Passion

Book. “Adventurers of the sky”

For her first book, the author Katell Faria crafts a narrative portrait of the six women pioneers who made contributions to the legend of aviation from the beginning. Exploits, disappointments, triumphs... All aspects of their lives are examined.

For her first book, the author Katell Faria crafts a narrative portrait of the six women pioneers who made contributions to the legend of aviation from the beginning. Exploits, disappointments, triumphs… All aspects of their lives are examined.

Beryl Markham, Adrienne Bolland, Hélène Boucher, Maryse Hilsz, Bessie Coleman, Maryse Bastié: six heroines, four of whom are French. This publication dedicates 50 pages to each woman! Their aviation, personal, and love lives… Except for Hélène Boucher perhaps, these female aviators are “to be discovered” as they have fallen out of the collective memory by and large. “Unfortunately, ‘discover’ is the right word because we have completely forgotten about these women… It’s quite cruel because so many of them achieved extraordinary things”, lamented the author during an interview in the summer of 2021 for the book release.

On the dashboard of their achievements, we find: Beryl Markham (1902-1986), the first woman to have crossed the Atlantic from east to west after an epic flight on board a Percival Vega Gull; Adrienne Bolland (1895-1975), who was the first to cross the Andes by air (at the controls of a Caudron); the legendary Hélène Boucher (1908-1934), known for her countless speed records; Maryse Hilsz (1901-1946), the woman behind several records – including one between Istres and the town of Port-Saint-Étienne in Mauritania at the controls of Caudron Simoun – she was also active in the French resistance; Bessie Coleman (1892-1926), the first black female aviator in the world who had to do her training in France due to segregation in the United States; and finally Maryse Bastié (1898-1952), who set a distance record between Paris and the former USSR and served in the French Armed Forces during World War II.

All in all, six legends forgotten – or almost – and to whom tribute should be paid. With “Adventures of the Sky”, we can safely confirm that this has been accomplished!

Book. “Les Aventurières du ciel” Author, Katell Faria. Éditions Points Aventure. EAN: 9782757889879