This week, Gerard reviews Aviatrix by Elinor Smith. Find out more about our What we are reading series here.

“Elinor Smith was a precocious pilot, having gained a flying licence at the age of just 16 in 1927. She almost lost said pilot’s licence in late 1928 when, for a bet, she flew underneath all four East River bridges in New York (and is reputedly still the only person to have done so). She retained the magic piece of paper but received a slap on the wrist fifteen-day licence suspension. The incident unfortunately brought her to the attention of hotshot publicist George Palmer Putnam, manager and husband-to-be of Amelia Earhart. Well-connected Putnam proceeded to target Elinor Smith as he did with other aviators who he thought might challenge his future wife’s position as the most famous female flyer in the world. Some of Putnam’s dastardly deeds are documented in this book but overall it is a joyous celebration of both Elinor Smith’s record-setting flying career and the 1920s US aviation scene. Marvellous.”