The Little Balloonist |
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|---|---|
| Authors: | Donn, Linda |
| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| BISAC/Subject: | FIC009030 |
| ISBN: | 9781440627354, Related ISBNs: 0452287731, 0525949283, 1440627355, 9780452287730, 9780525949282 |
| Classification: | Fiction |
| Number of pages: | 224, |
| Audience: | General/trade |
This irresistible literary debut novel was inspired by the life of Sophie Blanchard, one of the first women to fly.
In Paris, a young widow inherits her late husband’s considerable debts, as well as his celebrated hydrogen balloon. Drawn by the allure of flight despite its dangers, Sophie takes to the skies with a boldness that wins her fame throughout the country. Along with her new celebrity, Sophie wins the love of two very different men: one, her faithful childhood friend Andre Giroux, and the other a brash young Napoleon Bonaparte, soon to be emperor of France.
Beautifully written and enriched with seven historical etchings, The Little Balloonist distills themes of love, freedom, and loyalty into a powerful tale that brings to mind bestselling historical fiction like Silk by Allessandro Baricco and I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn. BACKCOVER: “Exquisite and beautiful . . . It will break your heart and take your breath away.”
—National Book Award–winning author Lily Tuck
“Delightful. . . . Glimpses of the history of primitive flight, tales of high romance and juicy anecdotes about Napoleon make this sweet novel soar. . . . Charming and smart—singularly high-spirited historical fiction.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Whimsical . . . as pretty and slight as its heroine.”
—Publishers Weekly
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