| Author: | Linda Donn | ISBN: | 9781440627354 |
| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group | Publication: | November 28, 2006 |
| Imprint: | Plume | Language: | English |
| Author: | Linda Donn |
| ISBN: | 9781440627354 |
| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication: | November 28, 2006 |
| Imprint: | Plume |
| Language: | English |
A soaring love story set in Napoleonic France
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
A soaring love story set in Napoleonic France
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
