Explorations Read-Aloud: “War Within and Without” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Every Friday, at 11:00 am, on the library’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, the library will stream a brand new recording of local thespian, Joseph Coté reading aloud selections from a wide variety of fascinating and entertaining books of fiction and non-fiction.

For June 13, Coté will read aloud from Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s book War Within and Without: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1939-1944.

Summary:  This fifth and last volume of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s diaries and letters records the Lindbergh’s lives during the years of World War II beginning with their return to America from France in 1939.

The emphasis of War Within and Without is World War II and in particular the not so obvious private war the Lindbergh family wages with public opinion concerning Charles’s views of Germany and the U.S involvement in the war.

After spending nearly three years in England and France, the family returns to America where controversy over the political views of her husband continues to be criticized. All of this worries Anne considerably as Charles is particularly vocal on the subject.

In view of the war, Anne describes this last book as “coming full circle”. World War I was raging when she was just seven years old. Underlying Anne’s very public life is the home life she struggled to keep private.

Charles is “away” a great deal and Anne must entertain guests such as Antoine de Saint-Exupery on her own. She alludes to the questioning of what makes a good marriage leading one to believe there are hints of trouble in the marriage.

Anne does her best to convince both herself and the reader that all is and will continue to be fine. All the while she is crumbling under the pressure of being a good mother, writer, housekeeper, member of society, and of course, wife.

Click the links to find the library’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.

Thoughts to share? Book ideas to suggest?
Contact Joseph at friday-explorations@usa.net