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The Aerialists
THE AERIALISTS is a rich historical novel based on the true story of Louisa Maud Evans, a fourteen-year old girl who died during the Great Exhibition in Cardiff, 1896, and whose demise – tumbling 8,000 feet into the Bristol Channel – captured the imagination of the city.
Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When aerialists Ena and August Gaudron, believing Laura to be English, decide to rescue her, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly.
Cardiff, 1896 The Gaudrons accept an invitation to be part of the Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a show of balloon ascents and parachute descents. Late one night, a young girl, Grace Parry, knocks on the door. She is desperate to fly, whatever the cost.
As Grace’s dreams begin to take wing, can Laura be the one to keep her grounded? Histories real and invented intertwine as the novel explores the many risky ways girls are expected to perform.
Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When aerialists Ena and August Gaudron, believing Laura to be English, decide to rescue her, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly.
Cardiff, 1896 The Gaudrons accept an invitation to be part of the Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a show of balloon ascents and parachute descents. Late one night, a young girl, Grace Parry, knocks on the door. She is desperate to fly, whatever the cost.
As Grace’s dreams begin to take wing, can Laura be the one to keep her grounded? Histories real and invented intertwine as the novel explores the many risky ways girls are expected to perform.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 12, 2022
In Paris 1891, Laura is orphaned and living on the streets. She is approached by aerialists Ena and August Gaudron and they soon take her under their wing, teaching her the family business. Five years later they accept an invitation to perform at the Cardiff Exhibition, showing off feats of ballooning and parachuting. One night, a young girl named Grace knocks at the door, desperate to be part of their act. Will she get a chance to fly?
This novel is based around the true story of a girl called Louisa Maud Evans who died during the exhibition, falling 8000 feet into the Bristol Channel in 1896. I generally enjoy historical novels which are based on a true story. The mix of fact and fiction, the way an author weaves the two together to create a narrative is usually my kind of thing. Unfortunately, despite having potential, this novel never really lives up to my expectations.
The pace is just too slow, you get over half way into the book and still nothing has happened. Things pick up slightly when Grace is introduced but not quickly enough. This would be ok if the characters were interesting but sadly, none of them are. Laura is almost a bystander, a passive character who does as she’s told and nothing more. Ena is slightly more interesting as she’s a woman of science, an unusual thing to be in the 1890s. The glimpses of her feminist leanings are nice but are never really allowed to develop.
The fact that we know how Grace’s story ends takes away some of the tension and drama. We know that her flight will end in tragedy. The problem was; is that I didn’t care. We never really got to know her but what we did see, I didn’t care for.
What was interesting is the investigation into the accident and people’s responses to it. A young girl lost her life needlessly as she should never have been up in the balloon in the first place. It highlights how girls were seen as performers and replaceable ones at that.
This could have been an interesting and powerful exploration of young women’s experiences in the performing world, but instead it was a meandering and lacklustre tale which never reached the heights it promised.
This novel is based around the true story of a girl called Louisa Maud Evans who died during the exhibition, falling 8000 feet into the Bristol Channel in 1896. I generally enjoy historical novels which are based on a true story. The mix of fact and fiction, the way an author weaves the two together to create a narrative is usually my kind of thing. Unfortunately, despite having potential, this novel never really lives up to my expectations.
The pace is just too slow, you get over half way into the book and still nothing has happened. Things pick up slightly when Grace is introduced but not quickly enough. This would be ok if the characters were interesting but sadly, none of them are. Laura is almost a bystander, a passive character who does as she’s told and nothing more. Ena is slightly more interesting as she’s a woman of science, an unusual thing to be in the 1890s. The glimpses of her feminist leanings are nice but are never really allowed to develop.
The fact that we know how Grace’s story ends takes away some of the tension and drama. We know that her flight will end in tragedy. The problem was; is that I didn’t care. We never really got to know her but what we did see, I didn’t care for.
What was interesting is the investigation into the accident and people’s responses to it. A young girl lost her life needlessly as she should never have been up in the balloon in the first place. It highlights how girls were seen as performers and replaceable ones at that.
This could have been an interesting and powerful exploration of young women’s experiences in the performing world, but instead it was a meandering and lacklustre tale which never reached the heights it promised.
January 30, 2023
This is a beautifully written novel about the women involved in the early days of ballooning in Europe. It's a fascinating world and one which I didn't know much about until I read this novel, with the shifting identities of aerialists, aeronauts, acrobats, gymnasts, pilots, engineers. The story focuses on a real-life event in Cardiff, in Wales, in 1896, which is itself tragic and strange and compelling, but the larger canvas on which Katie Munnik has positioned this event is so imaginative and emotionally-rich. And amidst all this, it's a book that asks really interesting questions about what it means to write a story about real people, to write fiction at all, reflecting back on itself. I loved it.
March 19, 2022
I enjoyed this. I wasn't sure what to expect and initially wasn't really clear what it was really about. There was intrigue about the background of the characters and I was compelled to keep reading to find out more about them. Munnik paints pictures of the scenes in her words and it really drew me in. Towards the end I was kept wondering about what really happened on the fateful day. I was on edge wondering who would be blamed. There was an implication of corruption surrounding the exhibition. I finished the book with several questions unanswered but wonder whether this was the author's intention.
March 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the historical context as it was something I knew nothing about but will now stay with me for a long time. The writing managed to beautifully capture the excitement of the balloons and the daring of shows mixing fact with fiction to bring the story alive. Most of all though I loved the characters. The characters were written with so much heart and soul that I loved and cared for all of them,
September 11, 2023
Thus was an interesting read, I hunt known what expect. The book had been gifted to me and the ending was a surprise.
Beautifully written historical fiction at its best. Tales of daring and domestic intrigue. The women feature strongly the reader shares their confusion over then gentlemen in their lives.
I agree with a previous reviewer who said that this is a book you'll keep thinking about. It is
Beautifully written historical fiction at its best. Tales of daring and domestic intrigue. The women feature strongly the reader shares their confusion over then gentlemen in their lives.
I agree with a previous reviewer who said that this is a book you'll keep thinking about. It is
March 13, 2024
Really loved reading this book, the historical setting was absolutely perfect and it worked well as a stand-alone book. A good combination of a slice of life story and a dramatic plot. The first-person perspective added to the experience of observing complex relationships between people. The characters felt very realistic in their reactions and choices. The different subplots came together well and the epilogue was a nice way to wrap everything together without leaving questions.
March 9, 2023
Am intriguing tale of adventure and hope, freedom and risk; this feels like fantasy, grounded in reality; like it should be steampunk, but is the truth on which steampunk is embroidered. Gentle, loving, honest and harsh, there is a quiet beauty to this book.
August 6, 2025
Reignited my love for hot air balloons.
March 11, 2022
It's always good to read a historical novel that is based on a real event.
Once again I'd never heard of this one.
The build up to the event was at times slow, but it gathered momentum as we drew nearer, and there was an almost ticking clock like quality to the event in my head.
Some solid characters, that I liked, and hoped for the best for, which always helps the story along.
Enjoyable.
Once again I'd never heard of this one.
The build up to the event was at times slow, but it gathered momentum as we drew nearer, and there was an almost ticking clock like quality to the event in my head.
Some solid characters, that I liked, and hoped for the best for, which always helps the story along.
Enjoyable.
March 20, 2023
A novel based on a true historical event in the 19 century. Made even more enjoyable by knowing that the author researched and wrote it in the most beautiful of libraries fairly local to me and a place I sometimes visit, the Gladstone library.
If I’m ever in Cardiff I will be sure to visit the grave stone of Louisa
If I’m ever in Cardiff I will be sure to visit the grave stone of Louisa
April 4, 2022
Set at the turn of the twentieth century Laura is an American girl living on the streets of Paris, who is taken in by Ena and August Gaudron. Being aerialists, they introduce her to the world of ballooning and adventure.
Living in Bristol, home to many a hot air balloon, I was excited to read this book. The saying 'all that glitters isn't gold" comes to mind as it showed us a glimpse into the not so glamorous life of hot air balloon maintenance. While it was interesting to read about this particular time period, I found the pace a bit too slow for me. While Laura's story started interesting enough, but her journey with the Gaudrons left more to be desired and her character development was slow. I found myself drifting alot while reading and struggling in the middle.
The book is based on a true event, which I won't say to avoid spoilers, but it seemed a round about way to tell the story. It did leave me interested to learn more about the event which I researched afterwards. I do understand and appreciate the author's intent to bring awareness to a historical event, which I had never heard of.
Living in Bristol, home to many a hot air balloon, I was excited to read this book. The saying 'all that glitters isn't gold" comes to mind as it showed us a glimpse into the not so glamorous life of hot air balloon maintenance. While it was interesting to read about this particular time period, I found the pace a bit too slow for me. While Laura's story started interesting enough, but her journey with the Gaudrons left more to be desired and her character development was slow. I found myself drifting alot while reading and struggling in the middle.
The book is based on a true event, which I won't say to avoid spoilers, but it seemed a round about way to tell the story. It did leave me interested to learn more about the event which I researched afterwards. I do understand and appreciate the author's intent to bring awareness to a historical event, which I had never heard of.
April 10, 2022
The Aerialists is a fictionalised account of a true event which happened in Cardiff at the Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition in 1896. I was unaware of this exhibition despite it being on a scale to rival England’s Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. It is such an interesting story but I do not want to give any spoilers here, so I’m keeping my description to a minimum.
At its heart this is a story about Laura, we find out about her journey and what brought her to the streets of Paris and her life with the Gaudrons. The character also serves to tell the fictionalised account of something quite different.
There are characters here like Laura who are entirely fictional, but others are based on real people of the time of the exhibition.
The writing could be tighter in places, there were some points where I began to feel that my attention was wandering and the story was drifting. There were a lot of waffly monologues. In the main this is an engaging story, and the characters intrigued me. I came to feel quite a lot of sympathy for some and wanted to find out what would happen.
I know that life was different for the working classes, as opposed to the middle and upper classes for whom propriety and appearance were important, but at times I felt there was little concession to the Victorian setting, especially in conservative chapel-going Wales. The behaviours and dialogue read as contemporary.
After reading, if you wish to find out more about the real life events behind the novel then I recommend searching for the BBC article published on 24th July 2021, 125 years after the festival.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.
At its heart this is a story about Laura, we find out about her journey and what brought her to the streets of Paris and her life with the Gaudrons. The character also serves to tell the fictionalised account of something quite different.
There are characters here like Laura who are entirely fictional, but others are based on real people of the time of the exhibition.
The writing could be tighter in places, there were some points where I began to feel that my attention was wandering and the story was drifting. There were a lot of waffly monologues. In the main this is an engaging story, and the characters intrigued me. I came to feel quite a lot of sympathy for some and wanted to find out what would happen.
I know that life was different for the working classes, as opposed to the middle and upper classes for whom propriety and appearance were important, but at times I felt there was little concession to the Victorian setting, especially in conservative chapel-going Wales. The behaviours and dialogue read as contemporary.
After reading, if you wish to find out more about the real life events behind the novel then I recommend searching for the BBC article published on 24th July 2021, 125 years after the festival.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.
May 20, 2022
Disappointing - I don't understand why this is a bestseller. I was hoping for more action, maybe a bit of magical realism and some quirky characters but this book lacked on all counts. I didn’t understand the main characters thoughts and feelings and she came across as dull and uninterested in her own life or anyone else’s, never saying what she wanted to say and she was just really boring to read. But the bigger issue was the lack of plot. Where was it? Why didn’t the author turn it into a murder by setting up a sabotage to the balloon before the accident? Why didn’t Ena and Auguste get blamed for the accident and where was the trial and court drama (maybe the last third of “where the crawdads sing” has set my expectations too high) ?
I was hoping for so much more, and although I enjoyed the intrigue of the first quarter, the rest was pretty bland (I can’t think of any other way to say boring). I just wanted some drama, literally any drama would have done, but much like the balloon in this book, this story failed to soar for me (hehe)
I was hoping for so much more, and although I enjoyed the intrigue of the first quarter, the rest was pretty bland (I can’t think of any other way to say boring). I just wanted some drama, literally any drama would have done, but much like the balloon in this book, this story failed to soar for me (hehe)
November 24, 2024
Katie Munnik’s The Aerialists is a historical novel inspired by the true story of Louisa Maud Evans, a 14-year-old who tragically fell to her death from a hot air balloon over the Bristol Channel during a late 19th-century Cardiff exhibition. The novel introduces Louisa as Grace Parry, an ambitious and adventurous character navigating the risks of aerial performance, and weaves her story with that of Ena and Auguste Gaudron, skilled balloonists operating in a rapidly modernizing world.
The novel’s strengths lie in its atmospheric writing and detailed historical setting. The descriptions of late 19th-century Cardiff and the world of ballooning are vivid and engaging, offering a fascinating glimpse into a lesser-known piece of history. However, the narrative pace can feel slow, especially in the first half, and some readers may struggle to connect with the characters initially. The second half of the book brings more tension and emotional weight, but the gradual buildup may not satisfy those seeking a more dynamic story.
The novel’s strengths lie in its atmospheric writing and detailed historical setting. The descriptions of late 19th-century Cardiff and the world of ballooning are vivid and engaging, offering a fascinating glimpse into a lesser-known piece of history. However, the narrative pace can feel slow, especially in the first half, and some readers may struggle to connect with the characters initially. The second half of the book brings more tension and emotional weight, but the gradual buildup may not satisfy those seeking a more dynamic story.
June 15, 2022
The Aerialists – Katie Munnik I found this a rather strange book, it is based on a real life story. In Paris in 1891 Laura is living on the streets a long way from her birth place of the Prairies of America. She is rescued by Ena and Augusts Gaudron and soon finds herself part of the family hot air balloon business and learning how to fly. Laura’s real talent is with the sewing machine, repairing the balloons and making costumes. In 1896 The Gaudrons accept an invitation to the Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a show of balloon assents and parachute descents. Late one night a young girl Grace knocks on the Gaudron’s door, she met Augusts when he was touring the West Country and had a story of being turned out of her lodging in Cardiff. Grace is desperate to fly and her story doesn’t always ring true to Laura, Laura tries to keep Grace safe but Grace’s dreams to fly are strong.
June 4, 2022
This book sounded really interesting and at first I was interested in where it was going to take me.
However, the time jumps did no favours and ultimately, the real historical events that inspired it were explored in a way that was pretty uninteresting.
I feel like the actual true story could have been adapted to a novel that would have been full of tension. Instead, the story is told by a character who at first promises to be wary of the world around her and knowing, but ends up seeming pretty naive.
There just wasn't enough depth to any of this. I wish it had actually explored the ways women and girls are forced to perform but it really didn't.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I would try another book from this author.
However, the time jumps did no favours and ultimately, the real historical events that inspired it were explored in a way that was pretty uninteresting.
I feel like the actual true story could have been adapted to a novel that would have been full of tension. Instead, the story is told by a character who at first promises to be wary of the world around her and knowing, but ends up seeming pretty naive.
There just wasn't enough depth to any of this. I wish it had actually explored the ways women and girls are forced to perform but it really didn't.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I would try another book from this author.
April 14, 2022
"The Aerialists" by Katie Munnik is a different type of historical novel to me, about a real life tragedy that happened at the Great Exhibition in Cardiff in 1896. The characters are engaging - I was interested in Laura's life and how she was rescued by the Gaudrons from a life of poverty on the streets in Paris. The Gaudrons introduce her to a world of ballooning and aerial stunts, refreshing to read about, compared to the many books written recently about the Barnum style circus life. Ending up in Cardiff for the Great Exhibition, ballooning is big, with shows a couple of times a week. It seems that young women would literally give their right arm to be the next act, and sadly this ends in tragedy.
July 30, 2022
A story of balloon flight in the 1890s narrated by Laura.
Laura is orphaned in Paris after the death of her American mother. Circumstances lead her to follow the Gaudrons who present balloon ascents with parachute descents.
With the Gaurdons she goes to Cardiff to work with them as part of an Exhibition where they will showcase their balloon show.
Grace enters the picture one night and the story follows her dream to become one of the parachutists. Unfortunately this dream turns into a nightmare for Grace and the Gaudrons, when Grace does not return from her maiden voyage.
Laura is orphaned in Paris after the death of her American mother. Circumstances lead her to follow the Gaudrons who present balloon ascents with parachute descents.
With the Gaurdons she goes to Cardiff to work with them as part of an Exhibition where they will showcase their balloon show.
Grace enters the picture one night and the story follows her dream to become one of the parachutists. Unfortunately this dream turns into a nightmare for Grace and the Gaudrons, when Grace does not return from her maiden voyage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2023
The writing in this was really nice, but it kind of bothered me that the protag didn't seem to have a lot of feelings? Like she was so worried about Grace that she was about to sabotage a balloon but then while Grace is missing she's like off smooching her boyfriend? And she never questioned her alliance with her adopted family, even though Auguste was so clearly negligent and she knew it. Just seems like there should have been more internal conflict or something? I don't know, just wasn't entirely satisfied with this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2023
The writing is so enchantingly lush it wraps you in an intoxicating spell. The moods of place and characters are so vivid that their lives in 1896 Cardiff are very realistically evoked. Like all good historical novels it bends fiction around the facts as you follow the narrator, Laura, from the gutters of Paris to sky high, balloon lifted parachute jumps. Add to that the showmanship of acrobatic aerialists (before man had invented the aeroplane) and you have all the ingredients of a taught and intense novel.
January 9, 2024
There were a lot of words on the page, but nothing much happens until the last few chapters. There is no tension, no drama, no speculation as to what will happen and as the characters are not interesting, there is nothing to hold the attention. The only reason I finished it is because I just DNF'ed another book, and I didn't want to have two in a row.
I can see the elements here that, with different writing and plotting, could have turned this into an interesting book. Sadly, this version never takes off.
I can see the elements here that, with different writing and plotting, could have turned this into an interesting book. Sadly, this version never takes off.
January 17, 2024
Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When rescued by the entrancing aerialists, Ena and Auguste Gaudron, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly.
I wanted to love this novel, I really did. It was soo slow and tiresone. Laura feels on the periphary of her own story and Ena gets annoying quickly. I didn't understand Grace's convictions and the whole story did not really come together.
I wanted to love this novel, I really did. It was soo slow and tiresone. Laura feels on the periphary of her own story and Ena gets annoying quickly. I didn't understand Grace's convictions and the whole story did not really come together.
April 28, 2022
i loved Katie Munnik's first novel, the Heart Beats in Secret, and I loved The Aerialists. The book is compelling and engaging, and the characters, particularly Laura and Grace are characters are cared about. That this was based on a true story is amazing to me. I hope that Lousia-Maud Evans' ghost is glad to see how this story was told. It was so well rendered.
May 12, 2022
This book started out so strong with a balance of adventure and flash backs for character development but then I felt the pacing slowed and this building of character connection slowed with it. I loved the fact this book was set in Cardiff and added a personal connection to the story and this alone was the main reason I cared for the characters. Despite this I would still read more books by the author.
August 8, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to make of the book when I first started reading it. Although I really enjoyed the way the author writes and uses words to draw a oicture. Even half way through the book I didn’t know what the point of the book was except to talk abt these three people. I had to keep reading to find out what why who. The last part of the book was good and the story began to grow and was good.
February 18, 2025
Enjoyable enough but was really slow and the book didn't really 'take off' until the second half. An interesting introduction and tale about the narrator was irrelevant to the actual story and the protagonist for most of the book is manufactured only to witness and narrate the tale. Potentially a good story that falls disappointingly flat.
May 15, 2022
I was attracted by the blurb and appreciated the well researched and vivid historical background.
Unfortunately if very slow paced and the story didn't keep my attention
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Unfortunately if very slow paced and the story didn't keep my attention
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
April 25, 2023
A great concept for a novel, and well researched.
Just a bit slow and lacking in plot.
Just a bit slow and lacking in plot.
October 6, 2023
This book left me wanting more: more detailed descriptions of ballooning, more in depth character relationships, and a more developed ending.
November 13, 2023
Slow and boring
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews