Flyover Lives

Growing up in Illinois and later living in France, Diane Johnson reflects on her American heritage by uncovering the history of her pioneer ancestors through family letters and memoirs, contrasting their complex experiences with the region’s often simplified reputation. She intertwines these historical insights with her personal journey, exploring themes of home, identity, and self-invention, and examining how family history shapes individual lives. This memoir offers both a nostalgic look at Midwestern childhood and a broader meditation on the enduring influence of family ghosts.