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Death by Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked
by
Mary Miley Theobald (Goodreads Author)
Every day stories from American history that are not true are repeated in museums and classrooms across the country. Some are outright fabrications; others contain a kernel of truth that has been embellished over the years. Collaborating with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Mary Miley Theobald has uncovered the truth behind many widely repeated myth-understandings in...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
June 5th 2012
by Andrews McMeel Publishing
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Death by Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked by Mary Miley Theobald, with the support of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, is schedule for release on June 5 2012. This book explores sixty-three myths about Colonial America that are often repeated in schools, trivia games, and even historical homes or museum. The truth of the myth, how it might have come about, and why it is still repeated is given for each. There are also full color photographs to illustrate some of the myths. Some of...more
I live with - am married to - a history buff, so of course a little of it rubs off. That said, I've always been pretty interested in history myself, especially some of the everyday details, so Death by Petticoat was an exciting book choice for me. I loved the idea of debunking some of the myths, such as petticoats catching fire being a major cause of death!
The premise of the book is simple: it examines a myth and how it came about and quickly approves or debunks it, explaining why it was or wasn...more
The premise of the book is simple: it examines a myth and how it came about and quickly approves or debunks it, explaining why it was or wasn...more
"Death by Petticoat" is a cute, rather fluffy piece with all of the serious, scholarly weight of the Reader's Digest.
And that's why it works.
Theobald writes in the kind of voice you expect to hear over a kitchen table, amused with just a touch of sarcasm. Clearly enjoying her task of putting paid to some of the sillier legends that pepper American history, she goes after some of the things I'm sure tour guides and curators roll their eyes at on a regular basis. Closet taxes. Quilt codes. The j...more
And that's why it works.
Theobald writes in the kind of voice you expect to hear over a kitchen table, amused with just a touch of sarcasm. Clearly enjoying her task of putting paid to some of the sillier legends that pepper American history, she goes after some of the things I'm sure tour guides and curators roll their eyes at on a regular basis. Closet taxes. Quilt codes. The j...more
This little book covers a collection of popular, oft-repeated myths of American history, both the completely fabricated and those with a grain of truth vastly over-inflated to make a better story.
The title refers to the claim that long skirts and petticoats were so likely to catch fire that "death by petticoat fire" was the second leading cause of death for colonial American women, with only childbirth beating it out. In fact the leading cause of death for colonial American women was disease--an...more
The title refers to the claim that long skirts and petticoats were so likely to catch fire that "death by petticoat fire" was the second leading cause of death for colonial American women, with only childbirth beating it out. In fact the leading cause of death for colonial American women was disease--an...more
This is not the type of book that you can sit down and become thoroughly engrossed in, nor would any adult want to. Only one page is dedicated to each myth, occasionally using only 4-5 sentences in order to debunk the popular tales. Theobold is not one to go into detail or produce thorough explanations. The reader is simply made aware of a myth and immediately told "Nope, not true." There is not even a list of references in this book or citations concerning where Theobold pulled her information...more
I'm always interested in historical trivia, so this book seemed right up my alley. It was simple, quick to read, and more than striving to explain the truth behind some of the myths, it also opened my eyes to some of the more ridiculous things that people actually believe about not just Colonial America, but North American history in general.
This isn't the sort of book that a hardcore historian might want on their shevles, though. It breezes through things, relying more on dispelling eneral myth...more
This isn't the sort of book that a hardcore historian might want on their shevles, though. It breezes through things, relying more on dispelling eneral myth...more
http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
I've been reading so many historical fact books for kids lately that I suppose it was inevitable that some of them would contradict each other. Did early American settlers avoid eating tomatoes because they thought they were poison? Was petticoat-related death common among seventeenth century American women? The author of this book says no on both counts (although both of those facts/myths are ones I've read recently in other books). Although one thing thi...more
I've been reading so many historical fact books for kids lately that I suppose it was inevitable that some of them would contradict each other. Did early American settlers avoid eating tomatoes because they thought they were poison? Was petticoat-related death common among seventeenth century American women? The author of this book says no on both counts (although both of those facts/myths are ones I've read recently in other books). Although one thing thi...more
This one comes out of Colonial Williamsburg, so it has a decidedly 17th- and 18th-century slant. But so many of the myths pertain to earlier centuries as well as the 19th (and later, I suppose; I am not involved in historical interpretation later than about 1910).
The "Petticoat Death" of the title refers to the conviction by many folks (myself included, at least before I read this book) that the second-commonest cause of death in historical women resulted from long skirts catching fire from out...more
The "Petticoat Death" of the title refers to the conviction by many folks (myself included, at least before I read this book) that the second-commonest cause of death in historical women resulted from long skirts catching fire from out...more
Every day stories from American history that are not true are repeated in museums and classrooms across the country. Some are outright fabrications; others contain a kernel of truth that has been embellished over the years. Collaborating with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Mary Miley Theobald has uncovered the truth behind many widely repeated myth-understandings in our history in Death by Petticoat including:
* Hat makers really were driven mad. They were poisoned by the mercury used in m...more
* Hat makers really were driven mad. They were poisoned by the mercury used in m...more
Were long skirts and petticoats likely to catch fire thus being a leading cause of death in woman of Colonial America? In Death By Petticoat Mary Riley Theobald sets out to expose historical myths which are apparently still widely believed in today.
Presenting a wild collection of myths - all set in Colonial up to Victorian times on the North American continent - it was interesting to see how some of them are also familiar in European context while others have been completely new to me. While a q...more
Presenting a wild collection of myths - all set in Colonial up to Victorian times on the North American continent - it was interesting to see how some of them are also familiar in European context while others have been completely new to me. While a q...more
Very funny discussion of historical myths, I laughed out loud for quite a bit of the book. This would make a good gift.
Most of the myths are debunked using common sense that makes you wonder why you thought it was true at all, like the fainting couches and the removal of ribs in Victorian times. It encourages you to think more closely about and apply logic to things that you hear.
Like another reviewer pointed out, I'm dubious about China being the birthplace of ice cream because all the time I w...more
Most of the myths are debunked using common sense that makes you wonder why you thought it was true at all, like the fainting couches and the removal of ribs in Victorian times. It encourages you to think more closely about and apply logic to things that you hear.
Like another reviewer pointed out, I'm dubious about China being the birthplace of ice cream because all the time I w...more
I greatly enjoy American history so I was excited to read Mary Theobald’s Death By Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked (Andrews McNeel Publishing, June 2012). I ended up leaving it a bit disappointed because of the lack of depth behind the book. It was an amusing and quick read, and I did learn some trivial facts from American history, but because I had expected a more detailed examination of myths and reality, I was disappointed in the superficiality of Ms Theobald’s offering.
Note: I rea...more
Note: I rea...more
I love the idea for this book-it is right up my alley as a history major who specialized in US history. I love collections of truths and myths that break them down in easy-to-read ways and this looked like the perfect quick read for me.
And it was a quick read. Each entry is only about one page and includes a picture to further illustrate the point. The writing was easy to read and due to the shortness, you can very quickly read this book. I think it would be fun to pick it up and read an entry o...more
And it was a quick read. Each entry is only about one page and includes a picture to further illustrate the point. The writing was easy to read and due to the shortness, you can very quickly read this book. I think it would be fun to pick it up and read an entry o...more
This is a quick and interesting glance at the mythical American history. With a pair of common sense spectacles the author picks apart each folk tale and shows how it originated and why it couldn't possibly be true–even if a kernel of truth might exist.
As an European I doubt I enjoyed it as much as an American who has grown up hearing about these legends would. Still it is a good read for anyone interested in such misconceptions and truths.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from t...more
As an European I doubt I enjoyed it as much as an American who has grown up hearing about these legends would. Still it is a good read for anyone interested in such misconceptions and truths.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from t...more
{ I received this as an ebook from NetGalley. Review originally posted to my blog, PidginPea's Book Nook. }
Death by Petticoat is a collection of fun, brief explanations of historical myths. Each myth is covered in a few paragraphs, making for a sufficient explanation, but I wouldn't have minded a little more depth. Some of the explanations ended a little abruptly, leaving me wishing there was more to it. But the short style makes it perfect for picking up here and there whenever you have a momen...more
Death by Petticoat is a collection of fun, brief explanations of historical myths. Each myth is covered in a few paragraphs, making for a sufficient explanation, but I wouldn't have minded a little more depth. Some of the explanations ended a little abruptly, leaving me wishing there was more to it. But the short style makes it perfect for picking up here and there whenever you have a momen...more
read complete review here:http://notjustnonsense.blogspot....
The author is highly amusing in her way to expose silly and absurd myths and the truth behind them, but it's too bad there were so little of them and such short explanations. The book made them clearer and easier to comprehend, but in the end they came out sounding a bit trivial, without very much depth into actual history. But I'm not a historian, so I had fun and learned quite a few things.
It's a great book for when you need to kill...more
The author is highly amusing in her way to expose silly and absurd myths and the truth behind them, but it's too bad there were so little of them and such short explanations. The book made them clearer and easier to comprehend, but in the end they came out sounding a bit trivial, without very much depth into actual history. But I'm not a historian, so I had fun and learned quite a few things.
It's a great book for when you need to kill...more
Such a fun book for history buffs! I love the layout and illustrations in this little book of myths--one photo or drawing for each myth, some very helpful to explain the concepts. I enjoyed this book so much. I learned quite a few things about colonial America, about which I don’t know much, but also learned a few things to throw into the fashion shows I deliver at civil war events where I reenact! I am excited to pass this book along to my mom and cousin, who also reenact.
Death by Petticoat is a quick trivia read about early American History. The text rotated between formal and informal which isn't my favorite style, but the facts hold strong. I read this version without photos, so the offical publication will boast of better appeal with such illustrations.
This book was slotted for adult non-fiction. I would also hand it to interested teens.
Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, NetGalley and Andrews McMeel
Publishing!
This book was slotted for adult non-fiction. I would also hand it to interested teens.
Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, NetGalley and Andrews McMeel
Publishing!
A quick and interesting read about American history myths. I liked learning that there was no such thing as a fainting couch, closet tax or that the Dutch didn't buy Manhattan from the Indians for $24 of worthless beads. However I wish the author had inserted a bibliography or footnotes throughout. She writes that all these myths are just myths but why should I believe her? She gives credit to the images but what about the text?
I love books like this, fun facts that no doubt will prove useful at some point. It was very well done, and really very informative. I couldn't believe how many of these myths I thought were fact. If your interested in early American history the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation really is the place to go for such information and it was entertaining.
Thanks to Net Galley and to the publishers for my review copy.
Thanks to Net Galley and to the publishers for my review copy.
[I was provided with a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
A quick, easy, entertaining read. Perhaps, not being American, I am not the target audience as I hadn't heard of the majority of these colonial myths but it didn't impact my enjoyment. The inclusion of the photographs of re-enactors was excellent and aided my understanding tremendously.
A quick, easy, entertaining read. Perhaps, not being American, I am not the target audience as I hadn't heard of the majority of these colonial myths but it didn't impact my enjoyment. The inclusion of the photographs of re-enactors was excellent and aided my understanding tremendously.
This history book has assembled the most often-repeated myths of US History and one-by-one debunks them.
Short (only 63 myths). No citations (except for images). A complete disappointment from this history buff's point of view.
The cover is cute though.
Check out my full review (Link will be live on June 10, 2012).
Short (only 63 myths). No citations (except for images). A complete disappointment from this history buff's point of view.
The cover is cute though.
Check out my full review (Link will be live on June 10, 2012).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought I would dip in and out of it since it's not the type of book that one needs to read straight through from beginning to end. However, once I started reading it, I was so intrigued that I just kept going. The only downfall is that some of the debunked myths could have been more elaborated.
A fast, interesting read. Great for history buffs who don't have a lot of time (short sections/chapters) and anyone who finds those history myths fascinating.
I would have been happier had my E-ARC actually had the photos that accompanied so many of the entries. I'm sure the real thing will only be enriched by those photos.
I would have been happier had my E-ARC actually had the photos that accompanied so many of the entries. I'm sure the real thing will only be enriched by those photos.
Una quarantina di miti sulla grande e piccola Storia americana sfatati, con l'aiuto di belle illustrazioni. Divertente, anche se moooolto leggero e mordi e fuggi: preferisco saggi più approfonditi e argomentati, ma per un ragazzo appassionato di storia americana è perfetto. :)
Despite the fact the author wanted to debunk myths, I felt that just writing the words "this is a myth" was not that convincing. I really needed more proof to back up some of the author's claims.
Not a bad book. Interesting but slightly choppy writing style.
Not a bad book. Interesting but slightly choppy writing style.
This was a book that caught my interest when I saw it on NetGalley because I love finding out about the origin of myths. A few of the ones in this book were familiar to me while others, being particular to America, were not. All were fascinating though and offer an insight into how such stories come about as fact blurs with fiction.
This is a fairly short book and easy to skim through in a evening. I liked the inclusion of images to illustrate the myths as they provided added interest. This is a...more
This is a fairly short book and easy to skim through in a evening. I liked the inclusion of images to illustrate the myths as they provided added interest. This is a...more
I enjoyed this book, but only wish it had been as detailed as the author's blog that it was based on. I'm sure that was a decision that came from the publisher or editor, but I love her long explanations on the website. Still worth a read!
It's cute and fluffy and fun to read. I found some of it pretty interesting, although mostly it made me want to go read about more of this stuff in depth and in a more academic/scientifically rigorous manner.
It was a good book if you're looking for a brief overview of some common (63!) American history myths. The myths are mostly from Colonial times, and some are from the Victorian Era. If you're looking for a book that has sources listed with each myth, this isn't the book for you.
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Apr 16, 2012 09:12pm