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Ask A Historian

50 Surprising Answers to Things You Always Wanted to Know
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( 2,467 ratings, 226 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ask A Historian by Greg Jenner offers a delightful journey through history by answering quirky and intriguing questions posed to historians. With a blend of wit and expertise, Jenner explores a wide range of topics, making history accessible and engaging for everyone.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a curious mind and a love for quirky historical insights. It delves into a wide array of intriguing historical questions, offering entertaining yet informative answers. The engaging narrative style makes complex historical facts accessible, perfect for both history buffs and casual readers interested in the oddities of the past.

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A roller coaster ride through history revealing the best facts, figures, stories and characters from ancient times to today.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'Brilliantly funny' SHAPARAK KHORSANDI

'Immensely enjoyable' BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE

'Every page contains delights' LINDSEY FITZHARRIS

Why is Italy called Italy? How old is curry? How fast was the medieval Chinese post system? How do we know how people sounded in the past? Who invented maths?

Responding to fifty genuine questions from the public, Greg Jenner takes you on an entertaining tour through history from the Stone Age to the Swinging Sixties, revealing the best and most surprising stories, facts and historical characters from the past. From ancient joke books, African empires and the invention of meringues, to mummies, mirrors and menstrual pads - Ask A Historian is a deliciously amusing and informative smorgasbord of historical curiosities.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ask a Historian by Greg Jenner is praised for being an immensely enjoyable read, accessible to a wide audience and written in a lively, engaging style. It successfully blends scholarly research with humour, intended to both entertain and educate. The book delves into fascinating and peculiar historical questions, making it both illuminating and entertaining. Reviewers commend Jenner's storytelling abilities, marking it as a delightful and informative exploration of history's quirks and wonders.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474618625

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Greg Jenner is a public historian best known as the host of the hit BBC podcasts You're Dead To Me and Homeschool History, his work on BBC's multi-award winning TV series Horrible Histories, and for his books Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity, From Bronze Age To Silver Screen and A Million Years In A Day: A Curious History of Everyday Life From The Stone Age To The Phone Age. He is an Honorary Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London.

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    'Fizzes with clever vignettes and juicy tidbits... [a] joyous romp of a book.' Guardian 'A fascinating, rollicking book in search of why, where and how fame strikes. Sit back and enjoy the ride.' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads '[An] engaging and well-researched book... Jenner brings his material to vivid life' Observer Celebrity, with its neon glow and selfie...
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