Lighter than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Female Pilot

Take to the skies with the beautifully told tale of Sophie Blanchard – a woman meant for the air – as she discovers the incomparable sensation of flight. Behold the story of Sophie Blanchard, an extraordinary woman who is largely forgotten despite her claim to being the very first female pilot in history. In eighteenth-century France, “balloonomania” has fiercely gripped the nation … but all of the pioneering aeronauts are men. The job of shattering that myth falls to a most unlikely figure: a shy girl from a seaside village, entirely devoted to her dream of flight. Sophie is not the first woman to ascend in a balloon, nor the first woman to accompany an aeronaut on a trip, but she will become the first woman to climb to the clouds and steer her own course. The words of Matthew Clark Smith bring Sophie’s story to light after so many years, while Matt Tavares’ atmospheric art and unique perspectives take her to new heights.

This is an affiliate website. A small portion of the proceeds from purchases made through these links go toward Literary Aviatrix at no additional cost to you.

About the Author

Author Image

Related Books

B615147A-CF60-4610-90CA-17E81AEDFE10
35E4F9DC-282E-4333-B546-C188EE9F80B7_4_5005_c
6EDE56E2-97AF-4656-A05D-2FABD67F80FF
EBD6D780-E227-4FB3-BFC1-BFFF1E0317E2
41htp9ndxoL-2
51wG1TWbiBL-8