Gertrude Bacon, one of the earliest writers in the field of aeronautics, writes the life of her father, John M Bacon. The book details his family history, his early life, and his many scientific balloon ascents until his death in December 1904, three years before the book was published. There is much in the book to interest both the aviation historian and the general reader. It is well ilustrated with contemporary photographs and has much to comend it.