Man Flies

Tells how wealthy Brazilian heir Santos-Dumont (1873-1932) came of age in Paris determined to live out the novels of Jules Verne by developing human flight. Describes how his airships gradually improved so that he was counted brilliant as well as dashing in the world's capitals until he learned that the Wright brothers had been there first with the most. Includes many old photographs, a chronology, and a glossary without pronunciation. No index. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Compact, written in short paragraphs and spare sentences, this brief volume tells the story of the Brazilian-born balloonist and aviator who during the first decade of the century was believed to be, and widely celebrated as, the first man to fly. It amounts to a gesture of poignant archeology as Nancy Winters excavates a human story that has been buried by the irrevocable advance of history. -- A Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of 1998; Los Angeles Times Book Review, Michael Frank, 20 December 1998

Her book is gracefully told and stylishly published in a small, Art Deco edition. Winters scatters the tale with interesting anecdotes and wonderful photos. With an appeal across the board, this is a flying success. -- Christian Science Monitor, 10 September 1998

The way-cool alternative to Scott Berg's best-selling "Lindbergh" is Nancy Winters's "Man Flies," the story of fin de siecle dandy Alberto Santos-Dumont--the first Cartier wristwatch was designed for him--who grew up on Jules Verne, motorized a balloon and cruised the Paris skies. -- Newsweek, 14 December 1998