The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming

The way Candace Fleming tells the story of Charles Lindbergh is amazing. On the surface, I knew who Charles Lindbergh was before I started this book. I was so very mistaken about how much I actually knew about his life though! I was captivated by the details, photos, and stories that helped to make the full picture of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh.

This book had everything that I could have ever wanted out of a biography on Charles Lindbergh, but it also had so much more that I didn’t even know I would want!

The story gives a good background into Charles as a child. We get to know his parents and his lifestyle. Born into a very privileged life, Charles grew up without missing out on anything he wanted. His mother was definitely overly attached, even coming with him to live with him at college.

The biography moves into his exit from college, and his entrance into the world of flying. I really appreciated the details provided for this portion of his life. I had not realized just how famous he really was. As the book spoke of the kidnapping and ultimate murder of his one-year old boy, I was heart-broken. I knew about this portion of his life, but reading it still tore at my heart.

After this part of Lindbergh’s life, Candace Fleming takes the reader deeper into the lifestyle and secrets of Charles. Fleming takes us through Lindbergh’s attachment to the Nazi’s and his belief in America First. There were some great insights into Lindbergh’s beliefs and celebrity status and today’s political landscape.

Overall, I found this book to be well-researched and written in such a story-telling way that I was captivated and submerged into the story. I loved the addition of photographs to help visualize Charles and his life. This was such a strong 5-star for me!

Content Warnings:

This book does discuss the kidnapping and death of Charles Lindbergh’s one year old child, as well his Nazi-sympathizing and antisemitism.

To Read or Not To Read:

If you are looking for an amazing biography to read this year, pick up this book!

Where To Find This Book:

SIX STARRED REVIEWS!

Discover the dark side of Charles Lindbergh–one of America’s most celebrated heroes and complicated men–in this riveting biography from the acclaimed author of The Family Romanov.

First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. In this time where values Lindbergh held, like white Nationalism and America First, are once again on the rise, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is essential reading for teens and history fanatics alike.