Bad days in history

a gleefully grim chronicle of misfortune, mayhem, and misery for every day of the year

479 pages

English language

Published Jan. 11, 2015

ISBN:
978-1-4262-1268-0
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
885224521

View on OpenLibrary

3 stars (4 reviews)

"Bestselling author of A Treasury of Royal Scandals Michael Farquhar uncovers an instance of bad luck, epic misfortune, and unadulterated mayhem tied to every day of the year in this engrossing compendium of history's worst moments. From Caligula's blood-soaked end to hotelier Steve Wynn's unfortunate run-in with a priceless Picasso, Bad Days in History delves into the past to present 365 delightfully told tales of historically bad days. Michael Farquhar's cleverly written entries draw from the full sweep of history to take readers through a complete year of misery, including tales of lost fortunes (like the would-be Apple investor who pulled out in 1977 and missed out on a $30 billion-dollar windfall), romance gone wrong (like the 16th-century Shah who experimented with an early form of Viagra with empire-changing results), and truly bizarre moments (like the Great Molasses Flood of 1919). Catchy headlines draw readers into each entry and 100 …

3 editions

Subjects

  • Errors
  • Anecdotes
  • World history
  • Curiosities and wonders
  • Disasters
  • Biography
  • History