Flying Adventurers: Juvenile Aviation Series Books in America, 1909-1964

Aviation books were a popular subgenre of American juvenile literature from the early to mid-20th century, drawing upon the nation's interest in engineered flight. This work examines 375 juvenile aviation series titles published between 1909 and 1964, exploring themes such as historical events, technical accuracy, and cultural reflection. Three appendices provide publication data, referenced aircraft, and an annotated bibliography.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2023
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

From the early to mid-20th century, aviation books emerged as a distinctive and prolific subgenre within American juvenile literature, capitalizing on the nation's growing fascination with engineered flight. The initial works of this genre, such as Harry L. Sayler's Airship Boys series, appeared shortly after the Wright brothers achieved their historic first successful flight in 1909. Following Charles Lindbergh's remarkable solo crossing of the Atlantic, popular series like Ted Scott and Andy Lane drew direct inspiration from the headlines to establish the golden age of juvenile aviation literature. This comprehensive study explores the publication of 375 juvenile aviation series titles between 1909 and 1964. It intricately weaves together various thematic threads, such as the contextualization of aviation narratives within significant historical events, the precise portrayal of flying machines, and the ways in which characters embodied the cultural nuances of their respective eras. Three appendices offer comprehensive publication data for each series, a comprehensive list of referenced aircraft, and an annotated bibliography.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476688787