Falling Upwards

Book summary

Richard Holmes is a prize-winning author, best known for his nonfiction book The Age of Wonder, which details scientific development at the end of the eighteenth century. He has also written numerous celebrated biographies, including a life of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Ballooning, once a symbol of daring exploration, evolved from a risky and eccentric pursuit to a nostalgic pastime. From Father Adelir’s tragic charity flight in 2008 to Major John Money’s 19th-century survival at sea, ballooning has always carried an element of danger. Its romantic allure flourished in the Victorian era, offering scenic escapes despite highlighting societal divides. Ingenious uses, like East Germans escaping the Iron Curtain or Parisians defying Prussian sieges, showcased its potential for freedom and resilience. Figures like Sophie Blanchard elevated ballooning to an art form, while military applications revealed its limitations. Ultimately, the rise of powered flight overshadowed balloons, relegating them to a niche hobby, yet their legacy endures as a testament to humanity’s early dreams of conquering the skies.

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