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The Real Brass Ring
by Dianne Bischoff JamesWhat Do I Do Now? The Secrets of a Midlife Reboot The Real Brass Ring takes The Secret on a high-speed road test in a tale of midlife transformation in the real, flesh-and-blood world of contemporary Chicago. It is the story of a "midlife reboot," a raw, unfiltered journey of enlightenment that illustrates a woman's daunting personal reinvention and the rewards of fearlessly pursuing a life's true calling. After a jolting encounter with internationally known psychic and author Sonia Choquette, Dianne Bischoff James is forced to face the truth about her life. Sonia's words cut like a knife: Dianne, you are a talented writer, healer, teacher and performer. But sadly your life is heading down the wrong path. Your brass ring is coming by and you need to grab it before it's too late. You have modeled yourself after your parents' desires. You are completely stuck in the make-believe role of being a 'good girl. ' You live with depression because nothing about your life is your own. . . . Fix your ways or soon it will be too late. Dianne had achieved an impressive education, an accomplished entrepreneurial career, a busy family life and social status; yet somehow, she had completely missed "the real brass ring. " Although she had had a perfectly "traditional" background, her marriage was a sham, career uninspiring, health failing and self-esteem and spirituality non-existent. At 38, it was as if she had awakened to a nightmare: she had been living a profound lie. Finding herself completely off-track, Dianne openly bares her soul and utilizes the metaphysical principles of The Secret to set out to change every aspect of her existence. She insists that she is worthy of an authentic romantic relationship and initiates the break-up of her marriage, with three children in tow; and dives into midlife "cougar" dating, including a close call with a charming but dangerously abusive alcoholic. By experimenting with the Law of Attraction, she also launches the acting career she had always dreamed of as a child and surprises even herself with success in an extremely competitive arena. Gradually, yet boldly, Dianne also faces other critical issues, including physical afflictions, a terrifying financial recession and the death of a loved one - removing each daunting roadblock one by one and manifesting a newly-created self. "I'd approached every change as a free fall, diving through the air and grabbing at brass rings along the way," Dianne writes. "I'd made more mistakes than I could even count, but I also absorbed the painful, yet innately valuable teachings . . . Now, I had what I wanted all along, emotional peace, love, a uniquely sculpted family unit, an outlet for my creativity and a new life in hand . . . This was the picture Sonia painted for me on my 38th birthday - it just took me over a decade to erect the living model from the shadows. " By chronicling her own personal reinvention with grit, humor, incisiveness and compassion in The Real Brass Ring, Dianne provides the inspiration and passion others need to reclaim their authentic self.
The Real Bravo Two Zero
by Michael AsherThe true story of the most famous SAS operation in history.'Bravo Two Zero' was the code-name of the famous SAS operation: a classic story of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. BRAVO TWO ZERO by patrol commander 'Andy McNab' became an international bestseller, as did the book by 'Chris Ryan' (THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY). Both men became millionaires. Three members of the patrol were killed. One, veteran sergeant Vince Phillips, was blamed in both books for a succession of mistakes. As Michael Asher reveals, the stories in BRAVO TWO ZERO and THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY grew considerably in the telling. Their heroic tales of taking out tanks with their rocket launchers, mowing down hundreds of Iraqi soldiers, the silent stabbing of the occasional sentry, were never mentioned at their post-war debriefings... In an investigation literally in the footsteps of the patrol, Michael Asher tells the true story.
The Real Bravo Two Zero
by Michael AsherThe true story of the most famous SAS operation in history.'Bravo Two Zero' was the code-name of the famous SAS operation: a classic story of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. BRAVO TWO ZERO by patrol commander 'Andy McNab' became an international bestseller, as did the book by 'Chris Ryan' (THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY). Both men became millionaires. Three members of the patrol were killed. One, veteran sergeant Vince Phillips, was blamed in both books for a succession of mistakes. As Michael Asher reveals, the stories in BRAVO TWO ZERO and THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY grew considerably in the telling. Their heroic tales of taking out tanks with their rocket launchers, mowing down hundreds of Iraqi soldiers, the silent stabbing of the occasional sentry, were never mentioned at their post-war debriefings... In an investigation literally in the footsteps of the patrol, Michael Asher tells the true story.
The Real Coco Chanel
by Rose SguegliaA biography of the French fashion icon that unveils the private life behind the public image. Coco Chanel lived her own life as a romantic heroine. Fueled by nineteenth-century literature, she built an image for herself which was partly myth and partly factual. She was the fashion designer everyone admired, the businesswoman whose fortune was impossible to track. She was also a performer, a lover of many high-profile intellectuals, and, as believed by many, a Nazi spy. This biography explores her life from her troubled and poverty-stricken past to the opening of her first hat shop to the creation of her iconic Little Black Dress and Chanel No. 5 perfume. It explores her passions and secrets; the drama behind the scenes of her empire; and the real woman behind the brand name and pop culture image.
The Real Coco Chanel
by Rose SguegliaA biography of the French fashion icon that unveils the private life behind the public image. Coco Chanel lived her own life as a romantic heroine. Fueled by nineteenth-century literature, she built an image for herself which was partly myth and partly factual. She was the fashion designer everyone admired, the businesswoman whose fortune was impossible to track. She was also a performer, a lover of many high-profile intellectuals, and, as believed by many, a Nazi spy. This biography explores her life from her troubled and poverty-stricken past to the opening of her first hat shop to the creation of her iconic Little Black Dress and Chanel No. 5 perfume. It explores her passions and secrets; the drama behind the scenes of her empire; and the real woman behind the brand name and pop culture image.
The Real Custer: From Boy General to Tragic Hero
by James S RobbinsThe Real Custer takes a good hard look at the life and storied military career of George Armstrong Custer--from cutting his teeth at Bull Run in the Civil War, to his famous and untimely death at Little Bighorn in the Indian Wars. <P><P>Author James Robbins demonstrates that Custer, having graduated last in his class at West Point, went on to prove himself again and again as an extremely skilled cavalry leader. Robbins argues that Custer's undoing was his bold and cocky attitude, which caused the Army's bloodiest defeat in the Indian Wars. <P><P>Robbins also dives into Custer's personal life, exploring his letters and other personal documents to reveal who he was as a person, underneath the military leader. The Real Custer is an exciting and valuable contribution to the legend and history of Custer that will delight Custer fans as well as readers new to the legend.
The Real Deal: My Decade Fighting Battles and Winning Wars with Trump
by George A. Sorial Damian BatesRemember when Trump was a great boss, a great father, and a great businessman, before the liberal media rewrote that narrative? That’s still the real Trump.Longtime Trump Organization executive and attorney George A. Sorial saw the real Trump firsthand, from the early days of The Apprentice to the passing of power to the younger generation before the inauguration. He learned from his boss how to use chaos, the media, and a single-minded focus to achieve things everyone else said were impossible.He learned how to predict what the world’s least predictable leader would do next.In The Real Deal, George A. Sorial and Damian Bates, a former newspaper editor who has covered Trump for years, explain the forty-fifth president’s business and political strategies in detail. Often what looks complicated is just a man giving the people what he wants. For instance, why would Trump run for president, when winning would be a financial disaster for him? He was forced to set aside his TV contracts and international expansion, costing him hundreds of millions of dollars. The answer is: because everyone he talked to wanted him to run to make America great again. In this book we see a man barely recognizable from the media’s depiction. We see the deliberate and cunning reasons he scolds people, gets impatient with complicated briefings, hires neophytes, and starts fights in the media. We also see a boss who was hard-working, fun, well read, generous with opportunities, and endlessly interested in outside opinions. The mainstream media has tried to undermine the president at every turn by spreading lies about his management abilities, his negotiation style, and his business success. Now, in The Real Deal, George A. Sorial and Damian Bates explain how Trump’s unusual style worked so well for decades—and how it’s working better in the White House than anyone realizes.
The Real Deal: My Life in Business and Philanthropy
by Sandy Weill Judah S. KraushaarThe Sandy Weill story is truly one for the ages. Starting with $30,000 in borrowed cash in 1960, and relying on uncanny entrepreneurial instincts in the corporate world, he made himself a billionaire and became one of the most powerful bankers in the world. After rising to become the president of American Express, Weill saw his empire crash and burn. Undaunted, he started over with a second-tier consumer loan company called Commercial Credit, which eventually led to his position as CEO and then chairman of Citigroup. While at Citigroup, Weill delivered an astounding 2,600% return to investors--better than legendary CEO Jack Welch or investor Warren Buffett during that same period. But success is never an easy path, and Weill shares all the high and low points along the way--warts and all. His ascent to power has been documented by the business media over the years, but never before has Weill gone on the record, revealing his brutally honest and unvarnished side of his astounding life and career trajectory.
The Real Deal: My Story from Brick Lane to Dragons' Den
by James CaanAfter dropping out of school at just sixteen, James Caan started his business life in a broom cupboard with no qualifications and two pieces of fatherly wisdom: 'observe the masses and do the opposite' and 'always look for opportunities where both parties benefit'. Armed with this advice, natural charm and the Yellow Pages, he built a market-leading business with a turnover of £130 million and swiftly became one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs.From Caan's childhood as a Pakistani immigrant to the phenomenal success of his first company and beyond, The Real Deal traces both his financial and personal achievements. It offers a frank account of what success at thirty really signifies and brings us right up to the present, including his impact on Dragons' Den and what his charity work, from saving a hospital in London to building a school in Lahore, means to him. Ultimately, it is a story of learning what money is really worth, told by one the country's most insightful businessmen.
The Real Deal: The Autobiography of Britain’s Most Controversial Media Mogul
by Richard DesmondFrom the age of five, when he helped his deaf father negotiate advertising contracts, Richard Desmond has always had an eye for business. In The Real Deal he offers a no-holds-barred account of an extraordinary career that has taken him from cloakroom attendant at a north London club to billionaire media owner. En route he tells of his early life as a rock and roll drummer, his first steps in the world of magazine publishing as a purveyor of leisure and top-shelf titles, and finally, after decades of paying his dues building smaller brands, his arrival in the big league with the launch of OK! magazine and the acquisition of Express Newspapers, his purchase and sale of Channel 5, and his £80 million investment in the Health Lottery, combining business innovation with help for good causes. Along the way, he imparts many of the secrets of his astounding success, as well as giving his forthright opinion (and he always has one) on such diverse subjects as politicians, religion, and the similarities between being a rock and roll drummer and running a business – as well as his views on a cast of characters ranging from Alan Sugar to Victoria Beckham and from Simon Cowell to Jennifer Aniston.Often controversial, frequently revelatory, always entertaining, The Real Deal is the brilliantly frank account of a life spent at the sharp end.
The Real Diana Dors
by Anna CaleThe true story of the tumultuous and too-short life of the film star known as &“the English Marilyn Monroe.&” The story of Diana Dors is one of fame, glamour, and intrigue. From the moment she came into the world, her life was full of drama. She began her acting career in the shadow of the Second World War, entering the film world as a vulnerable young teenager and negotiating the difficult British studio system of the 1940s and &’50s. Yet she battled against the odds to become one of the most iconic British actors of the twentieth century. This book follows her remarkable story, from childhood in suburban Swindon to acting success as a teenager and finding fame as the &“the English Marilyn Monroe.&” Many remember her as an outspoken and sometimes controversial figure, grabbing headlines for her personal life as often as for her film roles. For Diana, image seemed to be everything, but there was more to her than the blonde-bombshell reputation suggested. A talented actor, she worked on numerous film and television projects, building a career that spanned decades. Set against the backdrop of the changing social landscape of twentieth century Britain, this book charts the ups and downs of her professional adventures and her tumultuous private life, to build a fascinating picture of a unique screen icon.
The Real Dirt on America's Frontier Legends: The Real Dirt On America's Frontier Legends (The Real Dirt)
by Jim MotavalliLearn the truth behind the famous characters of the Wild West—and how the legends got it wrong—in this lively history that separates fact from fiction. The historic figures of the Western frontier have fascinated us for generations. But in many cases, the stories we know about them are little more than inventions. Popular legend won&’t tell you, for instance, that David Crockett was a congressman, or that Daniel Boone was a Virginia legislator. Thanks to penny dreadfuls, Wild West shows, sensationalist newspaper stories, and tall tales told by the explorers themselves, what we know of these men and women is often more fiction than fact.The Real Dirt on America's Frontier Legends separates fact from fiction, showing the legends and the evidence side-by-side to give readers the real story of the old West. Here you&’ll discover the fascinating truth about Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, &“Buffalo Bill&” Cody, Calamity Jane, Kit Carson, Davy Crocket, and many others.
The Real Dirt on America's Frontier Outlaws (The Real Dirt)
by Jim MotavalliLearn the real stories behind the infamous renegades of the West with “Motavalli’s entertaining treatment of this bunch of baddies” (HistoryNet.com).The rebels and bandits of the American West—like Billy the Kid, Jesse James, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid—have always made for thrilling tales of gunfights, heists, and outlaws. From the beginning, penny dreadfuls, Wild West shows, dime novels, and urban legends romanticized and magnified these renegades and their wild American spirits. These tales, however, don’t capture the truth of the West’s outlaws—nor do we hear about other lawless individuals, such as Pearl Hart, Belle Starr, or the Bloody Espinosas. Jim Motavalli returns with The Real Dirt on America’s Frontier Outlaws to give a real and more inclusive look at the old West and the dangerous figures that immortalized it.
The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly
by Matt MccarthyIn medical school, Matt McCarthy dreamed of being a different kind of doctor--the sort of mythical, unflappable physician who could reach unreachable patients. But when a new admission to the critical care unit almost died his first night on call, he found himself scrambling. Visions of mastery quickly gave way to hopes of simply surviving hospital life, where confidence was hard to come by and no amount of med school training could dispel the terror of facing actual patients.This funny, candid memoir of McCarthy's intern year at a New York hospital provides a scorchingly frank look at how doctors are made, taking readers into patients' rooms and doctors' conferences to witness a physician's journey from ineptitude to competence. McCarthy's one stroke of luck paired him with a brilliant second-year adviser he called "Baio" (owing to his resemblance to the Charles in Charge star), who proved to be a remarkable teacher with a wicked sense of humor. McCarthy would learn even more from the people he cared for, including a man named Benny, who was living in the hospital for months at a time awaiting a heart transplant. But no teacher could help McCarthy when an accident put his own health at risk, and showed him all too painfully the thin line between doctor and patient.The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly offers a window on to hospital life that dispenses with sanctimony and self-seriousness while emphasizing the black-comic paradox of becoming a doctor: How do you learn to save lives in a job where there is no practice?From the Hardcover edition.
The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly: A Physician's First Year
by Matt MccarthyIn medical school, Matt McCarthy dreamed of being a different kind of doctor--the sort of mythical, unflappable physician who could reach unreachable patients. But when a new admission to the critical care unit almost died his first night on call, he found himself scrambling. Visions of mastery quickly gave way to hopes of simply surviving hospital life, where confidence was hard to come by and no amount of med school training could dispel the terror of facing actual patients.This funny, candid memoir of McCarthy's intern year at a New York hospital provides a scorchingly frank look at how doctors are made, taking readers into patients' rooms and doctors' conferences to witness a physician's journey from ineptitude to competence. McCarthy's one stroke of luck paired him with a brilliant second-year adviser he called "Baio" (owing to his resemblance to the Charles in Charge star), who proved to be a remarkable teacher with a wicked sense of humor. McCarthy would learn even more from the people he cared for, including a man named Benny, who was living in the hospital for months at a time awaiting a heart transplant. But no teacher could help McCarthy when an accident put his own health at risk, and showed him all too painfully the thin line between doctor and patient.The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly offers a window on to hospital life that dispenses with sanctimony and self-seriousness while emphasizing the black-comic paradox of becoming a doctor: How do you learn to save lives in a job where there is no practice?From the Hardcover edition.
The Real Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (Platinum Nonfiction Ser.)
by Andrew MarrA surprising and very personal biography of a woman who may be the world's last great queen, published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of her reignElizabeth II, one of England's longest-reigning monarchs, is an enigma. In public, she confines herself to optimistic pieties and guarded smiles; in private, she is wry, funny, and an excellent mimic. Now, for the first time, one of Britain's leading journalists and historians gets behind the mask and tells us the fascinating story of the real Elizabeth.Born shortly before the Depression, Elizabeth grew up during World War II and became queen because of the shocking abdication of her uncle and the early death of her father. Only twenty-five when she ascended to the throne, she has been at the apex of the British state for nearly six decades. She has entertained and known numerous world leaders, including every U.S. president since Harry Truman. Brought up to regard family values as sacred, she has seen all but one of her children divorce; her heir, Prince Charles, conduct an adulterous affair before Princess Diana's death; and a steady stream of family secrets poured into the open. Yet she has never failed to carry out her duties, and she has never said a word about any of the troubles she has endured.Andrew Marr, who enjoys extraordinary access to senior figures at Buckingham Palace, has written a revealing and essential book about a woman who has managed to remain private to the point of mystery throughout her reign.
The Real Enid Blyton
by Nadia CohenShe is the most prolific childrens author in history, but Enid Blyton is also the most controversial. A remarkable woman who wrote hundreds of books in a career spanning forty years, even her razor sharp mind could never have predicted her enormous global audience. Now, fifty years after her death, Enid remains a phenomenon, with sales outstripping every rival.Parents and teachers lobbied against Enids books, complaining they were simplistic, repetitive and littered with sexist and snobbish undertones. Blatant racist slurs were particularly shockingly; foreign and working class characters were treated with a distain that horrifies modern readers. But regardless of the criticism, Enid worked until she could not physically write another word, famously producing thousands of words a day hunched over her manual typewriter.She imaged a more innocent world, where children roamed unsupervised, and problems were solved with midnight feasts or glorious picnics with lashings of ginger beer. Smugglers, thieves, spies and kidnappers were thwarted by fearless gangs who easily outwitted the police, while popular schoolgirls scored winning goals in nail-biting lacrosse matches.Enid carefully crafted her public image to ensure her fans only knew of this sunny persona, but behind the scenes, she weaved elaborate stories to conceal infidelities, betrayals and unconventional friendships, lied about her childhood and never fully recovered from her parents marriage collapsing. She grew up convinced that her beloved father abandoned her for someone he loved more, and few could ever measure up to her impossible standards.A complex and immature woman, Enid was plagued by insecurities and haunted by a dark past. She was prone to bursts of furious temper, yet was a shrewd businesswoman years ahead of her time. She may not have been particularly likeable, and her stories infuriatingly unimaginative, but she left a vast literary legacy to generations of children.
The Real Enigma Heroes
by Phil ShanahanFor almost sixty years after their deaths, three men, whose brave actions shortened the Second World War by as much as two years, remained virtually unknown and uncelebrated. Two lost their lives retrieving vital German codebooks from a sinking U-boat. The third survived the war, only to die in a house fire soon afterwards. But it was the precious documents they seized in October 1942 that enabled Bletchley Park’s code-breakers to crack Enigma and so win the Battle of the Atlantic. Now recognised as a pivotal moment in world history, three British servicemen made it possible to finally beat the U-boats, but at the time not even their families could be told of the importance of their deeds. Shrouded in secrecy for decades, then recast as fictional Americans by the Hollywood film U-571, this book sets the record straight. It is written in celebration of Colin Grazier GC, Tony Fasson GC, and Tommy Brown GM - the REAL Enigma heroes.
The Real Falstaff: Sir John Fastolf and the Hundred Years War
by Stephen CooperThis historical study examines the life and military accomplishments of the medieval knight who inspired one of Shakespeare&’s most beloved characters. One of the most famous English knights of the Hundred Years War, Sir John Fastolf is widely thought to be a model for Shakespeare&’s immortal character, Sir John Falstaff. In The Real Falstaff, historian Stephen Cooper examines the link in full, shedding light on his story as well as the declining English fortunes during the last phase of the Hundred Years War. Witnessing both the triumphs of Henry V, and the disasters of the 1450s, Fastolf was one of the last of the brave but often brutal English soldiers who made their careers waging war in France. Cooper retraces the entire course of Fastolf&’s long life, putting special focus on his many campaigns. A vivid picture of the old soldier emerges and of the French wars in which he played such a prominent part. But the author also explores Fastolf&’s legacy, his connection to the Paston family—famous for the Paston letters—and the use Shakespeare made of Fastolf&’s name, career, and character when he created Sir John Falstaff.
The Real Fidel Castro
by Leycester ColtmanRhetoric during and after the Cold War years has painted starkly contrasting portraits of Cuba's Fidel Castro: an unblemished idealist on the one hand, a ruthless dictator on the other. This insightful book, the most intimate and dispassionate biography of the revolutionary leader to date, shows that neither assessment is true. Leycester Coltman, British ambassador to Cuba in the early 1990s, came as close to personal friendship with Castro as any foreigner was permitted. With frequent contact and regular conversations, Coltman was in a unique position to observe the dictator's personality in both public and private situations. Here he presents a close-up view of the man who for half a century has been loved, admired, feared, and hated, but seldom really understood. Coltman chronicles the events of the Cuban leader's extraordinary life from the political activism of his university days in Havana to periods of exile, imprisonment, and guerilla warfare alongside Che Guevara, to the uncertainties of his old age. Drawing on personal observation and archival sources in Cuba and abroad, Coltman explores the contradiction between the private character and the public reputation, and highlights the complexities of the consummate actor who continues to play a crucial role on the international stage.
The Real George Eliott
by Lisa TippingsThe Real George Eliot revisits the life of the groundbreaking nineteenth century novelist. Eliot was a writer who explored such important questions as the role of women in society and the education they were allowed to access, religion and the restrictions it could sometimes place on individuals, and the struggle between a person’s public and private persona. Her own private life was the cause of much speculation and notoriety. Eliot chose to ignore most of the conventions of Victorian society in order to pursue her own happiness, and her relationship with George Henry Lewes scandalized many members of ‘polite’ society. Regardless of this, however, she overcame such prejudice and in later life enjoyed the company of some of the greatest thinkers and academics of the time, and this is a testament to her formidable intelligence. The fact that she is still so widely read today, is a sign of the longevity of her skills as a writer.
The Real George Washington (American Classic Series)
by Jay A. Parry Andrew M. AllisonWhy, after two centuries, does George Washington remain one of the most beloved figures in our history? The Real George Washington Answers that question by giving us a close look at this man who became the "father of our country" and the first American President. But rather than focus on the interpretations of historians, the book tells much of his exciting story in his own words. In Part I you'll meet a man who *lost his father at age 11 and nearly joined the British navy at 15. *was ambushed in the French and Indian War, receiving bullets through his coat and hat but escaping without injury. *held together a destitute army through the long and terrible winter at Valley Forge. *resisted plans to make him king and an army plot to take over the government. *made the Constitutional Convention credible by his presence and helped win ratification of the Constitution by his support. *sacrificed his desire for a quiet retirement to serve as the first President, and, while serving, set a valuable precedent of constitutional governance. Part II of the book brings together the most important and insightful passages from Washington's writings, conveniently arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter.
The Real Girl Next Door: A Memoir
by Denise RichardsIT’S COMPLICATED. We’ve read the scandalous headlines, watched her sexy breakout performances in Starship Troopers and Wild Things, and seen her many public faces on her reality television show—the beautiful vixen, the devoted mother, the hard-working entertainer, and the fun-loving friend. But how well do we really know Denise Richards? Like so many small-town girls, she dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. But following a painful, high-profile divorce from Charlie Sheen, she found herself raising their two young daughters alone as her mother was dying of cancer. Denise writes openly and honestly about these experiences and more: she lets you in on her childhood dreams, her fated move to Hollywood with her close-knit family, her rise to fame, the pressures of living in the spotlight, and the controversy surrounding her relationships. Through it all, she managed to keep her sense of humor and optimism. She offers an up-close and personal look at her most intimate battle scars and the lessons she’s learned as she’s healed and grown. Denise’s story will resonate with anyone who has had to look within herself to find strength and courage when life is throwing curveballs. Inspiring and uplifting, raw and revealing, Denise finally lets her fans in on the resilient woman behind the bombshell persona, the person her friends and family already know: The Real Girl Next Door.
The Real Gladiator: The True Story of Maximus Decimus Meridius
by Tony Sullivan“Are you not entertained?” shouts Russell Crowe, playing the part of General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the Oscar winning 2000 film Gladiator. The crowd, having witnessed Maximus defeating several gladiators, cheer in response. Film goers too were indeed entertained with the film grossing nearly half a billion dollars. This book covers the historical events that film was based on. From the Germanic wars on the northern frontier to the gladiatorial arena in Rome. From the philosopher emperor, Marcus Aurelius to the palace intrigues during the reign of his son. We will discover how Commodus really died and which of the characters actually fought in the arena. Readers will meet two generals, Pompeianus and Maximianus, who most resemble our hero General Maximus. Also Lucilla, the sister of Commodus, who in reality married her General, but detested him. The book also focuses on warfare, weapons and contemporary battles. It will compare the battle and fight scenes in the film with reality from contemporary sources and modern tests and reenactments. The reader will discover that fact is not only stranger than fiction, it is often more entertaining. The real history was certainly as much, if not more, treacherous, bloodthirsty, murderous and dramatic than anything the film industry has created. Anyone who answered “yes!” to the question posed by Russell Crowe’s character in the film, will indeed be entertained by this book.
The Real Guy Fawkes
by Nick HollandThis biography looks behind the mask of the seventeenth-century rebel who became a controversial folk hero for his role in the infamous Gunpowder Plot.Today, Guy Fawkes is an instantly recognizable symbol of violent rebellion across the globe. Some proudly dress in his image while others burn his effigy. But few people know the story of the man behind the legend. In The Real Guy Fawkes, biographer Nick Holland explores his eventful life and the complicated, dangerous era in which he lived.Born in York in 1570, Fawkes was raised Protestant, yet went on to plan mass murder for the Catholic cause. Prepared to risk everything and endanger countless lives, was he a freedom fighter, a treasonous fanatic, or merely a fool? Holland offers a fresh take on Fawkes’s early life, showing how he was radicalized into a Catholic mercenary and a key member of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. Featuring beautiful illustrations, this accessible and engaging biography combines contemporary accounts with modern analysis to reveal new motivations behind his actions.