The Roaring Twenty

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Adventure, excitement, and fearlessness soar in the dramatic true story of twenty aviatrixes who embarked on the first Women's Cross-Country Air Derby. Readers will thrill to the feats of "the roaring twenty," the daring pilots who pioneered women's aviation in a 2800-mile race from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1929. This nine-day odyssey, initially dismissed as the "Powder Puff Derby" by the press, captivated the American public. The nation adored Amelia Earhart and soon embraced colorful figures like cigar-smoking stunt flyer Florence Pancho Barnes, former wing-walker Phoebe Omlie, and New York society rebel Opal Kunz. Experienced adventurer Marvel Crosson was an early favorite until her mysterious disappearance added intrigue. The daily drama unfolded with intense competition, stormy weather, mechanical challenges, typhoid fever, and even sabotage suspicions. The condescending press coverage contrasted with the heroines' glamorous appearances at balls and banquets during their soaring escapade. This real-life tale offers a glimpse into a transformative period in American social history, as women redefined their roles during the "roaring '20s" and the Jazz Age, before the nation faced the Depression. With fifty evocative duotone photographs and a detailed National Geographic map of the route, this story captures the imagination and dreams of young girls across the country.