The Flight of the Century: Charles Lindbergh and the Rise of American Aviation (Pivotal Moments in American History)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.22 (693 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0195320190 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-07-25 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
He is the author of many books, including Capital City: New York City and the Men Behind America's Rise to Dominance, 1860-1900, and Fiorello H. Thomas Kessner is Distinguished Professor of History at the City University of New York Graduate Center. LaGuardia and the Making of Modern New York, which was a New York Times Notable Book.
--Colleen Mondor . Kessner shows how the man converged perfectly with his times. From Booklist Kessner approaches the much-analyzed Charles Lindbergh by asking why “other fliers made records but he made history.” Readily detailing the pertinent moments in the aviator’s history, from his childhood to Atlantic flight to the devastating loss of his oldest child, Kessner also writes about media coverage of Lindbergh’s exploits and the intense focus of the press long after he flew from New York to Paris. He concludes that Lindbergh’s fame was based not only on his achievement but also on the fact that he flew alone (his competitors all flew in teams) and that he refuted the trappings of fame, turning down movie deals, sponsorships, endorsements, and outright attempts at monetary gifts. In a field of conventional biographies, Kessner’s (including copious end notes) stands out as he asks what made this man famous and reveals that Lindbergh’s
In late May 1927 an inexperienced and unassuming 25-year-old Air Mail pilot from rural Minnesota stunned the world by making the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Kessner's book is the first to fully explore Lindbergh's central role in promoting the airline industry--the rise of which has influenced everything from where we live to how we wage war and do business. In The Flight of the Century, Thomas Kessner takes a fresh look at one of America's greatest moments, explaining how what was essentially a publicity stunt became a turning point in history. The Flight of the Century sheds new light on one of America's fascinatingly enigmatic heroes and most transformative moments.. Kessner also shows how new forms of mass media made Lindbergh into the most famous international celebrity of his time, casting him in the role of a humble yet dashing American hero of rural origins and traditional
Once Over Lightly TEQ I generally don't write reviews, but after reading Flight of the Century, I was puzzled as to why it receive such high ratings. A new genre of history books has emerged in the past decade that basically anthologizes past books and research on a subject, offering little new information. This is one of them. Worse, it seems to me to cast Charles Lindbergh as far more influential to the development of commercial aviation than he actually was.Granted, Lindbergh was an exceptionally gifted flyer, who combined meticulo. The Solo We `Flight of the Century' does an excellent job of examining the effect, the how and why and importance of both Charles Lindbergh and what his flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis meant. The flaws of the man and of the American press are not missed. Lindbergh's lack of empathy, aloofness and irritation with journalists and public intrusion on his privacy are acknowledged in many instances.This truly tells the tale of the beginnings of American aviation and of world wide celebrity. The flight itself. Fascinating in depth work of a bygone era Thomas Kessners' contribution to this era and to the body of knowledge regarding Lindbergh is immeasurable. This book is a highly enjoyable and interesting read. It is exceedingly well researched and has taught me a great deal about the enigmatic Charles Lindbergh. I highly recommend this book by the very talented author.