Born in 1949, French daredevil Philippe Petit became famous in August 1974 for his high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Called the "artistic crime of the century," Petit's daring feat became the focus of a media sensation. Petit has performed high-wire walks around the world, and a 2008 documentary based on his twin towers walk, Man on Wire, won awards and critical praise.

Books by Philippe Petit

Man on Wire

by Philippe Petit - Nonfiction

In August 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit boldly --- and illegally --- fixed a rope between the tops of the still-young Twin Towers, a quarter mile off the ground. At daybreak, thousands of spectators gathered to watch in awe and adulation as he traversed the rope a full eight times in the course of an hour. In MAN ON WIRE, Petit recounts the six years he spent preparing for this achievement.