Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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The Black Prince by Michael Jones
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Black Prince: This has nothing to do with the musician. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of Edward, the Black Prince of England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He wasn’t actually black. The name comes from…. well honestly, we still don’t know. Might have been the black armor. He might…
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The Unexpected President by Scott Greenberg
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Unexpected President: May be the last time a politician pulled a sincere 180. Quick synopsis: The life of President Chester A. Arthur. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Arthur had fresh flowers placed at the portrait of his deceased wife every day he was president. He never remarried. Fun Fact…
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The Faithful Executioner by Joel Harrington
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Faithful Executioner: Who knew being an executioner for 45 years would be depressing? Quick synopsis: A biography of Frantz Schmidt of Nuremberg who was an executioner for 45 years and executed 394 people. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Executing was a family affair, literally. If you were an executioner,…
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Floodpath by Jon Wilkman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Floodpath: Came for the flood, got too much else. Quick synopsis: The story of the St. Francis Dam flood. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Mulholland Drive in L.A. is named after the designer and builder of the St. Francis Dam. He was alive when the flood happened and killed scores…
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Napoleon by Andrew Roberts
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Napoleon: Such a big life from such a little man. Quick synopsis: A (very) in depth biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Napoleon was once set upon by hundreds of rabbits during a hunt and needed to flee in a carriage just to get away. Everything I…
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Isabella by Kirstin Downey
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Isabella: She did more than just tell Columbus to go sailing. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of Isabella I of Castile. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, that Isabella. 1492, Columbus and all that. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Isabella was truly a badass woman both for good and bad.…
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Blood & Ivy by Paul Collins
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Blood & Ivy: Murrrrrderrrrrr at Haaaaaaavaaaaad. Quick synopsis: The story of a murdered Harvard alum in 1849. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Most people don’t realize this, but surgeons often had a very hard time practicing their craft. Dead bodies for study were hard to come across and aspiring doctors…
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Diamonds, Gold, and War by Martin Meredith
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Diamonds, Gold, and War: Boer, what’s it good for? Quick synopsis: The story of how South Africa went from a backwater British colony to one of the most sought-after prizes on earth. (Spoiler alert: It’s in the title, obviously.) Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Boer Wars have nothing to…
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Absolute Monarchs by John Julius Norwich
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Absolute Monarchs: Popes behaving badly. Quick synopsis: It’s about the Pope. All of them. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Pope Stephen VI put Pope Formosus on trial. The catch? Formosus was dead for 7 months. They exhumed him and had him sit there during the trial. It’s called the Cadaver…