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Category Archives: nonfiction
The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code – Margalit Fox
British archeologist Arthur Evans was convinced that Mycenaean society was too advanced to be without writing, but no firm evidence had emerged. Clues began to point him toward Crete, and he eventually chose Knossos, the seat of Minos’ empire, for … Continue reading
Posted in adult, nonfiction
Tagged Bronze Age, Crete, cryptology
For Adam’s Sake: A Family Saga in Colonial New England – Allegra di Bonaventura
Joshua Hempstead of New London, Connecticut was a rather ordinary man and lived a rather ordinary life in the first half of the 18th century. But he did an extraordinary thing. For nearly forty-seven years he kept a diary, dutifully … Continue reading
Posted in adult, nonfiction
Tagged 1700s, Colonial New England
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History-Making Race Around the World – Matthew Goodman
Nellie Bly was a daring undercover reporter for Joseph Pulitzer’s New York newspaper, The World. She had exposed the dreadful treatment in an insane asylum, worked in a paperbox factory, sought treatment in a medical clinic for the poor, trained … Continue reading
Posted in adult, adventure, nonfiction
Tagged Elizabeth Bisland, Nellie Bly
The Lady and her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley’s Masterpiece – Roseanne Montillo
The night of August 30, 1797, was stormy, with a dramatic display of thunder and lightning. It is fitting, then, that this night also saw the birth of Mary Godwin, for Mary Godwin Shelley led a stormy and unconventional life. … Continue reading
Posted in adult, nonfiction
Tagged Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
The Great Pearl Heist: London’s Greatest Jewel Thief and Scotland Yard’s Hunt for the World’s Most Valuable Necklace – Molly Caldwell Crosby
Joseph Grizzard was finely dressed, extremely intelligent, affluent, with a family and a nice home. He was also a master criminal, quietly controlling a large gang of jewel thieves. The unique pink pearl necklace proved to be irresistible. Scotland Yard’s … Continue reading
Posted in adult, nonfiction
Tagged jewel thieves, Scotland Yard
When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail – Eric Jay Dolin
The winter had been one of the worst in recent memory. John Green, captain of the Empress of China, had wanted to sail from New York in early February but river ice had barred his way. Finally on Sunday, February … Continue reading
Posted in adult, nonfiction
Tagged 1780s, China, Empress of China, trade
The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure – Martin W. Sandler
I cannot begin to improve upon the summary provided by the publisher, so I will not try. The synopsis from the publisher: In 1897, whaling in the Arctic waters off Alaska’s coast was as dangerous as it was lucrative. And … Continue reading
Posted in adventure, highly recommend, nonfiction
Tagged heroes, survival
