I was just watching an episode of Pawn Stars where someone brought in a bunch of documents from one of the original investigators of the Charles Lindbergh kidnapping. It’s been many years since I’ve done a deep dive through this case. I’m curious to know what thoughts everyone may have about the case.
Who do you suspect was the actual kidnapper?
Do you believe the nails from the apartment complex attic were justifiable enough for a conviction?
Do you believe baby Lindbergh was killed during an unplanned fall from the bedroom window on the way down the ladder or afterwards?
Any weird or not well known and commonly reported facts about the case you can think of sharing?
I don’t remember all of the details since, again, it’s been a long time since I went down the rabbit hole of research. I’m curious to know what everyone’s thoughts and opinions are as well while I go back through the case.
I have a bit of a habit about putting books that are popular or widely praised. I don't consciously avoid them, it just kind of happens that way. Still, I get around to them eventually. Occasionally they're underwhelming, but more often than not, I do genuinely enjoy them. Such is the case with The Plot Against America by Philip Roth.
The Plot Against America begins in an alternate 1940. Celebrity aviator Charles Lindbergh has been elected President of the United States in a landslide victory over incumbent president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lindbergh has pledged to keep America out of the war in Europe and the Pacific. In fact, he's signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany and Japan. Still, many Americans, particularly Jewish American, worry that Lindbergh is getting a little too chummy with the Axis Powers. The story follows the turbulent years of the Lindbergh Administration through the eyes of young Philip Roth and his family.
This was one of those books that wasn't too high on my reading list until it was. I can't say what exactly prompted me to give this one a try. Maybe it was the miniseries adaption that HBO put out. I haven't watched the miniseries yet, but I do plan to. Maybe it was the various alternate history Facebook groups I take part in. Maybe it was something else entirely. Honestly, I can't really say. I will say that this book being part of the Audible Plus Catalogue was a nice bonus. Audible Plus is a new thing that Audible is doing. It's like Netflix, but with audiobooks.
Whatever the reason, I finally gave The Plot Against America a try, and I loved it. You will occasionally see literary fiction authors dip their toes into speculative fiction. However, this is the first time I've seen a literary fiction author try their hand at alternate history. Philip Roth ruffled some feathers when he made some comments that seemed to imply that he believed that he had invented the concept of alternate history. I haven't seen exactly where that went down, so I won't really comment on that.
I will say that Roth does an excellent job of combining his signature style with the alternate history setting. I took a look at some of Roth's other books in order to compare the writing style, and The Plot Against America defiantly fits the mold. There are segments of the book that almost feel weirdly nostalgic at times. Roth describes daily life in 1940s New Jersey in such loving detail, it can be easy to forget that you're reading an alternate histo
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Am I the only person who's experienced this or is it a known issue? HD also has a way weaker buff.
Charles Lindbergh may be a bit of a Nazi, but his memoir "The Spirit of St. Louis" is one of the most incredible things I have ever read and is a must for anyone passionate about aviation. I randomly came across it in a used book store and was blown away by it. I read the whole thing in about 2 days, staying up until 3 a.m. to finish it because I could not put it down.
His story is remarkable. Being a mail pilot was absolutely bonkers. He described multiple times flying in zero visibility at night and dropping flares on the ground to find where to land. Sometimes that meant putting the plane down in a random field and hoping the farmer could drive you into town. He also survived multiple crashes which seems to be par for the course.
He basically did a “fake it until you make it” his whole journey across the Atlantic. He was cold calling plane companies and financial backers (back when telephone calls were very expensive and the sign of an important person, he made sure to invest in a nice suit as well) to drum up support for his mission. And it seems like in the end he beat his competitors by a matter of days to win the prize.
He apparently got two hours of sleep before his big flight and the biggest challenge he had was staying awake. He also spent much of the flight in dense fog.
One thing that struck me was how the basics of flying today are barely any different than they were 100 years ago. The things he described in the training process, listening to the engine, and stick and rudder skills could have been written yesterday.
Has anyone else read it?
Two passages I highlighted as beautiful literature:
>“I’m an hour and ten minutes behind schedule, taking off. The trees at the far end of the field have merged into a solid clump in thickening dusk, have lost their individual identity. The moon, just past full, is rising in the east. I didn’t notice it before I landed, but now it seems to be competing with me for domination of the sky – just the two of us, climbing, and all the world beneath.
>
>I welcome the approach of night as twilight fades into brilliant moonlight. The day has been crystal clear and almost cloudless; perfect for flying. It’s been almost too perfect for flying the mail, for there’s no ability required in holding your course over familiar country with a sharp horizon in every quarter. You simply sit, touching stick and rudder lightly, dreaming of the earth below, of experiences past, of adventures that may come. Ther
Ground chuck
I've worked through the IMDB filmography of all the major stars of the era and couldn't find it. Mr. Google has been no more helpful.
Hello! I am in need of some expert advice. I am putting together a costume of Sherlock Holmes as the plumber "Escott" from The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. Part of the fun is trying to be as accurate to the text and to the historical setting as I can, although the description of Holmes' disguise is quite brief.
"...a rakish young workman, with a goatee beard and a swagger"
The persona is later revealed to be named Escott, and to be a plumber by trade. The main thing I am trying to determine is whether or not "a swagger" would be a description of a short cane or "swagger stick" as they were primarily carried by military officers.
I would also love any other suggestions that could suggest a plumber of the period that would make my costume more recognizable. Thanks!
Chili's, because he wants his baby back baby back baby back
I have a bit of a habit about putting books that are popular or widely praised. I don't consciously avoid them, it just kind of happens that way. Still, I get around to them eventually. Occasionally they're underwhelming, but more often than not, I do genuinely enjoy them. Such is the case with The Plot Against America by Philip Roth.
The Plot Against America begins in an alternate 1940. Celebrity aviator Charles Lindbergh has been elected President of the United States in a landslide victory over incumbent president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lindbergh has pledged to keep America out of the war in Europe and the Pacific. In fact, he's signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany and Japan. Still, many Americans, particularly Jewish American, worry that Lindbergh is getting a little too chummy with the Axis Powers. The story follows the turbulent years of the Lindbergh Administration through the eyes of young Philip Roth and his family.
This was one of those books that wasn't too high on my reading list until it was. I can't say what exactly prompted me to give this one a try. Maybe it was the miniseries adaption that HBO put out. I haven't watched the miniseries yet, but I do plan to. Maybe it was the various alternate history Facebook groups I take part in. Maybe it was something else entirely. Honestly, I can't really say. I will say that this book being part of the Audible Plus Catalogue was a nice bonus. Audible Plus is a new thing that Audible is doing. It's like Netflix, but with audiobooks.
Whatever the reason, I finally gave The Plot Against America a try, and I loved it. You will occasionally see literary fiction authors dip their toes into speculative fiction. However, this is the first time I've seen a literary fiction author try their hand at alternate history. Philip Roth ruffled some feathers when he made some comments that seemed to imply that he believed that he had invented the concept of alternate history. I haven't seen exactly where that went down, so I won't really comment on that.
I will say that Roth does an excellent job of combining his signature style with the alternate history setting. I took a look at some of Roth's other books in order to compare the writing style, and The Plot Against America defiantly fits the mold. There are segments of the book that almost feel weirdly nostalgic at times. Roth describes daily life in 1940s New Jersey in such loving detail, it can be easy to forget that you're reading an alternate histo
... keep reading on reddit ➡I have a bit of a habit about putting books that are popular or widely praised. I don't consciously avoid them, it just kind of happens that way. Still, I get around to them eventually. Occasionally they're underwhelming, but more often than not, I do genuinely enjoy them. Such is the case with The Plot Against America by Philip Roth.
The Plot Against America begins in an alternate 1940. Celebrity aviator Charles Lindbergh has been elected President of the United States in a landslide victory over incumbent president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lindbergh has pledged to keep America out of the war in Europe and the Pacific. In fact, he's signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany and Japan. Still, many Americans, particularly Jewish American, worry that Lindbergh is getting a little too chummy with the Axis Powers. The story follows the turbulent years of the Lindbergh Administration through the eyes of young Philip Roth and his family.
This was one of those books that wasn't too high on my reading list until it was. I can't say what exactly prompted me to give this one a try. Maybe it was the miniseries adaption that HBO put out. I haven't watched the miniseries yet, but I do plan to. Maybe it was the various alternate history Facebook groups I take part in. Maybe it was something else entirely. Honestly, I can't really say. I will say that this book being part of the Audible Plus Catalogue was a nice bonus. Audible Plus is a new thing that Audible is doing. It's like Netflix, but with audiobooks.
Whatever the reason, I finally gave The Plot Against America a try, and I loved it. You will occasionally see literary fiction authors dip their toes into speculative fiction. However, this is the first time I've seen a literary fiction author try their hand at alternate history. Philip Roth ruffled some feathers when he made some comments that seemed to imply that he believed that he had invented the concept of alternate history. I haven't seen exactly where that went down, so I won't really comment on that.
I will say that Roth does an excellent job of combining his signature style with the alternate history setting. I took a look at some of Roth's other books in order to compare the writing style, and The Plot Against America defiantly fits the mold. There are segments of the book that almost feel weirdly nostalgic at times. Roth describes daily life in 1940s New Jersey in such loving detail, it can be easy to forget that you're reading an alternate histo
... keep reading on reddit ➡