Looks at the history of balloons and airships, from Archimedes' discovery of the principle of buoyancy to the present day.

The possibilities of flight have long fascinated us. Each innovation captivated a broad public, from those who gathered to witness winged medieval visionaries jumping from towers, to those who tuned in to watch the moon landings. Throughout history, the visibility of airborne objects from the ground has made for a spectacle of flight, with sizeable crowds gathering for eighteenth-century balloon launches and early twentieth-century air shows. Taking to the Air tells the history of flight through the eye of the spectator and, later, the passenger. Focusing on moments of great cultural impact, this book is a visual celebration of the wonder of flight, based on the large and diverse collection of print imagery held by the British Library. It is a study of how flight has been pictured through time.

There has always been a sense of romanticism attached to balloons, as they glide effortlessly and soundlessly in a world of their own. However, the history of balloon flight is often underestimated, as are the fascinating scientific breakthroughs that can be attributed to it.

Jerome of Stridon, was a Latin priest, confessor, theologian, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome and Doctor of the Church. He is best known for his translation of most of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate) and his commentaries on the whole Bible. Jerome was known for his teachings on Christian moral life. In many cases, he focused his attention on the lives of women and identified how a woman devoted to Jesus should live her life. Thanks to Jerome's contribution to Christianity, he is recognised as a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion. Letters The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary To Pammachius Against John of Jerusalem The Dialogue Against the Luciferians The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk The Life of St. Hilarion The Life of Paulus the First Hermit Against Jovinianus Against Vigilantius Against the Pelagians Prefaces De Viris Illustribus Apology Against Rufinus