Powder Puff Derby

Mike Walker is a highly experienced script--writer of drama and documentary for radio and television. He has won several awards for plays and adaptations. He has also written novels and non--fiction, and teaches creative writing at Morley College London. His recent work includes an adaptation of The Old Curiosity Shop for Radio 4 and The Dark House, an interactive Drama for BBCi.

The Dames in Planes. Introduction and acknowledgements. Maps. 1. Clover Field (The Powder Puff Derby of 1929). 2. Print the legend (Florence 'Pancho' Barnes). 3. Bicycle dreams. Aerial nymphs and parachute artistes: Elisabeth Thible and Dolly Shepherd. Early birds: Elise de Laroche, Katherine Stinson, Hilda Hewlett, Harriet Quimby, Melli Beese and Eugenie Shakhovskaya. 4. Death of an unknownwoman (Lady Mary Heath). 5. Evelyn bobs her hair (Bobbi Trout). 6. 'They say I shot a man and killed him' (Jessie 'Chubbie' Miller). 7. Degrees of di?culty (Bessie Coleman and Hanna Reitsch). 8. Always stand on the right (Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson). Sources for each chapter. Select bibliography.