Falling Upwards by Richard Holmes Summary

Falling Upwards chronicles the daring exploits of 18th-19th century balloon pioneers, blending history, science, and biography. Richard Holmes explores how figures like Sophie Blanchard and James Glaisher risked their lives to advance aeronautics, while tracing balloons’ roles in military reconnaissance, scientific discovery, and literary inspiration. The book illuminates humanity’s quest to conquer the skies and its cultural ripple effects.

History buffs, science enthusiasts, and fans of narrative nonfiction will enjoy this book. It appeals to readers interested in adventure, innovation, and the Romantic era’s interplay between technology and imagination. Holmes’ vivid storytelling also caters to those who appreciate biographies of overlooked trailblazers.

Yes—it was named a top 2013 nonfiction book by Time, Kirkus, and The New Republic. Holmes’ meticulous research and gripping accounts of ballooning’s risks and triumphs offer both educational depth and page-turning drama, making it a standout in science-history crossover literature.

Key themes include human ambition’s duality (vision vs. recklessness), the Romantic era’s scientific curiosity, and balloons as symbols of freedom. Holmes also examines how flight reshaped art, warfare, and environmental awareness, notably through James Glaisher’s meteorology breakthroughs.

Holmes weaves archival precision with novelistic flair, profiling eccentric aeronauts like John Wise and Eugène Godard. He interlaces technical details (e.g., gas mixtures) with literary reflections, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s balloon-inspired fiction, creating a multidimensional narrative.

Pioneers include Sophie Blanchard (Napoleon’s official aeronaut), James Glaisher (record-breaking meteorologist), and Félix Nadar (photographer-turned-balloonist). Lesser-known figures like Salomon Andrée, who died attempting a polar balloon expedition, highlight the era’s high-stakes ambition.

Balloons aided Union forces during the Civil War for reconnaissance and facilitated the 1870-71 Paris airlift—the first civilian evacuation by air. Holmes also details their use in early atmospheric research, like Glaisher’s hypoxia-inducing ascent to 37,000 feet.

The book analyzes Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein metaphors, Poe’s hoax story The Balloon-Hoax, and Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon. Holmes argues these works transformed balloons into symbols of human aspiration and existential vulnerability.

Some readers may find its dense historical tangents overwhelming. While praised for lyrical prose, the book’s scope—spanning science, war, and art—could challenge those seeking a linear narrative.

Both books explore Romantic-era science, but Falling Upwards narrows its lens to aeronautics, offering deeper character studies. While The Age of Wonder surveys broader discoveries, this sequel emphasizes risk-taking and technological spectacle.

The book underscores perseverance in innovation and the ethical dilemmas of progress. Balloonists’ triumphs and failures mirror today’s tech debates, illustrating how curiosity drives societal change despite inherent dangers.

Yes—24 pages of color illustrations and black-and-white archival images enhance the narrative. These include Nadar’s photographs, period engravings of aerial battles, and diagrams of balloon mechanisms.