The Flamboyant

by Lori Marie Carlson

In the tradition of Beryl Markham's West with the Night, The Flamboyant tells the story of Lenora Demarest, a strong — willed, soft — spoken American beauty intent on becoming the first aviatrix in her adopted country of Puerto Rico. Born in 1900, on the cusp of divergent eras, Lenora epitomises the glamorous, wealthy, adventurous women of the 1920s and 1930s who balanced romantic, Victorian sensibilities with decidedly modern forays into traditionally male arenas. When an affair with a dashing aviator and friendship with the spirited Amelia Earhart awaken her passion for flying, Lenora — captivated by two cultures and loved by two men — finds herself on an exhilarating path towards independence. Set against the vibrant backdrop of colonial politics, The Flamboyant pays tribute to a woman generations ahead of her time.