The Aviator's Wife: A Novel

In the spirit of Loving Frank and The Paris Wife, acclaimed novelist Melanie Benjamin pulls back the curtain on the marriage of one of America's most extraordinary couples: Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

“The history is exhilarating. . . . The Aviator's Wife soars.”—USA Today

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles's assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.

Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator's wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life's infinite possibilities for change and happiness.

Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator's Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.

Advance praise for The Aviator's Wife

“A story of both triumph and pain that will take your breath away.”—Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker

“Melanie Benjamin inhabits Anne Morrow Lindbergh completely, freeing her from the shadows of her husband's stratospheric fame.”—Isabel Wolff, author of A Vintage Affair

“This soaring novel of a woman's journey through a difficult marriage to self-discovery is sure to be a book-club favorite.”—Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude & Camille

“An unflinching exploration of the most intriguing, public, and tragic marriage of the twentieth century.”—Francine Mathews, author of Jack 1939

“Offers a fascinating glimpse into the uneasy marriage of one of America's most intriguing couples. Be prepared to question all you know about the Lindberghs.”—Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls