Book details

Book description

Henri Giffard has devoted all his free time and money to making a balloon with a steam engine so it can be flown anywhere, not just drift on the wind. In 1852 he sets off for Paris with just an urchin girl to help him. Tens of thousands gather to see if his marvellous machine will work. The amazing story of the first man to achieve powered flight. Terry Deary began his writing career with fiction for A&C Black. He is now author of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, which have been published in 40 languages. His historical fiction for older children Tudor Terror has been praised as "a marvellous blend of fact and fiction" (School Librarian). His non-fiction has been consistently in the best-seller lists since 1994. His Horrible Histories celebrated their 15th anniversary in 2008, having sold over 25 million copies worldwide and been adapted as television series, theatre tours and museum exhibitions. Terry Deary was voted "Outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th Century" by Books for Keeps magazine.