Earhart County: The Making Of A World War Two Wondertale

Abstract

The aim of Earhart County was to create a book which would bring the world of World War Two aviation to a mainstream audience, utilising the magic and durability of folklore to mythologize the incredible feats of Churchill’s finest generation. Whilst entertaining its audience, it aims at giving them a glimpse at the many lives and aircraft that flew during the war.

Research was conducted mainly through the study of autobiographical and biographical accounts of both famous and unknown aircrew, as well as post-war and contemporary fiction, aircraft manuals and books detailing the various aeroplanes flown throughout the war. Research was also made into the Russian wondertale and Vladimir Propp’s morphology.

The result was the novel Earhart County, a novel which was planned using the structures and devices of the wondertale whilst constantly referencing the world of aviation.