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The Shooting Star of Paris

By Michael Webster

The Shooting Star of Paris

By Michael Webster

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Description
In the shadow of the Napoleonic Empire, a woman who trembled at the sound of a carriage wheel found her only sanctuary thousands of feet above the earth. The Shooting Star of Paris tells the extraordinary true story of Sophie Blanchard, the first professional female aeronaut and a pioneer who dared to claim the heavens as her own. Born into a modest maritime village and plagued by a debilitating shyness, Sophie discovered a preternatural calm the moment her feet left the ground, becoming a global sensation in an age defined by revolutionary wonder and scientific peril. From the glittering festivals of Paris to the high-altitude storms of the Alps, Sophie navigated a world of volatile hydrogen and fragile silk. As the Official Aeronaut of the Festivals, she transformed the sky into a theater of light, launching brilliant pyrotechnics from her small wicker basket to the awe of millions. Yet, behind the spectacle of the Petit Ballonnier lay a life of profound sacrifice, financial struggle, and the constant threat of a fiery end. This biography reconstructs the arc of her brilliant career, exploring the technical innovations, the political shifts of a changing France, and the internal reflections of a woman who chose to live her life among the clouds. The Shooting Star of Paris is more than a history of early flight; it is a testament to the courage required to transcend one's own limitations. Sophie Blanchard was a trailblazer for women in exploration, a scientist of the atmosphere, and a romantic icon whose final, tragic ascent at the Tivoli Gardens in 1819 forever changed the course of aviation. Discover the legend of the woman who conquered her fears by making the infinite sky her home. Approx. 150 pages, 37100 word count
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Number of Pages:
170
Release Date:
2026-02-11
Publication Date:
2026-02-11
Publisher:
Michael Webster
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN13:
9798233053573
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
223 g
Height:
140 cm
Width:
216 cm
Thickness:
9 cm
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