From the writer who 'couldn't produce a poor paragraph if she tried'
[New Zealand Herald], The Infinite Air tells the story of the rise
and fall of 'the Garbo of the skies'.
'A gripping historical read' Woman's Own
Jean Batten became an international icon in 1930s. A brave, beautiful
woman, she made a number of heroic solo flights across the world. The
newspapers couldn't get enough of her. In 1934, she broke Amy Johnson's
flight time between England and Australia by six days. The following
year, she was the first woman to make the return flight. In 1936, she
made the first ever direct flight between England and New Zealand and
then the fastest ever trans-Tasman flight. Jean Batten stood for
adventure, daring, exploration and glamour. The Second World War ended
Jean's flying adventures. She suddenly slipped out of view, disappearing
to the Caribbean with her mother and eventually dying in Majorca, buried
in a pauper's grave. Fiona Kidman's enthralling novel delves into the
life of this enigmatic woman. It is a fascinating exploration of early
aviation, of fame, and of secrecy.