THE FABULOUS FLYING MACHINES OF ALBERTO SANTOS-DUMONT

Alberto Santos-Dumont was the inventor of the first steerable flying machine, a dirigible, in the late nineteenth century. Narrator Jeff Woodman’s crisp diction and animated voice capture the ingenuity and enthusiasm of the larger-than-life Brazilian. Woodman’s inflections and lively accents maintain a sense of wonder and admiration not only for Santos-Dumont’s vision but also for his worldly and charitable nature. An author’s note at the end of the story retells the story of Santos-Dumont in more detail and addresses the controversy over who invented the first flying machine. M.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]