10. Hot Air Balloons - When Humans Learned to Fly

What was the point of science and Age of Enlightenment if it couldn't impress a few people along the way? Hundreds of thousands of people came to see the first hot air balloon flights though they were incredibly dangerous adventures that often ended in tragedy..
Drawing on stories from the wonderful book, The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes.

You can find more podcasts, stories and books from Tom Thumb on www.tomthumb.oeg
Tom Thumb is is the author of:
Hand to Mouth to India
Tales of a Road Junky
Somewhere Under the Rainbow
Science for Hippies

And also the podcasts:
Road Junky Travel Stories
Stories of Tom Thumb