The written legacy of Amelia Earhart extends far beyond the headlines of her final flight. While her disappearance over the Pacific cemented her status as an icon, her work as an author represents a significant contribution to aviation literature and popular culture. The books written by Amelia Earhart serve as both historical documents and compelling narratives that continue to inspire readers decades after her passing.
The Two Published Works
During her lifetime, Amelia Earhart secured two major book deals, resulting in the publication of two seminal works. These texts were not merely celebrity memoirs but carefully crafted accounts intended to demystify aviation for the general public. The first, titled 20 Hrs., 40 Min. , was published in 1928 and detailed her experience as a passenger on the transatlantic flight led by Wilmer Stultz. The second, The Fun of It , followed in 1932 and is arguably her most influential piece of writing, blending autobiography with passionate advocacy for aviation.
20 Hrs., 40 Min.: A Historic Narrative
Released just five months after the historic flight, 20 Hrs., 40 Min. captures the intensity of the first transatlantic flight by a woman. In the book, Earhart recounts the journey with a journalist’s eye for detail, describing the claustrophobia of the tiny Fokker F.VII trimotor and the bone-deep cold at 10,000 feet. Unlike a dry technical log, the book reads like a thriller, focusing on the human element of the mission and the quiet determination required to cross an ocean in an unheated cockpit.
The Fun of It: Advocacy and Empowerment
Published four years later, The Fun of It marked a shift in Earhart’s literary focus. Part memoir and part manifesto, the book argues that aviation is not the exclusive domain of men but a realm of thrilling possibility for anyone with the courage to pursue it. Earhart wrote with a clear pedagogical goal, explaining the principles of flight and navigation in accessible language. This work solidified her role as a feminist icon, as she actively encouraged women to pursue careers in science and transportation.
Posthumous Publications and Collections
Following her disappearance in 1937, the estate of Amelia Earhart continued to publish material based on her notes, letters, and private journals. These posthumous releases ensured that her voice remained a guiding force in the aviation community. While some of these works lean heavily on the archival material, they provide invaluable insight into her mindset leading up to her final journey and her evolving philosophy on exploration.
Last Flight
Perhaps the most significant posthumous volume is Last Flight , published in 1937. Compiled by her husband, publisher George Palmer Putnam, the book consists of her final correspondence, diary entries, and radio logs. These pages offer a haunting, first-hand account of the final weeks of her life, capturing the excitement and tension of the around-the-world attempt. The book preserves her pragmatic optimism in the face of mounting technical difficulties.
So the Story Goes
Another notable collection is So the Story Goes , which includes a wider range of her writings, such as newspaper articles and magazine pieces. This volume showcases her versatility as a writer, moving seamlessly from technical analysis to humorous travelogue. It reveals how she used the press not just to document her flights, but to actively shape the public’s perception of aviation as a modern, accessible technology.
