Tag: European history
-
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…
-
The Prosecutor by Jack Fairweather
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Prosecutor: Never let them forget. Quick synopsis: The story of Fritz Bauer who kept going after Nazis even after the Nuremberg trial. Fact for Non-History People: Instead of a trial at the end of World War II, Stalin just wanted to just execute the entire German General Staff of fifty…
-
The Rebel Empresses by Nancy Goldstone
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Rebel Empresses: More than just pretty faces. Quick synopsis: The lives of Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France. Fact for Non-History People: Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was Austrian. His reign went as badly as you would expect. Fact for History Nerds: Sisi (Elisabeth) was a big supporter of…
-
Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Hero of the Empire: He always had to be the center of attention somehow. Quick synopsis: The story of Winston Churchill’s escape from being a prisoner of war during the Second Boer War. Fact for Non-History People: Yes, there were two Boer Wars. Fact for History Nerds: Churchill was acting as…
-
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…
-
King John by Marc Morris
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Yup, he sucked as much as Robin Hood said he did. Maybe worse. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of King John of England. Fact for Non-History People: John rebelled against his father with his brother and then tried to steal power from his brother when he ascended. Fact for History Nerds: The…
-
Last Hope Island by Lynne Olson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Last Hope Island: I mean, it was a lot more than just one island. Quick synopsis: The story of the refugee governments who went to England to fight on during World War II. Fact for Non-History People: Polish fighter pilots kicked all sorts of ass. Remember that before you make a…
-
Augustus by Adrian Goldsworthy
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Augustus: Always remember to pay your bodyguards. Quick synopsis: A biography of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. Fact for Non-History People: Yes, that’s where we get August from. The month is named after him. It used to be Sextilis. August is definitely catchier. Fact for History Nerds: Augustus ushered in…
-
The Forgers by Roger Moorhouse
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Forgers: Sometimes, crime is good. Quick synopsis: The story of Polish diplomats and their passport forgery operation in World War II. Fact for Non-History People: It’s estimated the Germans carried out more than 600 separate massacres against Polish POWs and civilians. Fact for History Nerds: One of the early…