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The Wright Brothers: The Remarkable Story of the Aviation Pioneers Who Changed the World, Ian Mackersley
Time Warner
Reviewed by Chris Hick (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Wilbur and Orville Wright did what the overwhelming majority of their contemporaries thought was humanly impossible to do - fly.

A variety of crackpots and wealthy amateur inventors had been trying (and dying) to emulate the soaring grace and freedom of the birds since time immemorial but it was the bicycle makers from Dayton, Ohio, who scientifically and methodically elevated themselves above all others.

Ian Mackersey's book is very readable and keeps the reader engaged with his pacy, informative style. We learn lots about the whole world of aviation and the characters who were at the forefront in this golden age of invention and experimentation with manned flight.

The Wright brothers were puritanical in every aspect of their lives. They epitomised the Protestant work ethic. Obsessive about detail, their lives were ordered, restrained and unemotionally controlled. This is not surprising given the fanatical religious zeal with which their father, Milton, dominated their home life. It was their father's ongoing battles within the Brethren Church that would force Wilbur to break off his aeronautics to defend his father's reputation in the dock.

Mackersey's interest in the psychology of the family is as intriguing as the development of the flying machine. He skilfully weaves together the intimate family preoccupations of the Wright clan with Wilbur and Orville's gradual and inevitable date with destiny as the heroes of manned flight. Along the way we learn the detail of life at 7 Hawthorne St, West Dayton. In contrast, we meet the international players of the aviation world as the Wright brothers become THE people to know. We enjoy their fame and relative fortune as the Wright flying machine is released to the world. We share the disappointment and the frustrations as the brothers try to sell and protect their incredible, world-changing invention.

The Wrights' era has been seen as one in which there was a romance to invention. This may or may not be true. However, despite their impeccable, moral values, the Wrights were to find out (almost naively) that there were unscrupulous and greedy individuals waiting to exploit their invention as soon as it got off the ground.