Bring Me a Unicorn: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1922-1928.
Before (and after) she was married to famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, Anne Morrow, daughter of the American ambassador to Mexico, kept a journal and wrote a plethora of letters. This book is the first of five volumes of collected letters and journal entries of Anne Morrow soon-to-be Lindbergh. The others are called: Hour of Gold Hour of Lead, Locked Rooms Open Doors, The Flower and the Nettle, and War Within and Without.
The Deputy Headmistress at The Common Room wrote about and recommended Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s journals here. I second her recommendation.
The journals and letters cover the romance of Anne and “Lindy” as a young Anne meets the famous aviator at a reception given by her ambassador father. Anne Morrow married Charles Lindbergh in a private ceremony at her family home in May, 1929. He then taught her to fly an airplane. She received a pilot’s license, and the two flew together in 1933 to China and Japan. In 1932, the Lindberghs’ infant son Charles was kidnapped and murdered. It was the sensational crime story of the decade. They had five other children subsequently: Jon, Land, Anne, Scott, and Reeve.
From Bring Me a Unicorn on her first meeting with Charles Lindbergh:
I saw standing against the great stone pillar — on more red plush — a tall, slim boy in evening dress — so much slimmer, so much taller, so much more poised than I expected. A very refined face, not at all like those grinning ‘Lindy’ pictures — a firm mouth, clear, straight blue eyes, fair hair, and nice color. Then I went down the line very confused and overwhelmed by it all. He did not smile — just bowed and shook hands.
I highly recommend the journals of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, all five volumes.
I read these in my late teens and my 20s and totally enjoyed them.
I decided to reread them a couple years ago, purchasing them as I could find one at a library sale here and there. I finally finished the collection (cheap) on Amazon third party.
I have never read one right after the other, which I plan to do this winter. There is an interesting chapter about AML in Julie Eisenhower’s book called Special People… written (I think) in the very late 1970s.
Years ago I really enjoyed reading Anne’s journals and letters. But I always feel sad when I think about her — her life was messed up in so many ways, and for such a sensitive person it must have been just brutal.