The flight of the century : Charles Lindbergh & the rise of American aviation / Thomas Kessner.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"You're your own boss" -- Acolyte of the air, 1924-1926 -- Aviation takes flight -- Intricate perfection -- Flight of the century -- "Vive Lindbergh!" "vive l'Americain!" -- It touched off aviation -- Airship diplomacy -- The Lindbergh era -- "We", now a trio -- As one gains fame one loses life.

Charles Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris ushered in America's age of commercial aviation. Thomas Kessner takes a fresh look at one of America's greatest moments, explaining how what was essentially a publicity stunt became a turning point in history. He vividly recreates the flight itself and the euphoric reaction to it on both sides of the Atlantic, and argues that Lindbergh's amazing feat occurred just when the world--still struggling with the disillusionment of WWI--desperately needed a hero to restore a sense of optimism and innocence. Kessner also shows how new forms of mass media made Lindbergh into the most famous international celebrity of his time, casting him in the role of a humble yet dashing American hero of rural origins and traditional values. --from publisher description.