Ku nieznanej nieba stronie... O książkowych relacjach z uczestnictwa Polaków w balonowych zawodach Gordona Bennetta

The paper describes two books containing accounts on participation in the International Gordon Bennett Cup ballooning race: “Kościuszko” nad Ameryką [“Kościuszko” above America] by Zbigniew Burzyński (1934) and Balonem “LOPP” nad Morze Białe [Above the White Sea in the “LOPP” balloon] by Stanisław Brenk (1937). The Polish achievements in the competition had a significant impact on the interest in ballooning in the interwar period. The texts discussed in the paper are visibly inspired by reportage and travel novels. The books had a propaganda nature: intended for the young reader, they highlighted the attractiveness of the army and the importance of the Polish army in the world.