apparently important drawback, it is to her great credit that she was subsequently able to achieve so much.
Speaking of George Palmer Putnam, Lovell admits that she at first believed in the prevalent view that he “used” Amelia and drove her too hard. But after researching his letters and interviewing friends and family, she changed her opinion and became an apologist for him, including a mini biography of him in this book.
Lovell does not propose yet another theory of what could have happened to Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan in 1937, since that kind of speculation doesn’t belong in a proper biography.
However, she does include an appendix at the end of the book which describes some of the most common disappearance theories that have been circulated in the more than 80 years since Amelia’s last flight.
July 7, 2007
I recently finished two books on Amelia Earhart, including this one (The Sound of Wings) and the one by Dorothy Rich. They were both very informative, but The Sound of Wings was much better. I thought the author of The Sound of Wings had a much more inquisitive mind and was more disposed to view George Putnam (Amelia's husband) with an open mind. I thought Dorothy Rich made up her mind early on that she didn't much like or care for George Putnam (it was true that most people didn't like him). I felt that Amelia's biography was much more complete with the full incorporation of George Putnam's role in The Sound of Wings.
April 12, 2020
I bought this book back when I traveled to Washington D.C. on a school field trip a long time ago. It is still one of the best books on Amelia Earhart that I have personally read. It not only covers her life, aviation history, and of course her famous disappearance, but it also dives into the lives of the people that were around her which gives a much wider understanding of who she was.
This is definitely a must read if you're interested in the mystery that is Amelia Earhart or just aviation history in general.
This is definitely a must read if you're interested in the mystery that is Amelia Earhart or just aviation history in general.
November 12, 2014
This was an interesting view of the relationship between George Putnam and Amelia Earhart. They seemed to be a good match in that they were both publicity seekers. The book deals mostly with their personal lives and not as much on the theories of Amelia's disappearance, allow these are covered some in the appendices. All in all a good read.
February 5, 2018
I've always been intrigued by her ever since the famous song-lyric "...whatever happened to Amelia Earhart". If not for that popular song back in the early 2000s, my curiosity wouldn't be triggered. Before this book, I only know she conquered a solo transatlantic flight in 1922 and attempted to pilot around the world in 1937 but never finished because she disappeared.
This book provided great insight on what went on during her life and even after that. Her resilient character is most admirable, considering the time she lived in. There were chapters when I thought, she got what she wanted so easily due to the mechanism enabled by her husband and that might have been unfair.
But she was frighteningly courageous on her own overall. Given the aviation condition in the 20's to 30's, those were the times that people who doze off in flights nowadays wouldn't brave. But before she conquered that area of aviation, she has solemnly conquered the domesticated expectations for women in that time. I am no longer rating or writing review of the book, but you can tell that I enjoyed this because it seems I've come in front seat performance of a short-lived life of Amelia Earhart. Eighty years after her disappearance, her name and the mystery that comes with it still resounds. Whatever happened to her and her navigator, she consumed life well, not without fault or disappointment, but a great one.
This book provided great insight on what went on during her life and even after that. Her resilient character is most admirable, considering the time she lived in. There were chapters when I thought, she got what she wanted so easily due to the mechanism enabled by her husband and that might have been unfair.
But she was frighteningly courageous on her own overall. Given the aviation condition in the 20's to 30's, those were the times that people who doze off in flights nowadays wouldn't brave. But before she conquered that area of aviation, she has solemnly conquered the domesticated expectations for women in that time. I am no longer rating or writing review of the book, but you can tell that I enjoyed this because it seems I've come in front seat performance of a short-lived life of Amelia Earhart. Eighty years after her disappearance, her name and the mystery that comes with it still resounds. Whatever happened to her and her navigator, she consumed life well, not without fault or disappointment, but a great one.
April 29, 2025
This was sort of two biographies: one of Amelia Earhart and one of George Putnam, her promoter husband. Some parts of the Earheart story were four star reads whereas the Putnam parts were two star reads. It was almost as if the author couldn't give aqual quality writing to the male, or his life just wasn't as interesting.
It was interesting how many mishaps (crashes) Ameria had and she wasn't a great pilot. She didn't learn to prevent yawing using the rudder but rather potwered down one engine instead and would fly full throttle (not a good way to conserve fuel). And she didn't learn how to use radio signals for finding directions (skipped out on the instruction session). she did have a great promoter in George Putnam, even though he knew there were better women pilots. i.e, one daredevil pilot, Elinor Simth, who he
tried to get to fly Amelia around, but not take credit for it. The story was more intriguing when mention was made of exploits of other women pilots (e.g. the ninety-niners).
It was interesting how many mishaps (crashes) Ameria had and she wasn't a great pilot. She didn't learn to prevent yawing using the rudder but rather potwered down one engine instead and would fly full throttle (not a good way to conserve fuel). And she didn't learn how to use radio signals for finding directions (skipped out on the instruction session). she did have a great promoter in George Putnam, even though he knew there were better women pilots. i.e, one daredevil pilot, Elinor Simth, who he
tried to get to fly Amelia around, but not take credit for it. The story was more intriguing when mention was made of exploits of other women pilots (e.g. the ninety-niners).
April 12, 2024
This is probably the most balanced biography of Earhart that I've read. It also seems to be one of the most factual. All theories about her and Noonan's fates are relegated to an appendix and the author doesn't present any of her own. She does present whatever actual information was available to her, some of it in the text and some in endnotes and appendices. Lovell's writing style is highly readable, which was definitely an asset in such a long biography.
Once Amelia Earhart met George Putnam, the book is about both of them, which makes sense to me because their lives and careers are so completely intertwined that I don't think you could understand her without knowing him. Truthfully, I think that, without George, she would not be the Amelia Earhart that we speculate about to this day.
Once Amelia Earhart met George Putnam, the book is about both of them, which makes sense to me because their lives and careers are so completely intertwined that I don't think you could understand her without knowing him. Truthfully, I think that, without George, she would not be the Amelia Earhart that we speculate about to this day.
August 18, 2021
I knew very little about Amelia Earhart when I picked up this autobiography in a charity shop this summer but I'd read Mary S. Lovell's Mitford Sisters book and really enjoyed it. Amelia is a fascinating character, a fearless feminist who followed her dreams. I was really interested to read about the PR machine behind her and how even though she wasn't necessarily the best female pilot of the time, her husband's marketing of her made her the most famous. The book should really be called Amelia and George as it's as much, if not more about her husband, than about Amelia herself. It's a bit dull at times as the author goes into lots of flying technicalities but it's also a solid biography about a fascinating woman. I wonder what happened to her...
February 11, 2019
Excellent; story of Amelia Earhart and her exploits, supported and publicized by her husband George Putnam; sticks to the facts, leaving the various thoeries to an appendix; speaks of the days of early flight, Amelia's support of women (in terms of flying and overall equality), positive and negative views of her piloting capabilities, her husband's large personality and devotion to her (which has been refuted in other works); includes sufficient detail in terms of air travel in the period, without being overly technical
July 15, 2017
I have been slow to realize, but Mary S. Lovell is one of my favorite writers. Lovell approached this subject with previously conceived judgements, but over the course of research and writing changed her mind about who Amelia Earhart and George Puntman really were.
This is somewhat a dual biography of the famous couple. How they came to know each other and push each other to unknown heights (both literally and figuratively).
This is somewhat a dual biography of the famous couple. How they came to know each other and push each other to unknown heights (both literally and figuratively).
June 22, 2018
I wanted to love this by it didn’t quite hit me on the same way some of Lovell’s other books did. I skipped the bits about George as I didn’t find it that interesting. I didn’t really engage with the protagonists as much as I thought I would - however I did love the description of her last flight, which was fascinating. Good, worth a quick skim if you’re interested in AE, but wouldn’t say it was brilliant.
April 19, 2021
An enthralling biography, not just of Amelia but also of her husband, George Putnam. Covers the early lives and careers of each, the record flights, the round the world attempt, and the theories on her loss.
May 26, 2017
This was an excellent story of Amelia, George and their lives. I learned so much that I didn't know about Amelia and her fateful flight.
July 12, 2017
Really enjoyable reading and a great perspective that seems as fair as can be :)
Much appreciated reading it especially as new details came about AE disappearance ;)
Much appreciated reading it especially as new details came about AE disappearance ;)
January 27, 2019
Really enjoyed this biography of Amelia Earhart!
The voice was entertaining and engaging- not dry at all.
The voice was entertaining and engaging- not dry at all.
November 8, 2020
This book was on my TBR shelf and was very outdated. There is so much more information now.
Read
December 5, 2020Lovell wrote a straight-forward account of Amelia's life. Fast read, informative.
May 12, 2023
Excellent Historical Reference
December 30, 2009
I came to this book with a long-standing appreciation for Earhart's basic character and role in women's history, but with little knowledge about the details of her life. Therefore I gained a lot from diving into such a thorough study of the the people and events that made her into the legend she has become.
The author parallels the life story of Amelia with that of George Putnam, her husband and publicist--demonstrating how integral he was to her success. While there are those who think of AE as "Saint Amelia" and also those who downplay her achievements and criticize her husband's business motives, I thought the author did a good job of balancing both perspectives and leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. Clearly Amelia and George led an unconventional and very public life, and some of their decisions had to have been based on financial and career opportunities (including aspects of the fateful trip around the world), but as the author reminds us--we might not know Amelia's name today if not for the publicity machine she had behind her in George Putnam.
If you're looking for more than just a quick read, this gives the very detailed but interesting story behind one of the leading ladies of the 20th Century. I walked away from it appreciating both the grandeur and the flaws of Amelia and George, all the while admiring their willingness to take risks, defy conventions, and live large.
The author parallels the life story of Amelia with that of George Putnam, her husband and publicist--demonstrating how integral he was to her success. While there are those who think of AE as "Saint Amelia" and also those who downplay her achievements and criticize her husband's business motives, I thought the author did a good job of balancing both perspectives and leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. Clearly Amelia and George led an unconventional and very public life, and some of their decisions had to have been based on financial and career opportunities (including aspects of the fateful trip around the world), but as the author reminds us--we might not know Amelia's name today if not for the publicity machine she had behind her in George Putnam.
If you're looking for more than just a quick read, this gives the very detailed but interesting story behind one of the leading ladies of the 20th Century. I walked away from it appreciating both the grandeur and the flaws of Amelia and George, all the while admiring their willingness to take risks, defy conventions, and live large.
April 1, 2016
An historically accurate, intriguing biography about Ms. Earhart, who made aviation accessible in a time of great stigma and prejudice towards women. Well researched, with significant emphasis placed upon Amelia's relationship with her publicist husband, and that of senior aviation officials.
Earhart is perhaps one of the lesser known feminist pioneers. It is only right that biographers draw attention to her dedication and ambition to challenge social norms, as this author has so readily done. I felt on the whole, this book did do Amelia justice. Her untimely and mysterious death is of course, a source of great speculation, however the author shies away from becoming em broiled in a cheap argument about where exactly Amelia's plane was lost and what happened to its remains.
I found some parts of the book dull with regard to Amelia's husband. It felt occasionally that I was reading a biography about him. He was of course, a central part of her life, however I felt I did not need to know about his various personality quirks, career highlights and so on to make it a spectacular biography. I fear the author spent valuable research time looking into this when the focus should have always been Amelia.
I learnt a lot about the subject from this biography, perhaps more than I was expecting. Although initially dubious that there would be much technical, aviation language, there was little I did not fully comprehend.
Earhart is perhaps one of the lesser known feminist pioneers. It is only right that biographers draw attention to her dedication and ambition to challenge social norms, as this author has so readily done. I felt on the whole, this book did do Amelia justice. Her untimely and mysterious death is of course, a source of great speculation, however the author shies away from becoming em broiled in a cheap argument about where exactly Amelia's plane was lost and what happened to its remains.
I found some parts of the book dull with regard to Amelia's husband. It felt occasionally that I was reading a biography about him. He was of course, a central part of her life, however I felt I did not need to know about his various personality quirks, career highlights and so on to make it a spectacular biography. I fear the author spent valuable research time looking into this when the focus should have always been Amelia.
I learnt a lot about the subject from this biography, perhaps more than I was expecting. Although initially dubious that there would be much technical, aviation language, there was little I did not fully comprehend.
March 26, 2013
I learned a great deal about Amelia Earhart from this book. She was a fascinating woman and a great advocate for women and aviation. The book deals a lot with her marriage and relationship to George Putnam. The author takes the position that people remember Amelia Earhart more than other woman pilots was because of the publicity that George promoted for Amelia. He was in the vanguard of promotion in that time period. I didn't know that Amelia's first crossing of the Atlantic was mostly as a passenger in a plane with men pilot and co-pilot. She later flew the Atlantic solo (the second person to do so). She was sometimes likened to Lindbergh and in fact some people thought they looked a lot alike. It was an interesting read to see how Amelia used criticism of her accomplishments to drive her to other goals. You got a real feel for how driven this woman was and how she broke convention to accomplish her goals. You also found out she used her fame to open doors and to promote aviation. The author does a good job with the material and writes well. I've read another book by this author and that also was a good book. I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in aviation, especially the early days. At the end I wanted to read more and know more about Amelia Earhart. Which I think is a good reaction to any book.
February 9, 2017
This was great! Biographies always take me an age to read so I'm glad I got ahead in my Goodreads challenge before starting this!!!
I've always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart but it turns out I didn't know the half of it! At its heart this biography is a love story, and though at first I was slightly concerned by there being whole chapters dedicated to her husband, George, they ended up being incredibly integral. That the book ends celebrating their love is fitting. Amelia was a badass, (who maybe wasn't good at flying?) George was the publishing icon I aspire to be (holy publicity machine!) and flying over the ocean in early planes was scary af.
I've always been fascinated by Amelia Earhart but it turns out I didn't know the half of it! At its heart this biography is a love story, and though at first I was slightly concerned by there being whole chapters dedicated to her husband, George, they ended up being incredibly integral. That the book ends celebrating their love is fitting. Amelia was a badass, (who maybe wasn't good at flying?) George was the publishing icon I aspire to be (holy publicity machine!) and flying over the ocean in early planes was scary af.
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