Ruth Chatterton, Actress, Aviator, Author (Paperback)

In 1912, producer Henry Miller became smitten with his young discovery Ruth Chatterton. They teamed on stage in The Rainbow (above) and, for a time, off stage as well. In 1928, Hollywood beckoned. "Talkies" needed "voices" and Chatterton's faultless English was her ticket to film stardom. Nominated for Best Actress in popular tearjerkers like Madame X and Sarah and Son, Chatterton proved equally adept in a feminist turn, Female (above). In 1936, she offered her cinematic piece de resistance as the superficial, selfish wife of Walter Huston (below) in the Academy Award nominated Dodsworth. A friend of Amelia Earhart, Ruth also earmarked her career as an aviator and sponsor of successful air derbies. By 1950, the actress/aviator became recognized as a novelist whose courageous controversial work made The New York Times best-seller list. She tackled Anti-Semitism, McCarthyism, racism, and proved adept in making a positive ripple amid society's prejudices. Ruth Chatterton - Actress, Aviator, Author is a long overdue tribute to a remarkable woman who challenged the world that surrounded her.