Tag: European history

  • Ortiz’s War by Nicholas Reynolds and Katie Sanders

    There is a lot of World War II literature. It is the nature of the game currently that they just sell better than most nonfiction, so the publishers pump them out. This is in and of itself is not a problem. There are plenty of stories from World War II which need to be told.…

  • Margaret Beaufort by Lauren Johnson

    Every time I try to conjure up some adjectives for Margaret Beaufort by Lauren Johnson, I keep feeling like I am damning it with faint praise. It is workmanlike, competent, and perfectly told. Does that sound like an exceptional book? I hope so, because it is! Luckily, Johnson is way better at writing than I…

  • The Jackal by Joby Warrick

    When you think of Carlos the Jackal, you probably picture a suave, cold-blooded hitman roaming the capitals of the world. He has every action planned to the most minute detail. He can think on his feet. He is James Bond without a moral core. That’s a cool visual and all, but the real Carlos the…

  • The Lightning Beneath the Sea by James Tabor

    I hate science (and engineering!). Mostly, it is because I’m not smart enough to understand it the vast majority of the time. So, I decided to read Lightning Beneath the Sea by James Tabor for two reasons. First, that is just a killer title. Second, the blue on the cover truly mesmerized me. I hoped…

  • Stalin’s Apostles by Antonia Senior

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Stalin’s Apostles: Traitors be thy name. Quick synopsis: The story of the Soviet spies embedded in the U.K during World War II and the Cold War. Fact for Non-History People: One of the apostles, Kim Philby, was put in charge of the MI6 section which focused on finding…Soviet spies. Fact for…

  • The Graces by Breeze Barrington

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Graces: It’s all fun and games until someone loses their head. Quick synopsis: A look at the lives of women at the English Restoration Court. Fact for Non-History People: After the Restoration, women were allowed to act in public theaters for the first time. Fact for History Nerds: Charles II…

  • These Divided Isles by Philip Stephens

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for These Divided Isles: I know where I place the blame. Quick synopsis: The story of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and how the British government kept mucking it up. Fact for Non-History People: Approximately one million Irish died during the Great Famine. Fact for History Nerds: The population of Ireland has still not…

  • Seven Sisters by Veronica Buckley

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Seven Sisters: Maria Theresa didn’t raise wallflowers. Quick synopsis: The story of the seven surviving daughters of Empress Maria Theresa. Fact for Non-History People: Maria Theresa had 16 children in total but only 10 survived to adulthood. Fact for History Nerds: Maria Theresa is the only woman to hold the title…

  • The Blood Countess by Shelley Puhak

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Blood Countess: #FreeBáthory Quick synopsis: The true story of history’s most prolific female serial killer, Elizabeth Báthory. (Ahem, ALLEGEDLY.) Fact for Non-History People: 15% of U.S. serial killers are women. Fact for History Nerds: The most prolific female serial killer by confirmed victims is Jane Toppan with 31. My Take…