Author(s): MacDonald Harris

General

A critical sensation when first published in 1976, The Balloonist marries an intense love story with a gripping sci-fi adventure in the style of Jules Verne. The tale follows an attempt by a Swedish Scientist, an American journalist and a French speaking adventurer to be the first to set foot on the North Pole, travelling there and back by hot air balloon. In 2006, Philip Pullman brought attention back to this classic, highlighting the immense talent of a writer who had been overlooked for years. Pullman offers an introduction to this much deserved reissue.