Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Under a Flaming Sky by Daniel James Brown
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Under a Flaming Sky: Well I’m certainly going to be nice to Forest Rangers after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the 1894 firestorm in Hinckley, Minnesota which burned 350,000 acres in 5 hours and killed over 400 people. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Think it’s safe to jump…
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God, War, and Providence by James Warren
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for God, War, and Providence: Massholes. Quick synopsis: A look at how Roger Williams and Rhode Island came to be and also how the other colonies (especially Massachusetts, they come off looking really bad) screwed over their Indian neighbors and tried to destroy Rhode Island. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When…
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The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghosts of Eden Park: Prohibition was so stupid. Quick synopsis: The story of George Remus, a famous bootlegger who became famous for something else afterwards. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: George Remus was the “king of the bootleggers” and at one point owned one seventh of the bonded liquor…
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Lost Paradise by Kathy Marks
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lost Paradise: These people make the Tiger King look downright classy. Quick synopsis: A short history of the people of Pitcairn Island with a specific focus on the sexual assault trials of 2004. It is all really gross. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The people of Pitcairn Island are the…
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The Last Duel by Eric Jager
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Duel: This is why we have lawyers. Quick synopsis: The story of the last trial by combat in France in 1386. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are set to write and act in the movie version of this book. That is all the…
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Brilliant Beacons by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Brilliant Beacons: I have nothing snarky for this one. Lighthouses are awesome. Quick synopsis: A comprehensive history of the American lighthouse. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: A Fresnel lens can be seen 20 miles out to sea. It may not seem like very far to you, but if you are…
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The Phantom Killer by James Presley
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Phantom Killer: Another win for the press with cool serial killer names. Quick synopsis: A true crime story from 1946. The Phantom Killer murdered 5 people and assaulted 3 more in Texarkana, Texas. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Texas Rangers were so frazzled by this guy that they…
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A Dune Adrift by Marq De Villiers and Sheila Hirtle
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Dune Adrift: The island is literally moving as we speak. Quick synopsis: The history of Sable Island off the coast of Canada. Yes, it is more interesting than it sounds! Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Sable Island is home to at least 350 shipwrecks. It’s also home to 500…
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Island of the Lost by Joan Druett
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Island of the Lost: Seriously, stories like this are why I didn’t go in the navy. Quick synopsis: The story of the shipwreck of the Grafton on the Auckland Islands in 1864. Oh, it’s also the story of the shipwreck of the Invercauld on those same islands just a few months…