Tag: war
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Diamonds, Gold, and War by Martin Meredith
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Diamonds, Gold, and War: Boer, what’s it good for? Quick synopsis: The story of how South Africa went from a backwater British colony to one of the most sought-after prizes on earth. (Spoiler alert: It’s in the title, obviously.) Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Boer Wars have nothing to…
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God, War, and Providence by James Warren
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for God, War, and Providence: Massholes. Quick synopsis: A look at how Roger Williams and Rhode Island came to be and also how the other colonies (especially Massachusetts, they come off looking really bad) screwed over their Indian neighbors and tried to destroy Rhode Island. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When…
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Never In Finer Company by Edward G. Lengel
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Never In Finer Company: Military egomaniacs get their men in a jam? You don’t say. Quick synopsis: Story of the “Lost Battalion” in World War I. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Jokes about using pigeons to send messages are commonplace as jokes. I think people forget that it actually was…
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The Polar Bear Expedition by James Carl Nelson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Polar Bear Expedition: We invaded Russia? We invaded Russia! Quick synopsis: Story of the Polar Bear Expedition, where the Allied Powers at the end of World War I invade near Archangel, Russia to…. well no one was quite sure what the hell they were doing there. Fun Fact Non-History People…
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Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lost in Shangri-La: Wait until you get to the unneeded male nudity. Quick synopsis: Story of an airplane crash during World War II in New Guinea. The survivors of the crash are caught in a valley which will require an ingenious exit strategy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: A drunk…
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When Montezuma Met Cortes by Matthew Restall
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for When Montezuma Met Cortes: When good scholarship goes wrong. Quick synopsis: A reexamination of when Montezuma first met Hernan Cortes. The author has many thoughts. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: N/A. This is historical scholarship that would put anyone not absolutely enamored with the time period into a coma. Fun…
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1917
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1917: Holy S—! Quick synopsis: Two British soldiers in World War I are sent to stop Allied Forces from walking into a trap. Yes, it’s fiction but I don’t care even a little bit. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The entire movie is shot in three continuous shots. The camera…
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Be Free or Die by Cate Lineberry
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Be Free or Die: How is this not a movie yet?! Quick synopsis: A recounting of the life of Robert Smalls, Union hero during the Civil War. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Robert Smalls stole a Confederate ship and sailed it out to the waiting Union blockade right under the…
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A Great and Terrible King by Marc Morris
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Great and Terrible King: Braveheart was such a stupid movie. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of Edward I of England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Other than the fact Edward I and William Wallace existed, Braveheart got everything else wrong. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Edward I effectively took…