AuthorsLive: The Aviator and the Showman by Laurie Gwen Shapiro

Greenwich Library welcomes Laurie Gwen Shapiro for a discussion of her new book, The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon, revealing the untold story of Amelia Earhart’s decade-long marriage to George Putnam (the “P.T. Barnum of publishing”), who pressed Amelia into daring, often dangerous stunts to promote her image and books, influencing a certain recklessness up to and including her final flight.

Earhart is a captivating figure to many, but the truth about her life is often overshadowed by myth and legend. Despite her outwardly modest image, Amelia was a fiercely driven and impossibly brave trailblazer. With a trove of new sources, including undiscovered audio interviews from those closest to Amelia, Shapiro presents her as a multifaceted woman—complete with flaws, desires, and competitive drive.

The Aviator and the Showman is a gripping and passionate tale of adventure, colorful characters, and hubris, painting a vivid portrait of a marriage that shaped the trajectory of an iconic life. Copies will be available for purchase and signing with thanks to Diane’s Books of Greenwich.