The Wright Brothers

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright. On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two unknown brothers from Ohio changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe what had happened: the age of flight had begun, with the first heavier-than-air, powered machine carrying a pilot. Who were these men and how was it that they achieved what they did? David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, tells the surprising, profoundly American story of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Far more than a couple of unschooled Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, they were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity, much of which they attributed to their upbringing. The house they lived in had no electricity or indoor plumbing, but there were books aplenty, supplied mainly by their preacher father, and they never stopped reading. When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education, little money and no contacts in high places, never stopped them in their “mission” to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off in one of their contrivances, they risked being killed. In this thrilling book, master historian David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers, including private diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks, and more than a thousand letters from private family correspondence to tell the human side of the Wright Brothers’ story, including the little-known contributions of their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them. On A Winter Day In 1903, In The Outer Banks Of North Carolina, Two Unknown Brothers From Ohio Changed History. But It Would Take The World Some Time To Believe What Had Happened: The Age Of Flight Had Begun, With The First Heavier-than-air, Powered Machine Carrying A Pilot. Who Were These Men And How Was It That They Achieved What They Did? Far More Than A Couple Of Unschooled Dayton Bicycle Mechanics Who Happened To Hit On Success, They Were Men Of Exceptional Courage And Determination, And Of Far-ranging Intellectual Interests And Ceaseless Curiosity, Much Of Which They Attributed To Their Upbringing. The House They Lived In Had No Electricity Or Indoor Plumbing, But There Were Books Aplenty, Supplied Mainly By Their Preacher Father, And They Never Stopped Reading. When They Worked Together, No Problem Seemed To Be Insurmountable. Wilbur Was Unquestionably A Genius. Orville Had Such Mechanical Ingenuity As Few Had Ever Seen. That They Had No More Than A Public High School Education, Little Money And No Contacts In High Places, Never Stopped Them In Their Mission To Take To The Air. Nothing Did, Not Even The Self-evident Reality That Every Time They Took Off In One Of Their Contrivances, They Risked Being Killed. Historian David Mccullough Draws On The Immense Riches Of The Wright Papers, Including Private Diaries, Notebooks, Scrapbooks, And More Than A Thousand Letters From Private Family Correspondence To Tell The Human Side Of The Wright Brothers' Story, Including The Little-known Contributions Of Their Sister, Katharine, Without Whom Things Might Well Have Gone Differently For Them. 1. Beginnings -- 2. The Dream Takes Hold -- 3. Where The Winds Blow -- 4. Unyielding Resolve -- 5. December 17, 1903 -- 6. Out At Huffman Prairie -- 7. A Capital Exhibit A -- 8. Triumph At Le Mans -- 9. The Crash -- 10. A Time Like No Other -- 11. Causes For Celebration -- Epilogue. David Mccullough. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 303-308) And Index. The #1 New York Times bestseller from David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize—the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly—Wilbur and Orville Wright. On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two brothers—bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio—changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe that the age of flight had begun, with the first powered machine carrying a pilot. Orville and Wilbur Wright were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity. When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education and little money never stopped them in their mission to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off, they risked being killed. In this "enjoyable, fast-paced tale" ( The Economist ), master historian David McCullough "shows as never before how two Ohio boys from a remarkable family taught the world to fly" ( The Washington Post) and "captures the marvel of what the Wrights accomplished" ( The Wall Street Journal ). He draws on the extensive Wright family papers to profile not only the brothers but their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them. Essential reading, this is "a story of timeless importance, told with uncommon empathy and fluency...about what might be the most astonishing feat mankind has ever accomplished... The Wright Brothers soars" ( The New York Times Book Review ). Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story of the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly. On a winter day in 1903, on the remote Outer Banks of North Carolina, two unknown brothers from Ohio, Wilbur and Orville Wright, changed history. The age of flight had begun with the first heavier-than-air powered machine carrying a pilot. Far more than a couple of Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, the Wright brothers were men of exceptional ability, unyielding determination, and far-ranging intellectual interest and curiosity, much of which they attributed to their upbringing. They grew up without electricity or indoor plumbing, but with books aplenty, supplied mainly by their preacher father. And they never stopped learning. Nor did their high-spirited, devoted sister, Katharine, who played a far more important role in their endeavors than has been generally understood. When the brothers worked together, no problem seemed insurmountable. Wilbur, the older of the two, was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few people had ever seen. Nothing stopped them in their "mission," not failures, not ridicule, not even the reality that every time they took off in one of their experimental contrivances, they risked being killed. In this thrilling book master historian David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers, including private diaries, notebooks, and more than a thousand letters from private family correspondence, to tell the human side of a profoundly American story. - Jacket flap. Prologue Part 1. Beginnings The dream takes hold Where the winds blow Unyielding resolve Part 2. December 17, 1903 Out at Huffman Prairie A capital exhibit A Triumph at Le Mans Part 3. The crash A time like no other Causes for celebration Epilogue Chronicles the story-behind-the-story about the Wright brothers, sharing insights into the disadvantages that challenged their lives and their mechanical ingenuity. Tells the story of the Wright brothers, who grew up reading and learning, and never let anything stop them in their pursuit of a successful flying machine