Category: Books/Museum Reviews

  • Matisse at War by Christopher Gorham

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Matisse at War: A master caught in stasis. Quick synopsis: The story of the artist Henri Matisse during World War II. Fact for Non-History People: A bout of appendicitis in his 20s led to Matisse giving up a possible law career for art. Fact for History Nerds: His Odalisque couchée aux…

  • The Gales of November by John Bacon

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Gales of November: If it’s November, don’t go on the Great Lakes. Quick synopsis: The story of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Fact for Non-History People: The Great Lakes hold 80% of North America’s freshwater and 20% of the entire world’s. Fact for History Nerds: Between 1875 and 1975,…

  • Nemesis by Catherine Hanley

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Nemesis: Of course England’s greatest enemy is a Frenchman. Quick synopsis: The life of medieval French King Philip II aka Philip Augustus. Fact for Non-History People: During his reign, Philip doubled the size of the French royal domain. Fact for History Nerds: He was the first to order the streets of…

  • Deadwood by Peter Cozzens

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Deadwood: Yup, better than the show (and I love the show). Quick synopsis: The story of the rise and fall of Deadwood. Fact for Non-History People: Within 5 months of the first gold strike in Deadwood, more than 200 buildings had been put up. Fact for History Nerds: The fabled “Dead…

  • The Last Adieu by Ryan Cole

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Adieu: It was one hell of an adieu. Quick synopsis: The story of when the Marquis Lafayette returned to America decades after the revolution. Fact for Non-History People: Lafayette was commissioned a major general at the age of 19. Fact for History Nerds: Lafayette drafted the influential Declaration of…

  • When You Come at the King by Elie Honig

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for When You Come at the King: You best not miss. Quick synopsis: A look at the U.S. Special Counsel cases from Nixon to today. Fact for Non-History People: In the first 18 years after the adoption of the Special Counsel, there was only one. Fact for History Nerds: However, starting in…

  • Ghosted by Alice Vernon

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosted: Quick synopsis: A look at the history of ghost hunting including the charlatans and the unbelievers. Fact for Non-History People: A Gallup poll in 2005 of 1,000 found that 73% believed in some kind of paranormal activity. Fact for History Nerds: 32% of those people believed in ghosts, specifically.  …

  • 1999 by Ross Benes

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1999: Unhappy? Blame a 90s kid. Quick synopsis: A look at how the culture of 1999 reverberates today. Fact for Non-History People: Donald Trump is in the WWE Hall of Fame. Fact for History Nerds: In some markets, Jerry Springer was actually beating Oprah in the ratings.   My Take on…

  • The Great American Retro Road Trip by Rolando Pujol

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Great American Retro Road Trip: Too many of these things were during my lifetime. I feel so old. Quick synopsis: A look at all the best retro places and things around the United States. Fact for Non-History People: “Retro” is derived from the Latin word for “backward.” That checks. Fact…