Christine de Pizan

Christine de Pizan
The Writer Christine de Pizan at Her Desk

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Amelia Earhart: "For the Fun of It"

Amelia Earhart (disappeared 2 July 1937)


Undoubtedly the most famous of the pioneering women in aviation, Amelia Earhart (b. 1897) disappeared on 2 July 1937 while flying over the Pacific, attempting an around-the-world flight via an equatorial route.

Amelia Earhart, c. 1928
The title of this post is from Earhart's 1932 memoir, The Fun of It. 

There are more books about Earhart than I can begin to mention here--lots of them filled with speculation and wild theories about what "really" happened to her. I don't know enough to be able to make a recommendation. There is also Amelia Earhart: The Official Website, and while there is a good biography, a photo gallery, and videos, there is also an awful lot of stuff for sale. (A reproduction of Earhart's jacket, since she was one of "the world's most stylish icons"? Really?)

Update: In June 2017, the Amelia Earhart website was thoroughly updated and revised, no longer hawking merchandise.