On the Road

NationalBookAwardwinnerA.ScottBergisthefirstandonlywritertohavebeengivenunrestrictedaccesstothemassiveLindbergharchives-morethantwothousandboxesofpersonalpapers,includingreamsofunpublishedlettersanddiaries-andtobeallowedfreelytointerviewLindbergh'sfriends,colleagues,andfamilymembers,includinghischildrenandhiswidow,AnneMorrowLindbergh.Theresultisabiographythatclarifiesalifelongblurredbymythandhalf-truth.FromthemomenthelandedinParisonMay21,1927,Lindberghfoundhimselfthrustuponanodysseyforwhichhewasillprepared-thefirstmodernmediasuperstar,deifiedanddemonizedmanytimesoverinasinglelifetime.Bergcastsdramaticnewlightonthelonely,sometimestwistedchildhoodthatformedhischaracter;theastonishingflightandthrilling,thenoverwhelmingaftermath;thecontroversiessurroundingthetrialofhisson'saccusedkidnapper;thestormoverLindbergh'sfascinationwithHitler'sGermanyandoverhisactiveroleintheisolationistAmericaFirstmovement;andhisremarkableunsungworkdevotedtomedicalresearch,rocketry,anthropology,andconservation.Attheheartofitallishisfascinating,complexmarriagewithAnneMorrowLindbergh,arelationshipfarfromthestorybookromancethepublicimagined,onefilledwithsuddenjoyandbitterdarkness,andwhichforgedherintooneofthecentury'sleadingfeministvoices.BergexposesthemanyfacetsoftheprivateLindbergh,includinghisingeniousmedicalworkwithDr.AlexisCarrel,developingtheprecursortoanartificialheart;hispioneeringsupportofrocketscientistRobertH.Goddard;hissoul-searchingvisittoCampDoraatBergen-Belsen;hislifewiththeprimitiveMasaitribeinAfrica,andhisdiscoveryoftheTasadayinthePhilippines;hisfighttosavethewhalesoffthecoastsofJapanandPeru;andhisdeeplymovingfinaldaysinMaui,wherehesupervisedthediggingofhisowngrave.