Curious Events in History

By Michael Powell

Here are forty of the most curious events in world history. Though they span the centuries and circle the globe, they share one common trait: all were too peculiar to make it into the standard history books. Read these fascinating accounts and learn about:

• The craze for consuming powdered mummy to cure all ailments
• The medieval courtroom advocate who pled the case of plaintiff rats
• The U.S. President who was shot by an assassin but killed by his doctors' earnest efforts to treat him

If you thought you knew all you needed to know about history, this book will show you some truly curious gaps in your knowledge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fall River Press
• Release date: Sep 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781435138919

Michael Powell

An Adams Media author.

Reviews for Curious Events in History

[amynorthmartinez · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is a short, unsourced collection of odd moments in history. It supports the idea that history is written by the winners. When I found it, I had the idea for presenting a "Fact or Fiction" research project. It is written to a young audience and there are a lot of great illustrations. Students would have to research a few events in the book, and present their findings in an argumentative essay. I thought it would be good to use for eight graders. I would not use this book in a classroom. Aside from the inappropriate, suicide and drug related content, there is a structural barrier to presenting this book to developing readers. The text is written in thin columns, similar to a newspaper article, only thinner. I would argue that this fracturing of the text is detrimental to the development of robust reading stamina.