Culture

Up in the Air

Author Richard Holmes shares stories of the exhibitionists, scientists, and escapists who make up the history of ballooning.

March 3, 2015

Up in the Air: Richard Holmes on the History of Ballooning

Richard Holmes speaks about the highs and lows of ballooning in his latest book, Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air.

Mariel Carr

In his new book, Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air, Richard Holmes approaches the history of ballooning as a biographer would—focusing on the balloonists themselves. He uncovers stories of the personalities drawn to ballooning—the exhibitionists, the scientists, the escapists. He recounts an array of human stories he's uncovered in balloon history.