Synopsis
"Light This Candle: The Life and Times of Alan Shepard" by Neal Thompson is a comprehensive biography that chronicles the remarkable life of Alan Shepard, America’s first man in space and one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. Published in 2004, the book delves into Shepard’s journey from his small-town New Hampshire roots to his historic suborbital flight aboard Freedom 7 on May 5, 1961, and beyond, painting a vivid portrait of a complex, driven, and often polarizing figure. Thompson draws on extensive research, including interviews with Shepard’s family, friends, and colleagues, as well as archival materials, to craft a narrative that balances Shepard’s public triumphs with his private struggles, offering readers an intimate look at a man who embodied both the heroism and the flaws of the early space age.
The book begins by exploring Shepard’s early life, tracing his upbringing in East Derry, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1923 into a strict, middle-class family. His father was a stern, no-nonsense figure, and his mother instilled in him a sense of discipline and ambition. Shepard’s competitive nature emerged early, propelling him through the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1944 and began a career as a naval aviator. Thompson details Shepard’s experiences during World War II and his subsequent years as a test pilot, a period that honed his skills and cemented his reputation as a fearless, cocksure flyer. This background set the stage for his selection in 1959 as one of NASA’s first astronauts, a group handpicked to counter the Soviet Union’s lead in the space race during the Cold War.
Thompson spends considerable time on Shepard’s role in the Mercury program, capturing the intense pressure and public scrutiny the astronauts faced as national heroes. Shepard’s 15-minute flight aboard Freedom 7, which made him the first American to reach space, is a centerpiece of the narrative, described with gripping detail that conveys both the technical marvel and the personal stakes involved. However, the book doesn’t shy away from Shepard’s imperfections. Thompson portrays him as a brash, hard-drinking womanizer whose sharp wit and arrogance often alienated peers, even as his charisma and determination won him admirers. His rivalry with John Glenn, another Mercury astronaut, is a recurring theme, highlighting the internal tensions within the group.
Beyond the Mercury triumph, the biography covers Shepard’s decade-long grounding due to Ménière’s disease, an inner-ear condition that threatened to end his career. Thompson describes Shepard’s frustration during this period, as he took on a desk job at NASA while watching others fly, and his eventual return to space in 1971 as commander of Apollo 14. At age 47, Shepard became the fifth man to walk on the moon, famously hitting a golf ball on the lunar surface—a moment that encapsulated his playful yet defiant spirit. The book also explores his post-NASA years, including his ventures into business and his battle with leukemia, which claimed his life in 1998. Throughout, Thompson weaves in the broader context of the space race and American culture, showing how Shepard’s life intersected with a transformative era.
Ultimately, "Light This Candle" is not just a tale of space exploration but a character study of a man who defied odds, courted controversy, and left an indelible mark on history. Thompson’s engaging prose and meticulous attention to detail bring Shepard to life, revealing the grit, humor, and vulnerability beneath his steely exterior. The biography stands as both a tribute to Shepard’s achievements and a candid examination of the personal costs of his ambition, making it a compelling read for those interested in space history or the human stories behind America’s cosmic pioneers.