Tag: European history
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The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Dark Queens: Game of Thrones only real. Less dragons, obviously. Quick synopsis: The story of Queens Brunhild and Fredegund who were trying to kill each other for decades while ruling their kingdoms. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Vikings wearing horned helmets? Not a thing. Someone made it up…
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Conan Doyle for the Defense by Margalit Fox
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Conan Doyle for the Defense: Need to get out of jail? Just get the most famous detective writer ever! Quick synopsis: The story of how Arthur Conan Doyle (who wrote Sherlock Holmes) helped secure the release of wrongly convicted Oscar Slater. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: After Pearl Harbor, Life…
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The Moors Murderers by Chris Cook
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Moors Murderers: Yeah, no one should have been shocked when these two got arrested. Quick synopsis: The story of the child killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in the 1960s. Fun Fact for Non-History People Will Like: There were quite a few early indicators Ian Brady was a psychopath. Punching…
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The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons by Paul Hill
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons: Who would have thought writing stuff down would make such a difference. Quick synopsis: The story of England around the time of Alfred the Great. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Alfred the Great kept a third of his revenues to provide gifts to visiting dignitaries…
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Timely History: Appeasement
Ever heard the word “appeasement”? If you haven’t yet, I have a feeling it will be coming up quite often. Let’s do the totally dorky but necessary first step in talking about a big idea and define it! I am going to go with the Cambridge Dictionary because it sounds fancy. “Appeasement” is the act…
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The Last Duel (Movie)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Duel: Show up for Damon and Affleck, stay for the historical accuracy and killer duel! Quick synopsis: The story of the last trial by combat in France in 1386. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, this is a true story. Yes, people use to fight to the death…
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Three Ordinary Girls by Tim Brady
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Three Ordinary Girls: Who says women can’t work together? Quick synopsis: The story of three Dutch badasses, Hannie Schaft, Freddie Oversteegen, and Truus Oversteegen. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “I shoot better.” Read the book. You’ll get there. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The three women’s legacies were very…. complicated…
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Charlotte Bronte by Claire Harman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Jane Eyre was way truer to life than I thought. Quick synopsis for Charlotte Bronte: The biography Charlotte Bronte, best known as the writer of Jane Eyre. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Charlotte’s sister, Emily, wrote Wuthering Heights, another book you probably dodged in high school unsuccessfully. Fun Fact for History…
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The Daughters of Yalta by Catherine Grace Katz
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Daughters of Yalta: It all makes for very complicated dinner parties. Quick synopsis: The story of the Yalta Conference near the end of World War II through the eyes of Sarah Churchill, Anna Roosevelt, and Kathleen Harriman. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Franklin D. Roosevelt never knew what he…