For example, I've heard rumblings about Charles Lindbergh supporting Nazi Germany and wondered how that could be. Thanks to Winters' book, the context makes it clear that Charles' support for the Nazis ended after Kristallnacht...a night in 1938 when dozens of Jews throughout Germany were openly robbed and murdered. His support prior to that was based on several things. First, Anne and Charles' fame was nearly incomprehensible by today's standards. They were hounded by the media for most lives in ways that make today's Papparazzi seem reserved. The media was so intrusive that the Lindberghs eventually moved to a remote island off the coast of Britan for a few years to try to get some peace and quiet. They both though that the press was largely responsible for the circumstances that lead to their son's kidnapping and murder. Second, Anne and Charles had toured Soviet Russia and found it to be a very dismal place. Stalin's ruthless reign had sapped the life out of his people and it was very disappointing to the Lindberghs to see it. Third, Charles was asked to assess the German Luftwaffe's capabilities by the Allied governments as the world moved toward World War II. When the Lindberghs got there, they saw a country of united people with an efficient and orderly society. When comparing that with the insane American press (that caused several near midair collisions trying to film the Lindberghs flying) and the inhuman rule of Joseph Stalin, how could they not have been impressed by Germany's unity and ingenuity? So yes, they thought very highly of Germany...right up to the point where Hitler started openly casting aside human rights. I was glad to get that context from Winters' book.

Possibly the most important theme of the book is the fact that Anne had all of these advantures in spite of a culture that tried to keep women away from such things. At best, the average woman in those days might have been a passenger following her man around. It seems that Anne always felt a little out of place doing the "manly" tasks of planning, flying and working radios, but her feelings of inadequacy were compeletly unfounded. Charles Lindbergh was one of the most famous pilots of all time. He could have chosen any pilot in the world to help crew his planes on his journies, but he chose to fly with his wife. I don't think there could be a more solid endorsement of her abilities. I think it also serves as a great example of how a husband and wife can work together as a team and enjoy life rather than just trudging though it and fighting like we see on TV.

Not only did Winters do a good job of telling the stories, she did an amazing job of researching for her book. Winters has developed a great relationship with the Lindbergh family and was granted special access to Anne's personal journals and letters. When you put those personal documents together with Anne's published works (she was an accomplished poet and author,) you get the real story from as close to the source as it gets. Winters seems to have truly gotten a feeling for Anne Lindbergh and has become a Lindbergh authority, speaking about them all over the country.

I've tried to explain a little about this book, but I'm afraid I can't do it justice. Go find a copy for yourself. If you can't find it in a nearby library, it's out in paperback. Most importantly if you have a child, sibling or friend (and especially a daughter or sister) who could use a hero to look up to, make sure he or she reads this book! Anne Morrow Lindbergh is a great example of someone who stretched herself to learn and do amazing things and her work definitely paid off.

I'm grateful to Kathleen Winters for asking me to read her book. I'm hoping my wife will read it next. (No! We're not goint to ask Smithsonian if we can borrow the Sirius...though what do you think they would say if we asked?) I'm looking forward to reading her next book. For more about Winters, including a schedule of her speaking events, be sure to check out her website. If you'd like to read some of Anne's books or poetry firsthand, take a look at the Lindbergh Foundation's bibliography of her works.

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