Author: Brendan Dowd
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Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Paris Undercover: With friends like this…. Quick synopsis: The story of two women in Nazi-occupied Paris and a huge betrayal. Fact for Non-History People: At least 39 women were sent into occupied-Paris by the British SOE. Fact for History Nerds: The American OSS employed nearly 24,000 spies in World War…
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Arctic Labyrinth by Glyn Williams
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Arctic Labyrinth: If at first you don’t succeed, keep sending people to freeze to death. Quick synopsis: The history of the quest for the Northwest Passage. Fact for Non-History People: I’ve read a lot about this. Why did people think the Northwest Passage existed? Because it would be convenient if it…
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Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Marshall joins the podcast!
Let’s talk about everything! Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Marshall joins me to talk her new book After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart. So good. Come listen! Buy After Lives Check out Megan’s website
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After Lives by Megan Marshall
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for After Lives: Oh no, this made me introspective! Quick synopsis: A collection of Megan Marshall’s essays which are part memoir, travelogue, true crime, and biography. Fact for Non-History People: Pearl Prynne from The Scarlet Letter was based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s eldest daughter, Una. Fact for History Nerds: Marshall was a Pulitzer…
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In Gad We Trust by Josh Gad
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for In Gad We Trust: I would have went with “The Book of Gad.” Quick synopsis: A partial memoir of the life of actor Josh Gad. So far. Fact for Non-History People: Gad won the National Forensics League (the other NFL) championships in original oratory in 1998 and 1999. Fact for History…
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Rebecca Bratspies joins the podcast to talk about naming New York City!
Let’s figure out who we are cursing in traffic! Rebecca Bratspies joins me to talk her book Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names. It’s not just for city folk. Come listen! Buy Naming Gotham
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The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The House of My Mother: It’s almost like YouTube fame doesn’t solve all your problems. Quick synopsis: The story of the Shari Franke, the 8 Passengers family YouTube account, and the downfall of Ruby Franke. Fact for Non-History People: Shari’s mother (the villain of this piece) was born on my exact…
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Firestorm at Peshtigo by Denise Gess and William Lutz
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Firestorm at Peshtigo: Well, I’m certainly going to be nice to Forest Rangers after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the Peshtigo fire of 1871, the deadliest fire in American history. Fact for Non-History People: You may not have heard of this because it happened on the same exact day…
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Buddy Levy Returns Again To Talk Airships in the Arctic
Let’s go north! Buddy Levy is back to talk his new book Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue. Enough said. Come listen!Buy Realm of Ice and SkyCheck out Buddy’s website