GOODREADS SUMMARY:
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.
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.
TEE'S THOUGHTS:
The Lindbergh Nanny is a well-researched fictional account of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. Told from the point of Nanny Betty, it takes us through the days that lead up to the kidnapping, during the kidnapping, and after it throughout the trail.
There are plenty of secrets that add to the mystery of the kidnapping, not to mention the heartbreak of losing a child to a kidnapping. I feel most of the heartache belonged to the people who cared for the child and were around him, and that was the staff. Not only in this story, but in others I have read that took place during this time period, it seemed like a normal thing for wealthy parents to rarely see their children and leave the upbringing to the Nanny and the rest of the staff. I am not denying the parent's heartbreak at the loss of their child, I just imagined it had a more profound effect on those that saw him more closely.
It does read extraordinarily well, and there were many times I had to bring myself back to the fact that this was a work of fiction, with a bit of truth woven in, the lines blur many times. The Nanny, Betty, is based on the real Nurse Nanny that took care of baby Charlie, so in a way, this is her story as much as a story of the kidnapping. The writer is fantastic at helping us feel her pain, heartache, and the extreme amount of guilt she had when the baby was taken on her watch. We also get her opinion on who the kidnapper was.
Well written, and an interesting take on a historical moment in time. It did not matter that I knew a bit about the real kidnapping, that I knew how it ended up, it was still a great read. The author also includes notes for us at the end of the story that helps with what is real in the story and what has been added. This book is wonderful for any historical fiction fan, or lover of history and I would even include True Crime lovers.
I enjoyed this book, but I Did notice the parts that were most likely fictional. Having read the diaries and letters of Anne Marrow Lindbergh plus the booked by her daughter Reeve Lindbergh, Along with Some books on the kid kidnapping, I feel I have a fairly good amateur picture of what happened there. There is always more to know, of course.
ReplyDeleteI note That the author draws one of the Lindbergh ‘s Trusted servants Into the position of the person who helps the kidnapper with a “inside job “.” I wonder if That gentleman has any relatives who might Feel that this is unfair.
I don’t believe there is any evidence connecting him to the kid kidnapping.
And yet, probably someone within the house did help the kidnapper. Violet Sharpe? She killed herself under the pressure of police questioning. It’s more difficult to know that it might’ve been because Colonel Lindbergh protected the servants to some extent.
It did surprise me to learn that Charles Lindbergh Junior had been left alone In Maine with Betty Gow Because of An outbreak Of polio in New Jersey One of the true part of the story, apparently that they did not give her any money to buy him clothes, etc., and she bought them with her own money.
I don’t think there’s any reason to think that Betty was involved in the kidnapping though.
And , Charles Lindbergh? Although people continue to Wonder if the baby was still a part of his practical Joe, and then he covered it up, I think the timeline doesn’t allow for it. There wasn’t enough time for him to forge, kidnapping letters, etc.
And would he really have done that to his kid? Reeve Lindbergh doesn’t seem to have felt that her father was abusive, although he could be aggressive with them and did spank them and so on. Which I considered child abuse and I think Reeve Lindbergh does too.
It’s hard to know what happens such a long time ago. Poor little Charles Lindbergh Junior. That’s what matters and also the pain of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, which comes across in her diaries and letters.