In “The Aviator and the Showman,” set to be published on July 15 by Viking, documentary filmmaker Laurie Gwen Shapiro delves into Amelia Earhart’s life prior to her mysterious disappearance, focusing on her marriage to publisher George Putnam. The book highlights how Putnam sought to create a female counterpart to Charles Lindbergh by promoting Earhart as the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, leveraging her charm and public persona for publicity and profit. Through newly uncovered sources, Shapiro reveals the dynamics of their relationship and the era’s media landscape, setting the stage for Earhart’s legendary status.
