Romantics and the Era of Early Flight

This book explores the significance of flight to Romantic literature, combining accounts of early balloonists with references to Romantic texts to reveal an 'aerial imagination shared by many writers in the period. It appeals to scholars and students of Romantic cultural history and early aeronautics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 263 pages
Publication date: 09 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the profound significance of flight in Romantic literature, a topic that often goes overlooked despite the coinciding era of the Romantic movement and the rise of ballooning. It sheds light on the overlooked fact that flight was not an impossibility during this period, highlighting its importance to Romantic authors, particularly English Romantic poets. Through a meticulous blend of accounts of early balloonists' exploits and experiences, coupled with references to Romantic texts, the book explores how ballooning lore illuminates a diverse range of Romantic writings. The balloonists are portrayed not merely as sources of new metaphors for these writers but as fellow explorers engaged in imaginative endeavors akin to their literary creations. The book unveils an "aerial imagination shared by a significant number of writers in the Romantic period," tracing its roots back to the balloon adventures of the 1780s and the subsequent two decades. This captivating work appeals to scholars and students of Romantic cultural history, as well as those with an interest in Romantic poetry and the history of early aeronautics.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 216 x 154 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031187711
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022