Book summary

Just as Amelia Earhart stood out from the crowd of women and pilots of her time, Susan Butler's EAST TO THE DAWN stands out among the many books about the life of the legendary aviatrix. Butler provides full details about Earhart's numerous aviation exploits, but the author also delves deeper into Earhart's life to reveal other fascinating aspects of her life. After documenting Earhart's difficult childhood as the daughter of an alcoholic, Butler shows Earhart emerge as a canny business woman, a caring social worker, a relentless self promoter, a passionate feminist, and, of course, an ace pilot. Perhaps the most provocative part of the book is Butler's insightful reading of Earhart's complex marriage to her business manager G.P. Putnam, whose mastery of the media played a crucial role in Earhart's rise to fame.

Media reviews

"....[T]hrows new light on many of the more controversial elements of the aviator's life."