The Forgotten Past

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.

I really enjoyed this book and will be seeking more of this author's work. I love history so it was right up my street. Highly recommended.

I thought this was an interesting read and I read it rather quickly. I did not know a large portion of the stories but a few I had some knowledge about. If you are interested in history and trivia then you will probably enjoy this book. A fast and entertaining read.

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?

A fascinating look at the alternative side of history. Always find the unsung stories from the past to be the most interesting and this just did not disappoint.