Simon Baker
Head in the Clouds
MacDonald Harris is the pseudonym of Donald Heiney (1921–93), an American professor of literature whose passions for Arctic exploration, sailing and music all feature in The Balloonist, the most highly regarded of his sixteen novels, which was first published in 1976 and which has now been reissued. ‘Highly regarded’ is perhaps misleading, however, since these days his work is seldom read, although one notable admirer is Philip Pullman, who writes the foreword of the reissued book. He attributes Harris’s obscurity to the public’s fondness for writers who stay within a certain niche, which was not Harris’s way: ‘To his publishers, it must have seemed as if he was trying to start a fresh career with each new book.’
The novel, set in 1897, concerns an attempt to fly to the North Pole and back by balloon, which is undertaken by three men: a Swedish scientist named Major Gustav Crispin, and his assistants – an ebullient American journalist named Waldemer, and Theodor, a young adventurer with a twist. Gustav,
Sign Up to our newsletter
Receive free articles, highlights from the archive, news, details of prizes, and much more.@Lit_Review
Follow Literary Review on Twitter
Twitter Feed
‘Even setting to one side the historically neuralgic relationship with ... Ireland, Britain’s insular periphery has from at least the time of the Romans presented difficulties for authorities wishing to centralise.’
Peter Marshall on Britain's islands.
Peter Marshall - Notes from the Atlantic Archipelago
Peter Marshall: Notes from the Atlantic Archipelago - The Britannias: An Island Quest by Alice Albinia
literaryreview.co.uk
Offer ends soon! Take advantage of our best ever Black Friday offer and get a year's subscription for £29.99.
https://www.mymagazinesub.co.uk/literary-review/promo/blackfriday/
Our best ever Black Friday discount!
Offer ends on Monday.