The Little Balloonist — Linda Donn

A soaring love story set in Napoleonic France

This irresistible literary debut novel was inspired by the life of Sophie Blanchard, one of the first women to fly.

In Paris, a young widow inherits her late husband's considerable debts, as well as his celebrated hydrogen balloon. Drawn by the allure of flight despite its dangers, Sophie takes to the skies with a boldness that wins her fame throughout the country. Along with her new celebrity, Sophie wins the love of two very different men: one, her faithful childhood friend Andre Giroux, and the other a brash young Napoleon Bonaparte, soon to be emperor of France.

Beautifully written and enriched with seven historical etchings, "The Little Balloonist" distills themes of love, freedom, and loyalty into a powerful tale that brings to mind bestselling historical fiction like "Silk" by Allessandro Baricco and "I Was Amelia Earhart" by Jane Mendelsohn.