Book description
From the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Empire of the Summer Moon comes a stunning historical tale of the rise and fall of the world's largest airship--and the doomed love story between an ambitious British officer and a married Romanian Princess at its heart. The tragic story of the British airship R101--which went down in a spectacular hydrogen-fueled fireball in 1930, killing more people than died in the Hindenburg disaster seven years later--has been largely forgotten. In His Majesty's Airship, historian S.C. Gwynne resurrects it in vivid detail, telling the epic story of great ambition gone terribly wrong. Airships, those airborne leviathans that occupied center stage in the world in the first half of the twentieth century, were a symbol of the future. R101 was not just the largest aircraft ever to have flown and the product of the world's most advanced engineering--she was also the lynchpin of an imperial British scheme to link by air the far-flung areas of its empire from Australia to India, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, and Singapore. No one had ever conceived of anything like this. R101 captivated the world. There was just one problem: beyond the hype and technological wonders, these big, steel-framed, hydrogen-filled airships were a dangerously bad idea. Gwynne's chronicle features a cast of remarkable--and often tragically flawed--characters, including Lord Christopher Thomson, the man who dreamed up the Imperial Airship Scheme and then relentlessly pushed R101 to her destruction; Princess Marthe Bibesco, the celebrated writer and glamorous socialite with whom he had a long affair; and Herbert Scott, a national hero who had made the first double crossing of the Atlantic in any aircraft in 1919--eight years before Lindbergh's famous flight--but who devolved into drink and ruin. These historical figures--and the ship they built, flew, and crashed--come together in a grand tale that details the rocky road to commercial aviation written by one of the best popular historians writing today.
Sugar Man
The offline mode is a lifesaver on flights โ I'm never without a good story. Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch. The app is perfect for bedtime listening. The sleep timer is a must-have.
Runway Darling
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! The app's performance is unparalleled. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. I love the ability to change the background color. Itโs a nice touch.
Dance Cannon
ListenBook has brought the joy of audiobooks back into my life in a whole new way. Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. ๐ฑ๐ My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend! One of the best audiobooks Iโve heard! The story was compelling, and the narratorโs delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
Sir Squire
Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night.
Ginger Chaos
Frequent updates ensure there's always something new and exciting to listen to. Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an indispensable tool for my audiobook enjoyment. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. ๐ก The future of audiobook listening is here โ this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. ๐ง๐ฎ
Jack Cassidy
ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. ๐ Rekindling my literary flame โ this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. ๐๐ I'm amazed by the app's compatibility with different audio formats. It's truly versatile.
Eight Patrol
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Soda Delirium
This app has introduced me to authors I'd never heard of โ now they're my favorites! ListenBook's dedication to delivering an exceptional experience is evident in every detail. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like Iโm in the story.
Prometheus
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off โ no more searching for my spot! This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Burn
This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. Iโve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers!
RiddleRover
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines โ it's pure bliss. ๐ถ Forget background music, I've got enchanting stories to accompany my chores! ๐ต๐ I love how easy it is to download audiobooks with ListenBook. The app is incredibly convenient. The bookmark feature is fantastic. I can easily pick up where I left off.
Heavenly Connection
๐ฑ It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. ๐๐ฅ Efficiency meets audiobooks โ this app's functionality is a true triumph. ListenBook's comprehensive format support makes it the ultimate companion for audiobook enthusiasts.
Dez
I've rediscovered the joy of reading through the convenience of audiobooks. This app has turned even the most ordinary moments into reading sessions. ๐โโ๏ธ๐ Running through chapters has never been smoother โ the app's streamlined functionality keeps me on track with my reading goals. ๐โโ๏ธ๐ง ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. The narrator's voice took some getting used to - a bit nasal at first - but I grew to like it after a few chapters. Their pacing was excellent throughout.
Bad Beh8vior
I've found my new favorite way to relax โ cuddled up with an audiobook. I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. ๐ Bedtime stories for adults? Yes, please! This app is a dream come true. ๐๐ ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Bambi Wings
This app's compatibility with different file types means that my entire audiobook collection is at my fingertips. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play โ it's genius! I'm impressed with the wide range of supported formats. Finally, an app that plays all my audiobooks flawlessly.
Instant Star
The absence of synchronization requirements on ListenBook is a breath of fresh air. This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy โ it's eye-opening. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device. Not the best audiobook I've heard but far from the worst. The production quality was good and there were no major issues with the narration.
Mercury Reborn
This app has introduced me to authors I'd never heard of โ now they're my favorites! ListenBook's integration of artwork and metadata adds a visually appealing touch to my library. CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. Iโve been using ListenBook for months, and itโs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnโt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Light Despair
ListenBook has made me fall in love with my audio content all over again โ it's a must-have. I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers.
Cool Law Topping
Audiobooks made delightful โ this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
DreamWeaver
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app โ it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality to a new level. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. Noise reduction and tone changing are awesome features.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience