Structure

For the most part, the narrative’s structure is essentially chronological. It begins with events in the mid-1920’s, and follows the lives of its central female subjects through their active flying careers, most of which ended in the mid-late 1930’s. This following of multiple lives through this particular decade or so takes up the majority of the book, with the final chapter summing up what happened for several of them in their latter decades.

This overall chronological structure is divided into three parts. Part One focuses on the experiences of its female subjects as they moved through their early lives, discovered the appeal of flying, and began to establish names and reputations for themselves as fliers. Part Two focuses on the various successes, failures, and obstacles the book’s subjects encountered as they struggled to claim their place with the American aviation industry. Part Three begins...