There has been a trend in the last few years in historical fiction- you take a well-known story or person and re-tell it from a peripheral character. (Although, I do not think it is a trend anymore; it is here to stay.) It is an interesting framing device that can bring new life to a known story. However, I actually knew very little about the Lindbergh family or kidnapping before reading this, so I got the best of both worlds. This week’s Book Bite is all about The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Lindbergh Nanny, Mariah Fredericks
When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny.
A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child, and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. Then, Charlie disappears.
Suddenly a suspect in the eyes of both the media and the public, Betty must find the truth about what really happened that night, in order to clear her own name—and to find justice for the child she loves.
Why You Should Read This…
I am probably in the minority of people, as I barely knew anything about the Lindbergh kidnapping prior to reading this. I knew a wealthy family’s baby had been kidnapped, and that was it. While I do not consider historical fiction to be one of my primary means of learning, I absolutely learned a lot from this book. Frederick has clearly done a massive amount of research with this book, and it is obvious.
Frederick’s skill with emotion is also on full display here. Without a doubt, this was always going to be a sad story, but as a reader, we are able to experience the full gamut of emotions. The narration played on this perfectly too; she pulled out elements and thoughts that I don’t know that I would have had reading the ebook.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys female-led historical fiction, as I could not put this one down!
Is The Lindbergh Nanny on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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