Research Catalog

Title

Ballooning : a history, 1782-1900 / S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler.

Author

Kotar, S. L.

Publication

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., c2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Gessler, J. E.

Description

viii, 295 p. : ill.; 26 cm.

Summary

"This book chronicles not only the development and advances in hot air ballooning but provides insights into the people who developed the sport--many of whom lost their lives in the process. The book concludes at the beginning of the 20th century, when the age of the airplane rendered hot air balloons all but obsolete for nonrecreational applications"--

Subject

• Hot air balloons > History > 19th century
• Ballooning > History > 19th century

Genre/Form

History

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

1782 in the beginning: a Voador, a cock, a duck and a sheep -- 1783 monsters and aeronauts -- 1784 big ascensions -- Rowing with wings and other oddities -- A reservation for hope -- Don Quixote de la Manche --Destinies played out -- Balloons at war -- Playing catch-up -- The sad tale of Francis Barrett and the great English balloon -- The skies belong to Garnerin -- James Sadler and the real great English balloon -- The women of Aerostation -- (Mostly) magnificent balloon ascensions: 1812-1819 -- For the world is green and I have touched the sky -- Candidates for aeronautical distinction -- Mr. Harris and Miss Stocks: the journey unforeseen -- The aftermath and beyond -- The case of the pastry cook and a great tragedy -- An astonishing resurrection -- Notwithstanding, notwithstanding, notwithstanding -- Ballooning in the Americas -- The Europeans continue to make headlines -- America barnstormers and E.A. Poe's great hoax -- All balloons, great and small -- More news from the continent -- "No preventing providence" -- "A little relief from the ordinary cares of life" -- Crossing the Atlantic -- or not -- Higher than anyone has gone before -- Great plans, tragedies and a civil war -- Civilian ballooning during and after the Civil War -- Of songs, circuses and "no-goes" -- The "impossibility" of aerial navigation -- News that shocked the world -- Seekers after the philosopher's stone -- "Paddy-whacks" but "no balloon rackets!" -- Flying too high -- "A ridiculous 'flunk" -- Appendix -- Chapter notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

ISBN

• 9780786449415 (softcover : alk. paper)
• 0786449411 (softcover : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2010040878

OCLC

617425080

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library