Review of 365 Your Date with History
Find Out What Happened When, Where and How Day by Day
May 7, 2009
365 Your Date with History presents a variety of significant historical vignettes that are laid out according the day on which they happened.
What Happened Today in History?
Have you ever wondered what happened today in history? Find out by browsing this comprehensive encyclopedia that reveals the major political events, discoveries and stories that made history. A guide such as this is of great use to writers who are looking for inspiration for an article, schoolteachers who are trying to think of themes for assemblies or anyone who just wants to know what happened on their birthday in years gone by.
History for Beginners
Historical facts are presented in a lively, light-hearted style or with sobriety when appropriate. The flashes of humour add interest to a subject that, for many, is remembered as a just a succession of dates and names dictated in school history lessons. Having been written with the clear intention of being a general history book, 365 Your Date with History will be of interest to those who enjoy dipping in and out of history at random rather than focusing on any one particular area.
Humour in History
The use of humour in the contents page can be particularly effective at attracting attention; 'A neurotic spinster queen marries a cold-eyed prince' is more eye-catching to the casual observer than a bare statement of the fact that on this day, 'Mary Tudor, Queen of England, married the future Philip II of Spain.' This is not dumbing down, just a more interesting way of enticing non-specialists into the subject. Other intriguing contents-page descriptors include: 2nd September: Nine days that never existed, 22nd August: Why the French heir to the throne is called a dolphin and 19th January: A mad empress finally expires.
World History in 365 Days
What is really interesting about a book like this is the way in which the juxtaposition of seemingly incongruous events can give a fresh slant to the reading of history. For example, on the 25th of May 1895 the Irish wit and writer, Oscar Wilde was convicted of the then offence of 'the love that dare not speak its name'. It is, of course, pure coincidence that this happens to be the same day upon which Louis Napoleon, erstwhile Emporer of France happened to escape from prison. When considered at the same time, the two events, although connected only by date, may give rise to a deeper consideration of the concept of crime and punishment and how this has changed throughout history.
This book would make a superb gift for anyone who enjoys amassing general rather than specialised knowledge about history.
W B Marsh and Bruce Carrick, 365 Your Date with History, published by Icon Books Ltd, ISBN 1-84-6065
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