This is a well written biography of not only Orville and Wilbur Wright, but the whole Wright family, with special focus on their father, Milton, and their sister, Katharine. It is also a history of the beginning of modern aviation, and there is discussion of other early aviators. It is written in McCullough's recongizable style and is very readable and complimentary of the brothers. I was a bit surprised when the Wright's achieved powered flight only 1/3 of the way through the book. I guess I had always read children's books about the Wrights that culminated in that achievement. But, of course, the Wrights had lives after that and continued to have challenges and victories for decades. It is amazing to realize that Orville lived until 1948 and witness the evolution of aeronautics clear to the advent of jet propulsion and the use the the Enola Gay in the bombing of Hiroshima. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I will surely recommend it to others interested in American history. (2016, 320 p.)
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