On October 23, Fox Searchlight Pictures will release 'Amelia', a biopic chronicling the life of Amelia Earhart played by two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, and co-starring Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor. DaCapo Press, to coincide with the film release, has re-released 'East to the Dawn' written by Susan Butler in 1997. This is a well researched biography of the first lady of flight that provided source material for the new movie. The Washington Post Book World calls 'East to the Dawn' the "single best book that we now have on Earhart".

Amelia Earhart was a revolutionary American figure, who first took up flying lessons against the wishes of her family. In 1928, Amelia became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. She did it again in 1932 solo. In 1935, Amelia flew from Hawaii to California, a very dangerous trip which had not been done before Amelia Earhart did it. Tragedy struck in 1937, when Amelia disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly around the world. To this day her death remains shrouded in mystery.

Author Susan Butler spent a decade digging through Earhart's letters, journals, diaries and interviewed many friends and relatives. Not only is her amazing aviation career revealed but also Amelia's personal life. Her early years as a social worker and nurse are explored, along with her heavily publicized marriage to publisher George Putnam and her secret affair with Gene Vidal, head of the Bureau of Air Commerce.

Amelia Earhart was a remarkable woman who found a special kinship with the American people. She was also a successful businesswoman, a rarity in her day and age. Amelia made her living on the lecture circuit, and was vice-president of the airline that became Northeast Airlines.

There is an old English expression: all things are sweetened by risk. Amelia Earhart certainly lived this way. She was also a feminist who appealed to men as well as women. Amelia was also a romantic and a dreamer and, of course, loved taking chances. Author Gore Vidal has said "of the dozen or so books (mostly wild fantasies) that I have read about Amelia Earhart, Susan Butler's is the only one which re-creates accurately that singular woman whom my father was in love with, as indeed was I, aged ten, when the lady vanished."

Do you know the song 'Amelia' by Joni Mitchell? Great tune, very spooky. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVX_9H9aoWY

The lyrics to the song Amelia are kind of long - this is the best passage:

   A Ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
   Or by the sea, like me she had a dream to fly
Like Icarus ascending
   On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm.......................

Rhythm Guitar- Joni Mitchell
Lead Guitar- Larry Carlton
Vibes- Victor Feldman

Hejira/ Joni Mitchell/1976/Asylum Records
All lyrics by Joni Mitchell- Crazy Crow Music (BMI)

East to the Dawn - The Life of Amelia Earhart
By Susan Butler
DaCapo Press/ Perseus Books

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East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart

Review by Scott Acton:
Host of My Back Pages - airs Sundays 3-4 PM Eastern Time U.S. and Things We Said Today - airs Wednesday 8-9 PM Eastern Time U.S. - airs Sundays 8-9 AM Eastern Time U.S. on 91.9 WNTI & www.wnti.org