The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart [Paperback]

Mary S. Lovell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

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. It is a revealing biography of an uncommonly brave woman, and the man who both aided and took advantage of her dreams.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this biography of Amelia Earhart, Lovell ( Straight on Till Morning ) explores the controversial relationship between the celebrated aviatrix and her publicist husband George P. Putnam, a brilliant and aggressive businessman who recognized opportunity in the growing clamor for record-breaking flights. Contrary to the view in Doris L. Rich's Amelia Earhart (Nonfiction Forecasts, Sept. 15) that he disregarded his wife's safety by promoting increasingly dangerous flights, Lovell concludes that Earhart initiated and took responsibility for her own risks, and that their marriage was more substantial than a convenient arrangement of mutual self-interest. While Rich concentrates on Earhart herself, Lovell examines the promotional machinery which publicized her feats when she was alive and gave rise to years of fantastic speculation and false hope about her fate after her disappearance in 1937. The book offers a colorful dimension to the Earhart story by focusing on the flamboyant Putnam who, at least as presented here, is more interesting than the aviatrix herself. Photos not seen by PW . Literary Guild main selection, Doubleday Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Both of these new biographies on Earhart are exceedingly well-researched and clearly written. Although they have the same biographical intent, they differ in their approach. Rich emphasizes Earhart's flying career and the stories and personalities behind her accomplishments. Hers is a scholarly account of Earhart's life, highlighting her goals, enthusiasm, and competitive pioneer spirit. Lovell, also author of Straight on Till Morning: The Biography of Beryl Markham ( LJ 9/15/87), delves more into the personalities of Earhart and George Palmer Putnam, her media-wise husband. Earhart's personality and character and the relationships with family and friends as they contributed to her accomplishments are the main thrust. The book also contains excerpts from Last Flight , Earhart's reworked logbook and notes on the fateful 1937 flight. Both books detail her life and the theories of her disappearance. They also clearly address Earhart's legacy: to dream what seems to be unattainable goals and then to acquire the skills and have the desire and determination to achieve them. Also, while Earhart is known today for her flying career and her mysterious disappearance, these books show her to be an early advocate of women's rights, equality, and world peace, who used her fame to help promote them. Both books are highly recommended; Lovell's book will appeal more to general readers. Lovell's book is a Literary Guild selection and Doubleday Book Club alternate.
- Ed. --William A. McIntyre, New Hampshire Vocational-Technical Coll. Lib., Nashua
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312587333
• ISBN-13: 978-0312587338
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( E ) > Earhart, Amelia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling, April 8, 2007

By 

KAH "Brit" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sound Of Wings: The Life Of Amelia Earhart (Paperback)

I have always wanted to read a biography of Amelia Earhart and, after searching various reviews, I learned that this biography is judged by many to be the best. I can wholeheartedly support this recommendation. Mary Lovell does an excellent job of 'getting under the skin' of both of her main characters: Amelia and George Putnam. She presents a completely fair and level-headed account of both of their lives allowing just enough commentrary into her narrative to enable one to conclude that, yes, maybe Amelia wasn't the best woman flier of her generation, but she was certainly the bravest. And, yes, she was pushed forward into the limelight by George but it was Amelia who wanted to be there in that limelight. I came away from this gripping narrative feeling alternately an enduring admiration for Amelia and her bravery, and an underlying pity for her because it seems to me that a lot of her drive arose from feelings of low self-worth arising from growing-up with a loser, alcoholic father. Maybe, like a lot of brave and famous people, she was driven to succeed by low feelings of self worth and was never really happy. That is a sad thought. In any event, she did a huge favour for the female sex in making them realize that their dreams could be realized. It was notable female figures like Amelia, along with the impact that the second world war had on women in the workforce, that changed the history of women forever.

A fascinating read - funny that this definitive account of an American female legend was presented by a British writer!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging look at a complex woman and the man she loved, April 5, 2003

By 

E.M. Singer (Central Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sound Of Wings: The Life Of Amelia Earhart (Paperback)

(by E.M. Singer, author of "Mother Flies Hurricanes")This well-written, thoroughly researched biography of Amelia Earhart focuses more on her life than on her death, which is what she would have wanted anyway. It debunks certain time-held assumptions about Earhart's personal and professional life, and sheds new light on her character and relationships. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Lovell holds that Amelia's husband, George Putnam, was not a manipulative, self-aggrandizing promoter who drove her to her death. There was genuine affection and mutual respect in their marriage. Though their relationship was not free from tension and cross-purposes, Amelia drew inspiration and support from him to realize her dreams. A good chunk of Lovell's book is a biography of George himself, and don't skip it-he's a fascinating person in his own right. The Sound of Wings also presents a fascinating picture of Amelia's early years: her half-idyllic, half-traumatic childhood, and her desperate seeking for inner peace and a place in the world. The author expounds unsparingly, yet tenderly, on Amelia's flaws, demons, and scars. She also gives a clear-sighted and balanced assessment of the various theories for Earhart's disappearance, yet does not allow it to overshadow her life. For more recommendations on books about women pilots, visit the motherflieshurricanes[...] website.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 1st Lady of Flight., October 29, 2009

By 

Charles E. Jones "Lover of Classics" (Woodland Hills, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. No detail was spared in the writing of "The Sound..."

The book covered Amelia Earhart's life from birth to her ill-fated final journey.

Amelia Earhart was instrumental in introducing women to flying and taking them out of their 2nd class citizenry.

The author sparred no details and captured what life was like in those times. The flying pioneer's life was chronicled with all of her loves and her refusal to accept 2nd best.

Her husband, George Putnam, was given (rightly) the credit for making Amelia Earhart a household name.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written, all inclusive biography.