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The Forgotten Past: An Eclectic Collection of Little Known Stories from the Annals of History
We’ve all been taught about kings and queens, great battles and the rise and fall of empires. The term historians have coined for this is ‘history from above’. But what about the ordinary folk? What about almost everybody who ever existed? What about the places where no earth-shattering events have ever occurred?
This book is comprised of fascinating stories and anecdotes throughout history, such as how a Bristol merchant may have played a part in giving America its name; why a First World War naval battle was fought in a jungle, and how Sir David Attenborough helped to solve a Victorian murder mystery.
This book is comprised of fascinating stories and anecdotes throughout history, such as how a Bristol merchant may have played a part in giving America its name; why a First World War naval battle was fought in a jungle, and how Sir David Attenborough helped to solve a Victorian murder mystery.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2019
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 28, 2019
Actual rating: 4.5
I’ve always been fascinated by, as the author Andrew Vinken terms it, the history from below: the stories and lives of everyday people from the past that are untold and so oft-forgotten. Taking the famous and important characters from history, and making them secondary to the characters that history neglects is such a wonderful idea!
This was just a really cool read if you’re a fan of history. I learned some very interesting little-known facts.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing the opportunity to read this.
I’ve always been fascinated by, as the author Andrew Vinken terms it, the history from below: the stories and lives of everyday people from the past that are untold and so oft-forgotten. Taking the famous and important characters from history, and making them secondary to the characters that history neglects is such a wonderful idea!
This was just a really cool read if you’re a fan of history. I learned some very interesting little-known facts.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing the opportunity to read this.
November 29, 2021
I adore little known parts of history! So, of course, this book was perfect for me. Some I had read before, but quite a bit was new to me. If, like me you're a fount of useless knowledge, then this might be right up your alley! I always say that I know a little about everything, but not much of anything in particular! My thanks to Andrew Vinken, his publisher's, and Netgalley. Recommended!
September 18, 2019
I love books that offer little tidbits of lesser-known history especially if they are facts about everyday lives and people. "The Forgotten Past" offers this in abundance. Although I was aware of a few of these facts, there was enough new information to keep my interest. This is definitely a good read if you want to learn something that may not be in most history books.
May 27, 2019
This book was extremely interesting and filled with nuggets of facts that I had never heard before. This is one that I recommend to anyone that loves history!
June 7, 2019
I highly enjoyed this charming romp through history trivia. Vincent takes a unique approach in that the stories he tells in this book are about “the history from below,” or the lives and stories of every day people who are too often forgotten. He has a knack for making famous and important figures from history seem secondary to the characters that stories usually neglect.
I love trivia and The Forgotten Past did not let me down in that area. Every story was engaging and taught me something new. I loved the obvious passion in the writing and I appreciated that the author let his voice show. Nothing noted in this book is ground breaking or too in-depth, but I gained so many new and valued perspectives from the way these stories were told. Better yet, I had so many fun facts and stories to share with the people around me.
I would definitely, and have already, recommend The Forgotten Past to my friends who love history and even those who don’t. It’s a fun read that “never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.” Enjoy.
I love trivia and The Forgotten Past did not let me down in that area. Every story was engaging and taught me something new. I loved the obvious passion in the writing and I appreciated that the author let his voice show. Nothing noted in this book is ground breaking or too in-depth, but I gained so many new and valued perspectives from the way these stories were told. Better yet, I had so many fun facts and stories to share with the people around me.
I would definitely, and have already, recommend The Forgotten Past to my friends who love history and even those who don’t. It’s a fun read that “never lets the truth get in the way of a good story.” Enjoy.
June 4, 2019
A fun and lively collection of tales from the lesser-known side of the history of the western world.
This was a quite entertaining read, even if the writing style was sometimes a little too chatty. Still, the anecdotes were all interesting and easy to read, and I especially enjoyed the sections where events were cross-referenced with each other.
A fun read for history buffs.
This was a quite entertaining read, even if the writing style was sometimes a little too chatty. Still, the anecdotes were all interesting and easy to read, and I especially enjoyed the sections where events were cross-referenced with each other.
A fun read for history buffs.
March 16, 2022
This was a fun little book but I found myself wanting more details out of each story and less exposition. It seems a little lower grade level than I was initially anticipating, however, it would be a great book for middle grade to high school kids. I really wanted to like this more but the use of exclamation points and relatively fluffy voice wasn't ideal for me, personally.
January 9, 2023
I found this book to be sweet and charming in a way I did not expect at all. It’s filled with little-known anecdotes from history, each chapter only a few pages long. But the key to this book is imagining it narrated by your kind, probably nonexistent, old British grandfather, with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and a deep, rumbling voice. Maybe like Stephen Fry or David Attenborough (one of the stories is actually about Sir David, so maybe go with that). Imagine sitting by the fire, sipping tea, and listening to these little cheerful anecdotes.
Now, the reason I say this is because this book isn’t told like a regular history book - there will be no formal academic language, no historiographies, no in-text citations here. Initially, I expected all of the above - after all, this is supposed to be a history book. I was unpleasantly surprised in the first few chapters when I discovered the informal tone and exclamation points everywhere. As a history major, I would have been publicly humiliated had I put a single exclamation point in any of my papers. However, within a few chapters, you come to reorient your expectations and appreciate the book for what it is. Vinken cares more about making history fun and interesting rather than factual and boring. He adopts a tone for the people, just to inform you, not to put you to sleep. Here’s an example that I pulled at random - found in an anecdote about how the word “mortgage” comes from the French for “death contract.” “Fortunately, the death bit refers to the demise of the contract, upon either the final repayment, or seizure of the property through foreclosure, rather than to the expiration of the borrower. I am, however, reminded of one or two tightwads I have known down the years who would probably have regarded snuffing it mid-mortgage as something of a result!” Is that not the most old-British-guy humor you’ve ever heard?
In addition, many of these stories could be completely untrue. There are no citations and Vinken often says that he found out any given piece of information just by “doing some research.” But, this quote sums it up perfectly: “Unfortunately, there is no primary source of historical evidence to verify this tale, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story, I always say!” I have to admire that attitude.
Individually, none of the stories are groundbreaking or life-changing, but together, you’ll come away from this book with at least a dozen fun “did you know?” anecdotes to pepper into dull conversations or make you more interesting at parties. Here are just a few: Did you know that, contrary to popular belief, “America” was probably not named after Amerigo Vespucci, but was instead name after the Welsh financier Richard Amerike? Or that the Wright Brothers were actually not the first-ever people to achieve powered flight - that honor should have instead been given to Gustave Whitehead (he just didn’t get the recognition because there was no photographic evidence of his flight). Or how about this one: the truly evil founder of the Gestapo and commander of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, had a brother named Albert Goering who was a strong anti-Nazi dissident, arrested many times for refusing to acknowledge Hitler’s power or giving the Nazi salute. He saved over a hundred people from concentration camps by procuring travel documents or directly intervening with his brother, Hermann.
This book is truly a delight and would put a smile on the face of any history lover who is completely aware of the unhistorical nature of the book. It’s a fun and charming romp through time and forgotten bits of the past.
Now, the reason I say this is because this book isn’t told like a regular history book - there will be no formal academic language, no historiographies, no in-text citations here. Initially, I expected all of the above - after all, this is supposed to be a history book. I was unpleasantly surprised in the first few chapters when I discovered the informal tone and exclamation points everywhere. As a history major, I would have been publicly humiliated had I put a single exclamation point in any of my papers. However, within a few chapters, you come to reorient your expectations and appreciate the book for what it is. Vinken cares more about making history fun and interesting rather than factual and boring. He adopts a tone for the people, just to inform you, not to put you to sleep. Here’s an example that I pulled at random - found in an anecdote about how the word “mortgage” comes from the French for “death contract.” “Fortunately, the death bit refers to the demise of the contract, upon either the final repayment, or seizure of the property through foreclosure, rather than to the expiration of the borrower. I am, however, reminded of one or two tightwads I have known down the years who would probably have regarded snuffing it mid-mortgage as something of a result!” Is that not the most old-British-guy humor you’ve ever heard?
In addition, many of these stories could be completely untrue. There are no citations and Vinken often says that he found out any given piece of information just by “doing some research.” But, this quote sums it up perfectly: “Unfortunately, there is no primary source of historical evidence to verify this tale, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story, I always say!” I have to admire that attitude.
Individually, none of the stories are groundbreaking or life-changing, but together, you’ll come away from this book with at least a dozen fun “did you know?” anecdotes to pepper into dull conversations or make you more interesting at parties. Here are just a few: Did you know that, contrary to popular belief, “America” was probably not named after Amerigo Vespucci, but was instead name after the Welsh financier Richard Amerike? Or that the Wright Brothers were actually not the first-ever people to achieve powered flight - that honor should have instead been given to Gustave Whitehead (he just didn’t get the recognition because there was no photographic evidence of his flight). Or how about this one: the truly evil founder of the Gestapo and commander of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, had a brother named Albert Goering who was a strong anti-Nazi dissident, arrested many times for refusing to acknowledge Hitler’s power or giving the Nazi salute. He saved over a hundred people from concentration camps by procuring travel documents or directly intervening with his brother, Hermann.
This book is truly a delight and would put a smile on the face of any history lover who is completely aware of the unhistorical nature of the book. It’s a fun and charming romp through time and forgotten bits of the past.
July 6, 2019
*** I received an ARC of this book from Matador and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
The ebook version was available on NetGalley for free, without the need for requesting it. Finding the synopsis and title of the book quite interesting, I decided to give it a try! I will say I am a bit disappointed, as you can see from the rating I gave it...
This was a collection of 'little known' historical facts, of 'history from below', around 40 of them. In an ebook that is about 100 pages long, you may guess those stories are not very long... Especially when they include images (which I encourage!). In the end the stories just weren't very in-depth. On top of that, most of the information was apparently sourced from wikipedia. Not doubting the work that is put into that website, I just find that the research put into this book was very shallow, so not what I was expecting.
In a similar vein, some of the stories included were not actually what I would consider interesting or 'history from below'. For example, the case of the Winchester House and the events surrounding its construction are quite well-known. And I don't really care about specific murders, no matter how weird the events or how unsolved they are. I was expecting to learn more about little known people and events that made a big impact in history...
I will say I liked the informal tone of the writing, the inclusion of images and some of the stories were quite interesting (like Whitehead's), and/or actually made me tear up a bit (like the one regarding the recuperation of bodies after the Titanic's disaster). But while I appreciate those things, they are not enough to make me recommend this book to anyone. I found myself skimming most of the second half, and found it mostly boring and unoriginal.
The ebook version was available on NetGalley for free, without the need for requesting it. Finding the synopsis and title of the book quite interesting, I decided to give it a try! I will say I am a bit disappointed, as you can see from the rating I gave it...
This was a collection of 'little known' historical facts, of 'history from below', around 40 of them. In an ebook that is about 100 pages long, you may guess those stories are not very long... Especially when they include images (which I encourage!). In the end the stories just weren't very in-depth. On top of that, most of the information was apparently sourced from wikipedia. Not doubting the work that is put into that website, I just find that the research put into this book was very shallow, so not what I was expecting.
In a similar vein, some of the stories included were not actually what I would consider interesting or 'history from below'. For example, the case of the Winchester House and the events surrounding its construction are quite well-known. And I don't really care about specific murders, no matter how weird the events or how unsolved they are. I was expecting to learn more about little known people and events that made a big impact in history...
I will say I liked the informal tone of the writing, the inclusion of images and some of the stories were quite interesting (like Whitehead's), and/or actually made me tear up a bit (like the one regarding the recuperation of bodies after the Titanic's disaster). But while I appreciate those things, they are not enough to make me recommend this book to anyone. I found myself skimming most of the second half, and found it mostly boring and unoriginal.
June 28, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Matador, for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved this book, it ought to be a series! I felt I was sitting in an old time pub with an exccentic uncle who knew far too much and loving every minute of his non-stop one sided conversation. The collection of stories were very entertaining and made me laugh out loud more than once and the more sober stories broke my heart. A very easy book to read in manageble chapter chunks that you can put down and come back to. I have already decided to purchase a few copies of this book for Christmas stocking fillers for those whom I know will love it as much as I did.
I loved this book, it ought to be a series! I felt I was sitting in an old time pub with an exccentic uncle who knew far too much and loving every minute of his non-stop one sided conversation. The collection of stories were very entertaining and made me laugh out loud more than once and the more sober stories broke my heart. A very easy book to read in manageble chapter chunks that you can put down and come back to. I have already decided to purchase a few copies of this book for Christmas stocking fillers for those whom I know will love it as much as I did.
July 10, 2019
This book explores little events in history and people who may have been forgotten due to other people being credited with their achievements. The author uses a breezy style, short chapters and plenty of illustrations, making it appealing for readers in search of a light book that can be dipped in an out of. However, for more serious readers and for those in search of the verified fact I wouldn't recommend it as checking the sources at the end I found them mainly to consist of Wikipedia articles and top ten lists from other internet sites. There were some interesting articles but others I knew about or had already read as being refuted elsewhere. A good idea for a book, and certainly use ideas but don’t just rehash other articles in your own style without additional research.
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August 3, 2019I received a copy of The Forgotten Past from Netgalley.
I thought The Forgotten Past was written in a very informative and informal style, where one can imagine sharing a sandwich at the pub while a friend regales you with obscure facts he's looked up on google late at night. It was easy to read and very communicative. The stories were short - some less than a paragraph! - and each section was accompanied by at least one or two photographs, which really helped set the mood of the piece. Unfortunately the file I was given was faulty, and the images were stretched six ways to Sunday - but I'm sure this was an error on the file's part and not the author's, and so will not include that as part of my star rating.
The stories were engaging and interesting, although I had heard several of them before - two in fact were drawn straight from the podcast My Favourite Murder, but it was still interesting to revisit them from another point of view. I believe they could have been fleshed out a bit more with some more research, as a lot of them were just bare bones facts, with no narrative to join them together.
I do wish there had been more representation from historically forgotten groups, such as women or people of colour. It was a very euro-centric view of history. When women were mentioned, they were either already murdered/dead or else made fun of by the author - contrast this with his evident enjoyment of the con-men who make up some of these stories!
All in all, a great book for battering your Pub Quiz leader or for gifting to the people in your life who like to know everything! (Or if you don't know your co-worker that well and need to get them something in the secret santa!)
I thought The Forgotten Past was written in a very informative and informal style, where one can imagine sharing a sandwich at the pub while a friend regales you with obscure facts he's looked up on google late at night. It was easy to read and very communicative. The stories were short - some less than a paragraph! - and each section was accompanied by at least one or two photographs, which really helped set the mood of the piece. Unfortunately the file I was given was faulty, and the images were stretched six ways to Sunday - but I'm sure this was an error on the file's part and not the author's, and so will not include that as part of my star rating.
The stories were engaging and interesting, although I had heard several of them before - two in fact were drawn straight from the podcast My Favourite Murder, but it was still interesting to revisit them from another point of view. I believe they could have been fleshed out a bit more with some more research, as a lot of them were just bare bones facts, with no narrative to join them together.
I do wish there had been more representation from historically forgotten groups, such as women or people of colour. It was a very euro-centric view of history. When women were mentioned, they were either already murdered/dead or else made fun of by the author - contrast this with his evident enjoyment of the con-men who make up some of these stories!
All in all, a great book for battering your Pub Quiz leader or for gifting to the people in your life who like to know everything! (Or if you don't know your co-worker that well and need to get them something in the secret santa!)
June 2, 2019
I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, the writing style just didn’t work for me.
The book contains several bite-sized pieces of so-called forgotten history. Each section can be easily read in five to 10 minutes, which makes the content sparse and superficial. It reads more like a series of articles on a website than a history book.
The constant usage of exclamation marks also made the text seem less professional than I would have liked. The author used a folksy, conversational, and, at times, sensationalistic style of writing that’s akin to an article you might find on Ranker. This is going to be the perfect fit for some readers, and I hope they find this book. I’m just not one of them.
On the plus side, most of the stories did have some interesting historical facts. This is also a book that can be easily dipped in and out of because there are so many short history stories contained within the pages.
On the downside, none of the images for the Kindle edition were formatted to work on a Paperwhite. They’re all very tall and skinny, so it’s hard to make out what the images depict.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
The book contains several bite-sized pieces of so-called forgotten history. Each section can be easily read in five to 10 minutes, which makes the content sparse and superficial. It reads more like a series of articles on a website than a history book.
The constant usage of exclamation marks also made the text seem less professional than I would have liked. The author used a folksy, conversational, and, at times, sensationalistic style of writing that’s akin to an article you might find on Ranker. This is going to be the perfect fit for some readers, and I hope they find this book. I’m just not one of them.
On the plus side, most of the stories did have some interesting historical facts. This is also a book that can be easily dipped in and out of because there are so many short history stories contained within the pages.
On the downside, none of the images for the Kindle edition were formatted to work on a Paperwhite. They’re all very tall and skinny, so it’s hard to make out what the images depict.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
June 28, 2019
The Forgotten Past was a fun book to read. The tidbits included are exactly the type of history I love and several of the subjects sent me down rabbit holes of my own research. The chapter “The Nice Herr Goering” was particularly interesting to me as it was a side note of an era of history I studied in depth as a history major in college.
It is not a book or in depth, purely historical stories from our past. Some of the chapters are as much hearsay as they are factual but it’s fun to read. This could be a good read for an older child with an interest in “weird” history.
This is not a book for a history purist nor is it a primary source. However, it’s a fun read that’s suitable for a variety of ages and the chapters are fairly short in length. The author includes all of his sources linked in the ebook version, making it pretty easy to do your own digging, which I enjoy. Consider these stories appetizers to whet your palate.
I received this ARC for free via NetGalley to read and review.
It is not a book or in depth, purely historical stories from our past. Some of the chapters are as much hearsay as they are factual but it’s fun to read. This could be a good read for an older child with an interest in “weird” history.
This is not a book for a history purist nor is it a primary source. However, it’s a fun read that’s suitable for a variety of ages and the chapters are fairly short in length. The author includes all of his sources linked in the ebook version, making it pretty easy to do your own digging, which I enjoy. Consider these stories appetizers to whet your palate.
I received this ARC for free via NetGalley to read and review.
June 12, 2019
It purports to be a book about little known historical facts. Unfortunately it seems like most of the author's research took place on Google, and I don't mean Google Scholar. The sourcing and actual "fact" status of a lot of these is questionable. His writing style is pretty pleasant when he's not find himself to include weirdly chatty asides like "What do you think?" that make more sense on a blog where you have commenters than in a book. Although I was muttering at it a lot so there's that. 2.5/5 sheep, if you have nothing better to do and can get it for free/cheap it's mildly entertaining and will save you the trouble of finding out what silly theories the internet has put out about things yourself.
July 11, 2019
I received a free copy of this 'The Forgotten Past' by Andrew Vinken from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The book is a eclectic collection of little known stories from the annals of History, two stories I particularly enjoyed reading were, The Phantom Doggie of Logeriat Parish and The world's worst poet
I found this book really easy to read and I enjoyed the conversational style of writing.
As the book is a collection of stories it was easy to dip in and out of and there was need to read from front to back.
All the stories are engaging and taught me something new some, the stories would also make great conversation starters at parties.
Would recommend this book to history lovers and people who love reading trivial.
The book is a eclectic collection of little known stories from the annals of History, two stories I particularly enjoyed reading were, The Phantom Doggie of Logeriat Parish and The world's worst poet
I found this book really easy to read and I enjoyed the conversational style of writing.
As the book is a collection of stories it was easy to dip in and out of and there was need to read from front to back.
All the stories are engaging and taught me something new some, the stories would also make great conversation starters at parties.
Would recommend this book to history lovers and people who love reading trivial.
December 24, 2019
History nerds and lovers of ephemeral minutiae take note; Andrew Vinken has written the perfect book for you. This delightful little cabinet of curiosities unveils antique treasures which fell through the cracks. Here can be found tales of overlooked pioneers, troublesome spirits, siblings of the rich and powerful, and ancient relics. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the origins of words and phrases and a retelling of a spooky mystery from my neck of the woods; Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2019
One of the nicest things about this book is Vinken's writing style, he has very personable voice which made each chapter a genuine pleasure to read. The sections are varied and cover a lot of ground, from the real inventor of flight to con men, murder mysteries, and dreadful poets.
As a proud owner of McGonagall's collected works of poetry, it's always a treat to see him remembered, even if it is as a figure of fun.
Recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
As a proud owner of McGonagall's collected works of poetry, it's always a treat to see him remembered, even if it is as a figure of fun.
Recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
July 30, 2019
Este libro es perfecto para los amantes de lo inusual, lo irreverente y lo curioso. Una colección de historias tan interesantes que es imposible creer que a pocos les puedan interesar.
This book is perfect for lovers of the unusual, the irreverent and the curious. A collection of stories so interesting that it's impossible to believe that few may be interested in them.
Full review to be publsihed on August 3: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
This book is perfect for lovers of the unusual, the irreverent and the curious. A collection of stories so interesting that it's impossible to believe that few may be interested in them.
Full review to be publsihed on August 3: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
June 4, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. This is a fun little book with a number of stories from little known side characters with the big events in the background. Easy to read although occasionally the conversational style seems a little forced and becomes a distraction.
dnf
May 11, 2020DNF
This is one of those books that anybody could write. I say that because the author's supposed research consists of only websites. Most is from Wikipedia but some are a bit odd such as one for Pinterest. I don't think Pinterest is a reliable source for a book. Due to this I have chosen not to finish this because it reveals that some of this information may not be entirely accurate.
This is one of those books that anybody could write. I say that because the author's supposed research consists of only websites. Most is from Wikipedia but some are a bit odd such as one for Pinterest. I don't think Pinterest is a reliable source for a book. Due to this I have chosen not to finish this because it reveals that some of this information may not be entirely accurate.
July 15, 2021
A light skip through some interesting but lesser known stories from history. Good as a pointer for further reading.
July 17, 2019
The forgotten past is a lighthearted look at history. Vinken provides brief lesser-known narratives of the past complete with related illustrations. The interesting and engaging stories are filled with history trivia and quirky details. This is a great resource for history lovers!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 6, 2020
If you enjoy knowing things, especially the little things of which you never knew you wanted to know them this is a book for you. After reading this you will make a killing at parties showing off all your new acquired knowledge. As long as you enjoy history that is. Exactly this is what gives the book its flavour. Another thing I like is the fact that the historical facts aren't just about kings/queens and other 'celebs' of bygone times. Quite often everyday people like you (I think), and me (I know for sure) get a role in this book.
For me the writing style didn't work and I struggled finishing it because of this. The usage of exclamation marks (!) in combination with 'showy' language took the enjoyment out of it for me. This is very personal and I understand fully many people will disagree with me.
For me the writing style didn't work and I struggled finishing it because of this. The usage of exclamation marks (!) in combination with 'showy' language took the enjoyment out of it for me. This is very personal and I understand fully many people will disagree with me.
June 28, 2019
Interesting book. The author writes in a way that is like having a personal conversation with you over coffee. This book offers interesting parts of history that the textbooks forgot! Great for history lovers like myself.
January 23, 2021
Thank you #NetGalley for the review copy of #TheForgottenPast
This was an amusing read with a collection of brief stories about an assortment of "lesser known" historical events that are not necessarily all going to be brand new to readers, but are told in an engaging way. It's very easy to read for a short time before putting the book down again, so this book would be great for your coffee table, travel bag, or nightstand. Given the length of each part, it's nowhere near a comprehensive history book with full descriptions of the context and details of each situation, but readers can learn an assortment of trivia by reading this and there's always the option to look up anything one wants to learn more about.
This was an amusing read with a collection of brief stories about an assortment of "lesser known" historical events that are not necessarily all going to be brand new to readers, but are told in an engaging way. It's very easy to read for a short time before putting the book down again, so this book would be great for your coffee table, travel bag, or nightstand. Given the length of each part, it's nowhere near a comprehensive history book with full descriptions of the context and details of each situation, but readers can learn an assortment of trivia by reading this and there's always the option to look up anything one wants to learn more about.
September 3, 2019
Written by Andrew Vinken, I have found myself recommending this book to everyone I know. The Forgotten Past is filled with stories, both true and theories based on truth. If you enjoy history, or even if you don't, this is a really great book!
Hands down one of my favorite non-fiction reads, this was easy and moving and had SO MUCH I didn't know about.
Well written, this is written in more in a narrative style than the traditional dry non-fiction style that so many people avoid. Honestly, a really great book for people who don't usually like to read non-fiction.
Hands down one of my favorite non-fiction reads, this was easy and moving and had SO MUCH I didn't know about.
Well written, this is written in more in a narrative style than the traditional dry non-fiction style that so many people avoid. Honestly, a really great book for people who don't usually like to read non-fiction.
May 30, 2019
What a delightful surprise this book featuring interesting curios, anecdotes and little known facts from history turned out to be. The author, Andrew Vinken is keen to point out the difference between his history emanating from ordinary people and the ‘history from above’ approach that most of us learnt in school focusing on the rulers and not the ruled. Comprising of short readable chapters there is an eclectic range of subjects including a macabre unsolved murder, a regicidal hermit, a mysterious manuscript and a phantom dog.
Too be honest once I read one chapter I was so intrigued by the heading of the next one that I literally could not put the book down and was through it in no time at all. I have always been interested in the little known and unusual and found the easy going often humorous prose most appealing. There are also photographs to accompany the text.
If you have a liking for history told from a slightly different perspective and like to be entertained as well as educated then you can do a lot worse then to read this charmingly eccentric and engaging book.
Too be honest once I read one chapter I was so intrigued by the heading of the next one that I literally could not put the book down and was through it in no time at all. I have always been interested in the little known and unusual and found the easy going often humorous prose most appealing. There are also photographs to accompany the text.
If you have a liking for history told from a slightly different perspective and like to be entertained as well as educated then you can do a lot worse then to read this charmingly eccentric and engaging book.
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