• Chasing Icarus

  • The Seventeen Days in 1910 That Forever Changed American Aviation
  • By: Gavin Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Sean Runnette
  • Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Chasing Icarus  By  cover art

Chasing Icarus

By: Gavin Mortimer
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In October of 1910, only four years before the outbreak of World War I, nobody knew whether planes, dirigibles, or balloons would prevail. Within a period of 17 days, this question was on prime display, as the dirigible America tried to cross the Atlantic; huge crowds gathered at horse-racing tracks to watch airplanes race around overhead; and ballooning teams from around the world took off from St. Louis in pursuit of the Bennett International Balloon Cup, given to the balloon that traveled the farthest. The dramatic denouement would stun the country and lay the foundation for the air force. In Chasing Icarus, Gavin Mortimer has plumbed original and primary sources to paint a vivid picture of the launching point of flight, and an indelible portrait of the late-Edwardian world about to explode into war.

©2009 Gavin Mortimer (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Chasing Icarus

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not bad but terrible reader

What would have made Chasing Icarus better?

Having someone read it that might have been excited about his job?

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasing Icarus?

We're not in high school.

How could the performance have been better?

Having someone read it that expresses even a hint of excitement. This book was interesting in story but the person reading it made it the most depressing book I've ever listened to.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

If you are going to charge me to listen to books you should actually get people good at reading and not people that have names. I could care less what the persons name is that reads your books, only that they do a good job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful