What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wright Brothers: A Biography
In this fascinating, highly readable biography, Fred C. Kelly, a former newspaperman, author, and an old friend of the Wrights, tells the story of the two brilliant, dedicated, flight-obsessed bicycle mechanics from Ohio who first realized mankind's age-old dream of conquering the skies. Long considered the definitive Wright biography (the manuscript was read and approved by Orville Wright), this book recounts the Wrights' small-town boyhood, their early interest in all things mechanical, the establishment of the Wright Cycle Shop, and the complete behind-the-scenes story of how they designed, built, tested, and flew (December 1903) the first "Flyer."
Enhanced with sixteen rare photographs, Mr. Kelly's engaging account avoids minute technical description, yet describes simply and clearly the technological innovations that enabled the two brothers to succeed where so many others had failed. Anyone interested in the mechanics of flight or early aviation will find this volume a splendid introduction to the Wright brothers and their epochal achievement.
Enhanced with sixteen rare photographs, Mr. Kelly's engaging account avoids minute technical description, yet describes simply and clearly the technological innovations that enabled the two brothers to succeed where so many others had failed. Anyone interested in the mechanics of flight or early aviation will find this volume a splendid introduction to the Wright brothers and their epochal achievement.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 1969
18 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Fred C. Kelly
35 books1 followerFred C. Kelly studied at the University of Michigan (1900–1902). He began his newspaper career in 1896 as a local correspondent for a small town newspaper and wrote a humor column for The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) for five years. His "Statesmen, Real and Near" column (1910–1918) was the first Washington, D.C. news column to be syndicated. During World War I, Kelly served briefly as special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
After the war Kelly bought and operated a farm in Peninsula, Ohio where he continued to support himself as a free-lance writer. In addition to his journalistic work, he was the official biographer of the Wright brothers, and worked to bring the original 1903 Wright Flyer home to the U.S. from the Science Museum in London, to which Orville Wright lent it during his long feud with the Smithsonian Institution over credit for the first flight.
After the war Kelly bought and operated a farm in Peninsula, Ohio where he continued to support himself as a free-lance writer. In addition to his journalistic work, he was the official biographer of the Wright brothers, and worked to bring the original 1903 Wright Flyer home to the U.S. from the Science Museum in London, to which Orville Wright lent it during his long feud with the Smithsonian Institution over credit for the first flight.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 6, 2016
Had to read this after the McCullough book. I wanted to read someone who knew the brothers and wrote contemporaneously. The McCullough book seemed a little superficial to me, and the Kelly book a little fawning. But overall the topic captured me. Neither brother ever married or even left home. They were best friends, driving each other to innovate in their tiny Ohio bicycle shop. I would have read their story even if they didn’t invent anything. Both men were brilliant, inquisitive and mechanically inclined. Neither went to college. They cared little for money. They challenged each other: “It may be noted that this habit the brothers had of arguing technical points was one of the reasons why they were able to accomplish all they final did in a relatively short time.”
They decided to try flying in 1898, boldly sent away to the Smithsonian for suggestions, and then went to work. They flew at Kitty Hawk because the wind was right. Within five years they were flying more than ten miles at a time, and no one else could fly at all! Beyond their self-taught physics and calculus, they spent hours and days studying birds. What a concept. America ignored the brothers at first, so they went to Europe and became a flying sensation in 1907-09. Then Wilbur made his famous flight around the Statue of Liberty and America discovered them. Poignantly, they flew together for the first and last time in 1910, and Wilbur died in 1912. Orville lived to see rockets break the sound barrier and jet propelled planes before he died in 1947. Most of the later years were spent in patent fights, and they wrote: “When we think what we might have accomplished if we had been able to devote this time to experiments, we feel very sad, but it is always easier to deal with things than men…” Always. They both claimed their greatest privilege was a childhood full of inquiry: “It isn’t true to say we had no special advantages. The greatest thing in our favor was growing up in a family where there was always much encouragement to intellectual curiosity.”
They decided to try flying in 1898, boldly sent away to the Smithsonian for suggestions, and then went to work. They flew at Kitty Hawk because the wind was right. Within five years they were flying more than ten miles at a time, and no one else could fly at all! Beyond their self-taught physics and calculus, they spent hours and days studying birds. What a concept. America ignored the brothers at first, so they went to Europe and became a flying sensation in 1907-09. Then Wilbur made his famous flight around the Statue of Liberty and America discovered them. Poignantly, they flew together for the first and last time in 1910, and Wilbur died in 1912. Orville lived to see rockets break the sound barrier and jet propelled planes before he died in 1947. Most of the later years were spent in patent fights, and they wrote: “When we think what we might have accomplished if we had been able to devote this time to experiments, we feel very sad, but it is always easier to deal with things than men…” Always. They both claimed their greatest privilege was a childhood full of inquiry: “It isn’t true to say we had no special advantages. The greatest thing in our favor was growing up in a family where there was always much encouragement to intellectual curiosity.”
December 31, 2015
As a contemporary of the Brothers Wright, Fred C. Kelly wrote the only authorized biography of the Wright Brothers. Originally published in 1943, the final manuscript earned the blessing of Orville Wright.
Kelly brings the sensibilities of a newspaperman in the first half of the 20th century. As a writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and other publications, he covered the exploits of the Wrights. He was also involved in brokering the return of the 1903 Wright Flyer to the Smithsonian in 1949, after it spent decades in a London museum while the Wrights fueled with the Smithsonian over their place in history.
Kelly writes int he clipped style of a reporter, but the value of his firsthand accounts, and the priceless availability of fact-checking by Orville means I'm quite confident this version is the real deal.
Kelly brings the sensibilities of a newspaperman in the first half of the 20th century. As a writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and other publications, he covered the exploits of the Wrights. He was also involved in brokering the return of the 1903 Wright Flyer to the Smithsonian in 1949, after it spent decades in a London museum while the Wrights fueled with the Smithsonian over their place in history.
Kelly writes int he clipped style of a reporter, but the value of his firsthand accounts, and the priceless availability of fact-checking by Orville means I'm quite confident this version is the real deal.
January 25, 2021
This biography of Wilbur and Orville Wright focuses almost entirely on the creation of the first heavier than air flying machine and the brothers' aviation career afterward. The books starts with a brief overview of their childhood and how they started their bicycle shop as a natural result of their interest in mechanical things. They were also fascinated by the idea of flying and built many kites and gliders. Their interest quickly turned to the problem of building an engine-powered plane that could sustain flight for long periods. The brothers flew for the first time in 1903 on the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
As their success grew, their fame did not. A lot of newspapers were either skeptical or scoffed at the idea that a machine heavier than air could fly. Many scientists shared (or perhaps inspired) those doubts. The Wrights were not particularly secretive about the project nor did they do much to promote themselves in the early years. At the time, Kitty Hawk was only accessible by boat from the mainland. They chose the area for the windy and generally flat conditions. As they improved their flyer, the Wrights were able to fly just about anywhere with a large enough field for takeoff. They moved their base of operations back to Ohio. By this point, Europeans had more interest and belief than Americans (though the European press was also skeptical), so the brothers toured the continent, demonstrating their plane to the rich, the royal, and the regular folk too. They returned to America where they had exhibitions for crowds and a demonstration for the American government, which finally became interested in the potential uses (mostly military) of airplanes.
The book describes the scientific problems that the Wrights faced as they developed better and better planes. They had not gone to college, so they did most of their work on their own. They developed a wind tunnel to test out various wing shapes and angles. They initially built their own engines, needing to meet the weight and power specifications. Occasionally the book got into more detail than I was interested in but those were short passages. I chuckled a bit at the constant "this flight was a new world record" lines written in the book.
The Wrights filed lots of patents and eventually had to spend a lot of time fighting patent infringers. The book ends with a chapter on the controversy between the Wrights and the Smithsonian Institution. In 1914, one of the patent infringers took an earlier failed flying machine from the Smithsonian, made some modifications, and showed that it could fly. The reporting by the Institution glossed over the significance of the modifications and implied that someone else invented the first heavier than air flying machine. The controversy continued into the 1940s when a new head of the Smithsonian worked with Orville on the clarification and retraction.
The book is a quick and inspiring read. The brothers are interesting, unassuming people who worked hard at their passion. Their success changed the world. The focus is just on the invention of flying, so there is more to their lives that's not covered. Even so, this book is very good reading.
Highly recommended.
As their success grew, their fame did not. A lot of newspapers were either skeptical or scoffed at the idea that a machine heavier than air could fly. Many scientists shared (or perhaps inspired) those doubts. The Wrights were not particularly secretive about the project nor did they do much to promote themselves in the early years. At the time, Kitty Hawk was only accessible by boat from the mainland. They chose the area for the windy and generally flat conditions. As they improved their flyer, the Wrights were able to fly just about anywhere with a large enough field for takeoff. They moved their base of operations back to Ohio. By this point, Europeans had more interest and belief than Americans (though the European press was also skeptical), so the brothers toured the continent, demonstrating their plane to the rich, the royal, and the regular folk too. They returned to America where they had exhibitions for crowds and a demonstration for the American government, which finally became interested in the potential uses (mostly military) of airplanes.
The book describes the scientific problems that the Wrights faced as they developed better and better planes. They had not gone to college, so they did most of their work on their own. They developed a wind tunnel to test out various wing shapes and angles. They initially built their own engines, needing to meet the weight and power specifications. Occasionally the book got into more detail than I was interested in but those were short passages. I chuckled a bit at the constant "this flight was a new world record" lines written in the book.
The Wrights filed lots of patents and eventually had to spend a lot of time fighting patent infringers. The book ends with a chapter on the controversy between the Wrights and the Smithsonian Institution. In 1914, one of the patent infringers took an earlier failed flying machine from the Smithsonian, made some modifications, and showed that it could fly. The reporting by the Institution glossed over the significance of the modifications and implied that someone else invented the first heavier than air flying machine. The controversy continued into the 1940s when a new head of the Smithsonian worked with Orville on the clarification and retraction.
The book is a quick and inspiring read. The brothers are interesting, unassuming people who worked hard at their passion. Their success changed the world. The focus is just on the invention of flying, so there is more to their lives that's not covered. Even so, this book is very good reading.
Highly recommended.
September 23, 2024
This work was authorized by Orville Wright, and the author was a contemporary of the Wright brothers. It was readable and easy to understand for a layman who is new to learning about this tale of the first human flight.
The author tells the story of the Wright brothers with humor and detail, without the latter becoming too scientific. We learn about the brothers as children, and their entrepreneurial spirit. Orville in particular orchestrated a successful circus and ran a local newspaper as a boy, with Wilbur helping at times. The author goes over the brothers’ work at their bicycle shop, and about Wilbur’s belief that the automobile wouldn’t take off and human flight would be the next big thing in transportation.
What I found most interesting is how poorly the Wrights were treated, in a variety of ways. At first, many brushed off their accomplishments. Newspapers accused them of lying, the US army refused to meet with them in order to buy a plane for their use, and they met with much disrespect even after their feats were acknowledged by virtually everyone.
The Wrights were steadfast. One of the things I admired was how patriotic they remained throughout. When their own country’s military wouldn’t take interest in their creation, but other countries did, they always made their contracts with the understanding that they would be allowed to deal with the US military when and if the latter showed interest in their invention. They also agreed to give the US army a much better price than they did for foreign governments. It’s clear they wanted to add to their country’s prosperity.
One of the author’s passions was getting the original Wright plane back to the US. The reason it wasn’t in the country was due to the elitism of the Smithsonian. Its leadership refused to acknowledge that the Wrights were the first in human flight, going so far as to publish lies that one of their secretaries was actually the first to fly. The secretary himself had died before these lies were told, but his successor felt lying in order to elevate the former’s legacy was necessary.
Orville felt that in order to correct the record, the only way forward was to deny America this piece of history, and so sent the Kitty Hawk plane to the Science Museum in London. This worked, and eventually a new secretary showed interest in bringing it to the Smithsonian. He agreed to correct the record to the members of the institute as well as the interested public, and Orville in turn agreed to return the plane to America.
I found the book to be a little Orville focused, which somewhat makes sense because he was alive at the writing and Wilbur was not. On the other hand, I feel he should have been able to provide more information on Wilbur as his brother. Orville was alive at the time of publishing, so nothing is covered about the end of his life. Regardless, it was a fascinating look at the lives of these two brothers!
The author tells the story of the Wright brothers with humor and detail, without the latter becoming too scientific. We learn about the brothers as children, and their entrepreneurial spirit. Orville in particular orchestrated a successful circus and ran a local newspaper as a boy, with Wilbur helping at times. The author goes over the brothers’ work at their bicycle shop, and about Wilbur’s belief that the automobile wouldn’t take off and human flight would be the next big thing in transportation.
What I found most interesting is how poorly the Wrights were treated, in a variety of ways. At first, many brushed off their accomplishments. Newspapers accused them of lying, the US army refused to meet with them in order to buy a plane for their use, and they met with much disrespect even after their feats were acknowledged by virtually everyone.
The Wrights were steadfast. One of the things I admired was how patriotic they remained throughout. When their own country’s military wouldn’t take interest in their creation, but other countries did, they always made their contracts with the understanding that they would be allowed to deal with the US military when and if the latter showed interest in their invention. They also agreed to give the US army a much better price than they did for foreign governments. It’s clear they wanted to add to their country’s prosperity.
One of the author’s passions was getting the original Wright plane back to the US. The reason it wasn’t in the country was due to the elitism of the Smithsonian. Its leadership refused to acknowledge that the Wrights were the first in human flight, going so far as to publish lies that one of their secretaries was actually the first to fly. The secretary himself had died before these lies were told, but his successor felt lying in order to elevate the former’s legacy was necessary.
Orville felt that in order to correct the record, the only way forward was to deny America this piece of history, and so sent the Kitty Hawk plane to the Science Museum in London. This worked, and eventually a new secretary showed interest in bringing it to the Smithsonian. He agreed to correct the record to the members of the institute as well as the interested public, and Orville in turn agreed to return the plane to America.
I found the book to be a little Orville focused, which somewhat makes sense because he was alive at the writing and Wilbur was not. On the other hand, I feel he should have been able to provide more information on Wilbur as his brother. Orville was alive at the time of publishing, so nothing is covered about the end of his life. Regardless, it was a fascinating look at the lives of these two brothers!
October 31, 2010
Intresting story about the invention of the airplane. I would have liked a little more about the Wright brothers.
July 7, 2025
The book is a lively and fascinating account of the Wright brothers, from childhood to their eventual success in building the first man-carrying airplane. A must-read for anyone who either wants to create something themselves or hopes their children will.
I found the first half particularly interesting. The latter part felt a bit slower due to the focus on legal battles, which some readers might find less engaging. I also wish there had been more content about Orville and Wilbur's personal lives, beyond just their invention (after all, the book is titled "The Wright Brothers"). That said, the author did an excellent job of telling the story with minimal technical jargon, making it accessible to a general audience.
Here are a few of my key takeaways (mild spoilers ahead):
- The Wright parents were pretty relaxed about their children's education, even when they skipped school (as early as kindergarten) or chose not to pursue diplomas or degrees. They were allowed to follow their interests freely.
- Both genetics and home environment seem to have played a significant role. Their grandparents were technical as well, and Orville himself credited their family atmosphere as a major contributor to their success. Their kind nature (including their choice not to curse) seemed to reflect that.
- One great insight was how they were always working on something (right from the childhood), even outside of their flying research, which helped them stay financially independent and focused on their interest. This may also speak to the spirit of the era, where creativity and initiative could be turned into income more readily than today.
- True creativity and the flow of ideas often come from arguing passionately and standing your ground, even if it's with your own brother. Wright brothers frequently challenged each other's ideas, and that was one big reason of their success.
- When it comes to new inventions, even well-educated people and mainstream news outlets can be completely wrong. It's astonishing how the press initially dismissed the news of manned flight until it became impossible to ignore. The US government and many scientists of the time were equally skeptical. One can't help but draw parallels to how cutting-edge technologies (and fringe news) are treated in today's media and public discourse.
- If you're truly gifted, have a strong idea, and are willing to persevere, you can accomplish creative or even groundbreaking work.
- Obstacles, criticism, setbacks, and infringement of rights are inevitable. But if your intentions are pure, you'll not only be successful, history will give you your rightful place.
In short, if you have any creative spark in you, this biography is a must-read for inspiration. It's far better than any generic motivational nonsense out there.
I found the first half particularly interesting. The latter part felt a bit slower due to the focus on legal battles, which some readers might find less engaging. I also wish there had been more content about Orville and Wilbur's personal lives, beyond just their invention (after all, the book is titled "The Wright Brothers"). That said, the author did an excellent job of telling the story with minimal technical jargon, making it accessible to a general audience.
Here are a few of my key takeaways (mild spoilers ahead):
- The Wright parents were pretty relaxed about their children's education, even when they skipped school (as early as kindergarten) or chose not to pursue diplomas or degrees. They were allowed to follow their interests freely.
- Both genetics and home environment seem to have played a significant role. Their grandparents were technical as well, and Orville himself credited their family atmosphere as a major contributor to their success. Their kind nature (including their choice not to curse) seemed to reflect that.
- One great insight was how they were always working on something (right from the childhood), even outside of their flying research, which helped them stay financially independent and focused on their interest. This may also speak to the spirit of the era, where creativity and initiative could be turned into income more readily than today.
- True creativity and the flow of ideas often come from arguing passionately and standing your ground, even if it's with your own brother. Wright brothers frequently challenged each other's ideas, and that was one big reason of their success.
- When it comes to new inventions, even well-educated people and mainstream news outlets can be completely wrong. It's astonishing how the press initially dismissed the news of manned flight until it became impossible to ignore. The US government and many scientists of the time were equally skeptical. One can't help but draw parallels to how cutting-edge technologies (and fringe news) are treated in today's media and public discourse.
- If you're truly gifted, have a strong idea, and are willing to persevere, you can accomplish creative or even groundbreaking work.
- Obstacles, criticism, setbacks, and infringement of rights are inevitable. But if your intentions are pure, you'll not only be successful, history will give you your rightful place.
In short, if you have any creative spark in you, this biography is a must-read for inspiration. It's far better than any generic motivational nonsense out there.
January 4, 2022
I read this book to learn more about both the origins of aviation and the personal lives of the Wright Brothers, the first to achieve flight. This biography greatly assisted me in my research for a school project, however, it also deemed itself to be interesting when I recently came back to it. This book met my expectations and supplied me with essentially all of the information I needed about the Wright Brothers, as well as some entertaining stories from their childhood. I found it to be very important how the text managed to tell their story, from their upbringing. to their flight, to their post-flight success. It really gives a full scope of their story and rather than just explaining the flight, Kelly describes the entire difficult process of getting to that point. He also conveniently organized the contents of the book chronologically. I would recommend this book to essentially anyone who wants to learn more about the first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC by the Wright Brothers. The biography can be used for personal enjoyment for an educational read, or as a credible source.
September 3, 2019
Wilbur is older and he died first
The Bros were not supported by the American government
Once the airplane was accepted as a safe and viable flying machine, the Wrights spent the rest of their lives fighting patent laws and suing people who violate them
While the usual drive or impetus for invention in science is a desire for money, they guys actually cared about what they were doing. they were seriously, like, obsessed
Kittyhawk is where the first flight happened
France was significant but i can't remember how
Besides these nibbly pieces of info, the book was boring and anecdotal, but I feel like Kelly was really old when he wrote it (with the help of Orville).
The Bros were not supported by the American government
Once the airplane was accepted as a safe and viable flying machine, the Wrights spent the rest of their lives fighting patent laws and suing people who violate them
While the usual drive or impetus for invention in science is a desire for money, they guys actually cared about what they were doing. they were seriously, like, obsessed
Kittyhawk is where the first flight happened
France was significant but i can't remember how
Besides these nibbly pieces of info, the book was boring and anecdotal, but I feel like Kelly was really old when he wrote it (with the help of Orville).
October 30, 2021
I really enjoyed the first sections of this book describing the character and upbringing of the Wilbur and Orville Wright as well as their efforts leading up to their 1903 first flights. It is fascinating to learn of their dedication to the pursuit of flying while still managing a business in another state. The mid-late sections of the book, however, I found less interesting. These sections detail political and marketing issues in trying to sell planes to governments as well as patent lawsuits and a long fight with the Smithsonian.
December 6, 2024
It was a bit drag at the end. The author got pedantic on IP lawsuits towards the end of the story. But I understand it was due to misleading statements and false claims during his times that caused confusion over the Wright brothers' undisputable legacy of being the inventors of power-controlled heavier-than-air flying machine. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating read indeed.
June 12, 2025
The book focuses on their determined, methodical, and often dangerous journey toward powered flight, culminating in their first successful flight on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
What makes this biography especially compelling is its exploration of the Wrights’ personalities—Wilbur’s analytical mind and Orville’s mechanical genius—and how their bond and work ethic helped them overcome skepticism and failure. The book also places their achievement in the broader context of aviation history, showing how their invention sparked a revolution in transportation and human possibility.
What makes this biography especially compelling is its exploration of the Wrights’ personalities—Wilbur’s analytical mind and Orville’s mechanical genius—and how their bond and work ethic helped them overcome skepticism and failure. The book also places their achievement in the broader context of aviation history, showing how their invention sparked a revolution in transportation and human possibility.
August 5, 2020
A marvelous story of genuine creativity. The last chapter is one of the best and most intriguing.
January 1, 2023
I love reading about people in history and this did not disappoint.
December 31, 2015
This, now 70 + year old, biography of the Wright brothers is valuable because the author, newspaperman Fred Kelly, was a friend who covered the brothers for years, and was even instrumental in ending the quarrel between Orville and the Smithsonian.
It is written in the style of the journalism of the time period, but because it is the only authorized biography of the brothers, it brings a freshness and closeness that other books, like the recent David McCollough book, do not.
Because Wilbur died at a relatively young age, and this book was written towards the end of Orville's life, it does tend to focus a bit more on Orville. But the great value of this book is the vivid, almost first hand accounts of the brothers early years, and later their fight for recognition of their flight achievements.
It is written in the style of the journalism of the time period, but because it is the only authorized biography of the brothers, it brings a freshness and closeness that other books, like the recent David McCollough book, do not.
Because Wilbur died at a relatively young age, and this book was written towards the end of Orville's life, it does tend to focus a bit more on Orville. But the great value of this book is the vivid, almost first hand accounts of the brothers early years, and later their fight for recognition of their flight achievements.
August 24, 2014
The Wright brothers were brilliant engineers and designers. They solved the problems of stability and control that allowed them to develop their aircraft and engine.
Fred Kelly was a close friend, and his major source of information came from Orville. It shows. Much about Wilbur is left out. The first chapter is drudgery for me, but afterward it picks up somewhat to reveal many facts about the brothers and their efforts to prove the success of their invention. It is difficult to grasp just how much they were ignored for several years after their first flight.
This book makes a good introduction to the lives of the Wright brothers. For those whose interest lies more in the details and genius of their technical developments, it will be necessary to find an additional source.
Fred Kelly was a close friend, and his major source of information came from Orville. It shows. Much about Wilbur is left out. The first chapter is drudgery for me, but afterward it picks up somewhat to reveal many facts about the brothers and their efforts to prove the success of their invention. It is difficult to grasp just how much they were ignored for several years after their first flight.
This book makes a good introduction to the lives of the Wright brothers. For those whose interest lies more in the details and genius of their technical developments, it will be necessary to find an additional source.
September 14, 2015
this book was so cool! Its crazy to believe that these brothers changed the world forever. No matter what happened these brothers always never gave up. When the everything failed they never stopped trying. All of there hard work paid off.
May 1, 2009
I thought this was an excellant book on the beginings of avaiation.A lot of first hand information. I picked it up at the Wright Brothers Historical Site in Kitty Hawk, NC
July 22, 2012
I enjoy reading stories of people with such inventive minds like the Wright Brothers. A great read.
August 17, 2015
Loved this book, it had lots of new and good information from a news papers reports view.
February 7, 2016
A complete, official, and highly biased account by Orville.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews