Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Strangers in the Land: It didn’t get better once the railroads were finished. Quick synopsis: The story of Chinese immigrants who came to America. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: It took seven weeks for news of the death of President Zachary Taylor to reach California. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…
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The Rebel Romanov by Helen Rappaport
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Rebel Romanov: Even princesses deserve second acts. Quick synopsis: The life of Jule Saxe-Coburg and her flight from Russian court life. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Actual note from Grand Duke Alexander to his future wife included this tidbit that she reported that he was, “authorized by his parents…
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Peter the Great by Robert Massie
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Peter the Great: He was enlightened and a drunk. A man after my own heart. Quick synopsis: A (very, very) in depth biography of Peter the Great of Russia. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Peter took what might be the first “gap year” ever. In 1697, he took a group…
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Taking Manhattan by Russell Shorto
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Taking Manhattan: Business decisions made at cannon-point. Quick synopsis: The story of how New Amsterdam became New York. Fact for Non-History People: In 1673, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, New York became New Orange when the Dutch retook it, but it was given up again in the treaty ending the war.…
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Story of a Murder by Hallie Rubenhold
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Story of a Murder: A story finally fully told. Quick synopsis: The story of murderer Dr. Hawley Crippen, his victims, and maybe an accomplice. Fact for Non-History People: Between 1891 and 1901, the number of female clerks in England and Wales went from 18,947 to 57,736. Fact for History Nerds: A…
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The Next One Is For You by Ali Watkins
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Next One Is For You: First, you get the guns. Quick synopsis: The story of how a group of Philadelphia gunrunners supplied the IRA during the Troubles. Fact for Non-History People: In the six months following Bloody Sunday, NORAID sent over $300,000 in donations to Northern Ireland. Fact for History…
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Good Game, No Rematch by Mike Drucker
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Good Game, No Rematch: Literal trigger warning for Duck Hunt survivors. Quick synopsis: A memoir by comedian and comedy writer (Tonight Show/Full Frontal) Mike Drucker seen through his life in video games. Fact for Non-History People: The Nintendo company is 135 years old. Fact for History Nerds: In Street Fighter 1,…
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A Greek Tragedy by Jeanne Carstensen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Greek Tragedy: This was not a relaxing Mediterranean cruise. Quick synopsis: The story of the 2015 refugee shipwreck off the Greek island of Lesvos. Fact for Non-History People: There have been approximately 25,000 deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. Fact for History Nerds: The UNHCR recorded 3,160…
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The Fifteen by William Geroux
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Fifteen: A very one-sided trade proposal. Quick synopsis: The story of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Germany during World War II of soldiers facing the death penalty. Fact for Non-History People: There was approximately 400,000 German POWs in the U.S. during World War II. Fact for History Nerds:…