Synopses & Reviews
"Historians make great detectives," says Paul Aron, "and history makes for great detective stories." In Unsolved Mysteries of History, Arons second ingenious primer on the art of historical detection, he proves that history has all the twists and turns, intellectual challenges, and surprise revelations of a great mystery story. From the origins of mankindliterallyto the present, here are the twenty-five most intriguing mysteries of all time.
- Were the Neandertals our ancestors? Or did modern Homo sapiens wipe them out?
- Why did the pharaohs build the pyramids? And if they were, in fact, tombs, why is it that nobody found any bodies?
- If Gutenberg invented the printing press, why did Johannes Fust sue him . .. and win? And why was it Fusts name that appeared on the first printed books?
- Did Columbus discover America by accident? Or was he looking for a New World all along?
- How could Shakespeare, the uneducated son of a small-town glove-maker, have written with such familiarity about law, the classics, and court life? And if he didnt write the plays, who did?
- Could the Titanic have been saved? Why did the Californian, just miles from the sinking ocean liner, not go to its rescue?
- Did Hitler murder his niece? And was he her lover?
For each mystery, Aron re-creates the decisive events surrounding them and presents the latest discoveries and debates. Open Unsolved Mysteries of History and join the fray.
Synopsis
ADVANCE PRAISE FORUNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF HISTORY
"Aron has produced a fascinating and judicious description of historical mysteries from the Neandertals to Gorbachev. His entertaining account of historical controversies will leave every reader the wiser about the past." Jack F. Matlock Jr., former U.S.Ambassador to the Soviet Union"With unerring good sense and in well-paced prose, Paul Aron solves as best he can the major who-done-its, did-it-happens, and did-it-have-to-happens of world history. Unsolved Mysteries of History should keep readers engaged well into the night."
Adam Potkay, Author, A Passion for Happiness"Intriguing, fascinating, and well-written."Robert Smith Thompson, Author, A Time for War
PRAISE FOR PAUL ARONSUNSOLVED MYSTERIES OFAMERICAN HISTORY
"Stimulating and pleasurable, fair and objective . . . recommended for both the history buff and the fan of true-life mysteries."Kirkus Reviews
"A welcome gateway for historical exploration."Booklist
Synopsis
- Who built Stonehenge?
- Why did the pharaohs build the pyramids?
- Did Richard III kill the princes in the tower?
- Could the Titanic have been saved?
- Did Hitler murder his niece?
PRAISE FOR UNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF HISTORY
"Like a sleuth, Aron pieces together the possible answers . . . Its an engaging way to learn more about history and the new evidence that sheds light on long-standing theories." Daily Press
"Aron has produced a fascinating and judicious description of historical mysteries from the Neanderthals to Gorbachev. His entertaining account of historical controversies will leave every reader the wiser about the past." Jack F. Matlock Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union
"With unerring good sense and in well-paced prose, Paul Aron solves as best he can the major who-done-its, did-it-happens, and did-it-have-to-happens of world history. Unsolved Mysteries of History should keep readers engaged well into the night." Adam Potkay, author, A Passion for Happiness
Synopsis
A fascinating look at thirty of the mysteries that have baffled the world through the ages, by the author of Unsolved Mysteries of American History.
About the Author
PAUL ARON is the author of Unsolved Mysteries of American History. He has been an award-winning reporter for the Virginia Gazette, editorial director at Leo Douglas Publishers, executive editor at Simon and Schuster, and editor at Anchor Press.
Table of Contents
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Were the Neandertals Our Ancestors?
Who Build Stonehenge?
Why Did the Pharaohs Build the Pyramids?
Who Was Theseus?
Was There Really a Trojan War?
Did Jesus Die on the Cross?
What Were the Nazca Lines?
Who Was King Arthur?
Why Did Mayan Civilization Collapse?
Who Built the Statues on Easter Island?
What Was Joan of Arc's "Sign"?
Who Invented Printing?
Did Richard III Kill the Princes in the Tower?
Did Columbus Intend to Discover America?
Did Martin Guerre Return?
Did Mary, Queen of Scots, Murder Her Husband?
Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays?
Was Captain Kidd a Pirate?
Was Mozart Poisoned?
Why Did Freud Abandon His Seduction Theory?
Could the Titanic Have Been Saved?
Did Any of the Romanovs Survive?
Did Hitler Murder His Niece?
Why Did Hess Fly to Scotland?
Was Gorbachev Part of the August Coup?
Index.