Tag: European history
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Under Cover of Darkness by Amy Bell
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Under Cover of Darkness: If the bombs didn’t get you… Quick synopsis: A look at various murders in London during World War II. Fact for Non-History People: There were at least two active serial killers in London during World War II. Fact for History Nerds: Between 1898 and 1939, England…
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Henry V by Dan Jones
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Henry V: Shakespeare took a little dramatic license. Quick synopsis: A full biography of England’s greatest warrior king, Henry V. Fact for Non-History People: Henry V got shot in the face with an arrow as a teen and somehow didn’t die. Fact for History Nerds: Around the time of Henry’s…
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The Siege by Ben Macintyre
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Siege: Proof that fiction can’t touch great non-fiction. I said what I said. Quick synopsis: The story of the 1980 hostage crisis of the Iranian embassy in London. Fact for Non-History People: British police did not carry guns except for Diplomatic Protection officers. That becomes very important. Fact for History…
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Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lovers in Auschwitz: They found love in a hopeless place. Quick synopsis: The story of the two people who fell in love and survived Auschwitz in World War II. Fact for Non-History People: In 1941, the Warsaw ghetto covered 2.4% of the city but housed 30% of the city population. Fact…
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Cunning Folk by Tabitha Stanmore
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Cunning Folk: Magic without getting burned at the stake. Quick synopsis: The story of benevolent magic practitioners during the medieval and early modern period. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: There used to be a food called buttocks bread. No, I won’t explain why. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Among other…