Friday, July 5, 2024

Cabinet of Curiosities

The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' is a collection of history's most fascinating stories. Aaron Mahnke with Harry Marks wrote this 336-page book. In each of the following topics, there are approximately a dozen stories of unbelievable, unsettling, and downright bizarre events. You will read and say just one more story and before you know it, another half hour has passed. There are a few stories you may have heard before, but there are many you probably haven't. You're going to be entertained and impressed so sit back, grab the book, and enjoy some coffee or tea.

It would be great to summarize a few stories from each of the sections, but that would result in a very long review. Below, I am going to summarize a few stories from a few of the sections. In this way, I hope you can get a sense of what to expect within its pages.

Table of Contents:

  • American History

Pony Up (summarized by me)

"Pony Bob" was the nickname given to Robert Haslam because he made the fastest deliveries in Pony Express history. In the Pyramid Lake Indian War, Pony Bob covered 190 miles without rest on horseback in just under nine hours. The round trip was 380 miles and was completed in under two days. The most important ride he took was in April 1861. A special delivery of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address was made from Fort Kearny in Nebraska Territory to Placerville, California. On the 120-mile trip, he was twice shot by bow and arrow in Indian territory. What made this trip so important. California might have sided with the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War if Pony Bob hadn't made it in time.

  • Coincidences

  • Creatures

  • Death Defying

  • Events

  • Literature

The Plot (summarized by me)

Mary disappeared. She left a note about a last-minute trip, but then basically disappeared. According to everyone, her husband murdered her because he had a mistress and intended to divorce her. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. When Mary was found 230 miles away, she claimed to have no memory of what had happened. She was believed by some and disbelieved by others. The twist. In the absence of her, popular literature would not exist as it does today. She will always be known as the queen of mystery novels, Agatha Mary Christie.

  • Inventions

  • Mysteries

  • Origin Stories

  • People

  • Places

  • More Than Human

The Little Giant (summarized by me)

At the turn of the century, Adam Rainer of Austria was quite small. His 4' 6" height prevented him from enlisting in the German army during World War I. Despite this, his hands and feet grew at an abnormal rate. By 21, Adam had grown 3' taller. It was determined that he had acromegaly. His growth continued. He was 7' 8" tall when he died at the age of 51. As the only man in history to have lived both as a dwarf and as a giant, Adam was unique.

  • True Crime

  • War

The book is certainly quite interesting. In general, each story is between three and five pages long. In general, I enjoyed reading the book. This is a book I recommend.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Silent Night

  The book Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne is a beautifully illustrated book containing one of Christianity's most beloved Christmas so...