The Greatest War Stories Never Told
100 Tales from Military History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (History Channel)
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ISBN-10: 0-06-076017-6
ISBN-13: 9780060760175
Publisher: Collins
Country:
Year: November 1, 2005
Size: 17.78 x 18.54 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 224
Weight: 386gr
Binding: Hardcover
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description
Search the annals of military history and you will discover no end of quirky characters and surprising true stories: The topless dancer who saved the Byzantine Empire. The World War I battle that was halted so a soccer game could be played. The scientist who invented a pigeon-guided missile in 1943. And don't forget the elderly pig whose death triggered an international crisis between the United States and Great Britain.
This is the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest War Stories Never Told. One hundred fascinating stories drawn from two thousand years of military history, accompanied by a wealth of photographs, maps, drawings, and documents that help bring each story to life. Little-known tales told with a one-two punch of history and humor that will make you shake your head in disbelief –- but they're all true!
Did You Know That:
- One military unit served on both sides during the Civil War
- The War of Jenkins's Ear was actually fought over a sea captain's ear
- Daniel Boone was once tried for treason
- A siege on Poland in 1519 gave birth to the marriage of bread and butter
Discover how war can be a catalyst for change; an engine for innovation; and an arena for valor, deceit, intrigue, ambition, revenge, audacity, folly, and even silliness. Want to know how the mafia helped the United States win World War II, when the word bazooka was coined, or how Silly Putty was invented? Read on!
reviews
I am a social studies teacher and my jaw dropped reading these short tidbits on historical events –- this is such a great writer in easy-to-understand language. My students love it when I tell them stuff like this you'll never find in a textbook.
This book is highly entertaining and is chock full of interesting facts. It is so interesting that it answers many questions that you never thought to ask like »how did the bazooka get its name?« Nothing deep, but a pleasurable read. I found my self wanting to share many of the stories with friends and family. A quick read and worth the time.
The book was purchased as a gift for my husband, who is a military history buff. He was a little skeptical at first, but once he started reading the book, he couldn't wait to share a number of the stories with me and had a hard time puttimg the book down until he finished it.
Good, but like another reviewer I have read, it passes off a questionable theory as fact. The questionable story for me is the death of Davy Crockett. While there is indeed a story of his surrender and subsequent begging for his life, it is one rumor of many and there are far more stories that dispute this. I am hardly a historian, but I have done a great deal of study on the subject of the Alamo and just finished a couple of William C. Davis's books which cover the subject. In both books he dicusses the theories of his death backed up with great research. It is possible, but unlikely. So I was skeptical of this book which passes off this one theory as fact. That being said, I also own the other two story collections (Greatest Stories and Greatest Presidential Stories) and find them fascinating and great reads. But I have a problem with this volume. I ended up putting it back on the shelf without buying it half-way through.
I BOUGHT ALL THREE OF THE BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR. THEY ALL HAVE DOZENS OF SHORT, INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING STORIES THAT YOU REALLY HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. IT'S A WONDERFUL BOOK THAT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO SHARE »USELESS TRIVIA« WITH EVERYONE.
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