Tag: European history
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God’s Traitors by Jessie Childs
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for God’s Traitors: (Looks toward England. Raises middle finger.) Quick synopsis: Another story about how England is the devil. This time, it focuses on the Catholic Vaux family in Elizabethan England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: There were places built into homes to hide clergy during the time of Catholic persecution.…
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Blood Royal by Eric Jager
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Blood Royal: I wonder how many less murders we would have if people kept it in their pants? Quick synopsis: The murder of the Duke of Orleans, Louis I, in 1407. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This murder wasn’t very straightforward because a lot of people wanted to kill Louis.…
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The Ripper (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ripper: Apparently, it’s not a big deal to murder prostitutes in England. Quick synopsis: A documentary on Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper, who murdered at least 13 women. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Sutcliffe was interviewed 9 times by the police but was only apprehended when…
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The Black Prince by Michael Jones
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Black Prince: This has nothing to do with the musician. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of Edward, the Black Prince of England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He wasn’t actually black. The name comes from…. well honestly, we still don’t know. Might have been the black armor. He might…
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The Faithful Executioner by Joel Harrington
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Faithful Executioner: Who knew being an executioner for 45 years would be depressing? Quick synopsis: A biography of Frantz Schmidt of Nuremberg who was an executioner for 45 years and executed 394 people. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Executing was a family affair, literally. If you were an executioner,…
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Napoleon by Andrew Roberts
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Napoleon: Such a big life from such a little man. Quick synopsis: A (very) in depth biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Napoleon was once set upon by hundreds of rabbits during a hunt and needed to flee in a carriage just to get away. Everything I…
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Isabella by Kirstin Downey
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Isabella: She did more than just tell Columbus to go sailing. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of Isabella I of Castile. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, that Isabella. 1492, Columbus and all that. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Isabella was truly a badass woman both for good and bad.…
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Absolute Monarchs by John Julius Norwich
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Absolute Monarchs: Popes behaving badly. Quick synopsis: It’s about the Pope. All of them. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Pope Stephen VI put Pope Formosus on trial. The catch? Formosus was dead for 7 months. They exhumed him and had him sit there during the trial. It’s called the Cadaver…
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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…