PROFESSOR THADDEUS LOWE
BOOKS WITH OR ABOUT THADDEUS LOWE
The Balloonist - 2007
by Stephen Poleskie
(Steve & Patrice Demory Collection)
Jacket Cover Narrative
Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt Lowe was called by Carl Sandburg "the most shot-at man of the Civil War." A flamboyant showman, dedicated scientist, and starry-eyed dreamer, Lowe, soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, went to the federal government with a view to convincing the authorities in the use of balloons for observation purposes. He eventually was made chief of the aeronautic department and rendered valuable service to the Army of the Potomac during the war. Hovering over the battlefield, observing the action from his hot-air balloon, Lowe is considered by many to be the founder of the U.S. Air Force. Besides aeronautics, Lowe made contributions in the fields of meteorology, cartography, military science, aerial photography, metallurgy, and railroading.
This historical novel is the story of Lowe's struggle, trials and tribulations, and perseveration in promoting the interest of science. With a fast-paced plot, crisp dialogue, and strongly developed characters, Stephen Poleskie has aptly captured Lowe's life and achievements in this highly readable book.
Jacket Cover Narrative
"This first full-scale biography of Thaddeus Lowe (1832-1913) makes fascinating reading for aviation buffs and students of nineteenth-century eccentricity. Lowe is best known for organizing the Civil War Army of the Potomac's Balloon Corps, though it was disbanded because of losing high-ranking support, bureaucratic infighting, and, to some extent, the technological maturity of balloons. Lowe was a stage magician before the war and after it worked seriously in such fields as mountain railroading and the extraction of hydrogen from water. His career suggests a failed Thomas Edison. Endlessly fertile in invention, he lacked an organization to support the development of his ideas and winnow the viable ones from the rest. He never abandoned balloons, however, and left a definite legacy in the person of his granddaughter, aviatrix Pancho Barnes."
LINKS TO OTHER THADDEUS LOWE WEBSITES