Stone Age Astronaut

Stone Age Astronaut: The Astonishing Adventures of America’s Forgotten Flier

In June 1927, aviator Lester Maitland made history by becoming the first person to fly to Hawaii. His achievement earned him national acclaim on par with Charles Lindbergh, whose transatlantic flight had taken place just five weeks earlier. For a brief moment, the two men shared headlines, White House invitations, and fame. But while Lindbergh’s legacy grew, Maitland’s all but vanished—until now. In Stone Age Astronaut, award-winning author Liam Callanan brings Maitland back into the spotlight, uncovering his astonishing life and accomplishments as a pilot during both peacetime and wartime, as well as his journey into near-oblivion.

Author Bio

Liam Callanan is a writer and professor. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Slate, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The San Francisco Chronicle, and he has recorded numerous essays for public radio. His novel, Paris by the Book, a national bestseller, won the Edna Ferber Prize and was translated into multiple languages. He has taught for the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Liam lives with his wife and daughters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, five blocks from where Lester Maitland grew up.