Charles Lindbergh: Against the Wind

From the acclaimed A&E Biography series comes this absorbing examination of the controversial life of one of America's most renowned heroes: Charles Lindbergh. Catapulted to fame in 1927 after performing the first transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis (achieved after at least six men died in similar attempts), Lindbergh went from being called the "Flying Fool" in the press to "Lucky Lindy." Combining newsreel footage and archival stills with modern-day interviews with family, friends, historians and biographers, Charles Lindbergh: Against the Wind paints a picture of a man whose steely nerve and determination served him well in his greatest public moment, but whose life was otherwise troubled. Always uncomfortable in the public eye, Lindbergh and his wife Anne were thrust into the limelight with the tragic 1932 kidnapping and murder of their baby son. Later, Lindbergh would visit pre-war Germany, where he would be so impressed by the precision of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's changes that he turned a blind eye to the persecution of the Jews. Due to Lindbergh's efforts to keep the U.S. out of the war, President Roosevelt labeled him a "copperhead" (a Civil War term for a defeatist and traitor), causing Lindbergh to surrender his military title (after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh finally joined the war effort, but as a civilian). Lindbergh, along with his wife Anne, helped pioneer key advancements in aviation, including weight efficiency, overseas air routes, and speed records. An excellent account of a controversial American hero, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block)