The Hunt for History

On the Trail of the World's Lost Treasures - from the Letters of Lincoln, Churchill, and Einstein to the Secret Recordings On-Board JFK's Air Force One

By: Nathan Raab, Luke Barr

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Nathan Raab, America’s preeminent rare documents dealer, delivers a “diverting account of treasure hunting in the fast lane” (The Wall Street Journal) that recounts his years as the Sherlock Holmes of historical artifacts, questing after precious finds and determining their authenticity.

A box uncovered in a Maine attic with 20 letters written by Alexander Hamilton; a handheld address to Congress by President George Washington; a long-lost Gold Medal that belonged to an American President; a note that Winston Churchill wrote to his captor when he was a young POW in South Africa; paperwork signed and filled out by Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic; an American flag carried to the moon and back by Neil Armstrong; an unpublished letter written by Albert Einstein, discussing his theory of relativity.

Each day, people from all over the world contact Nathan Raab for help understanding what they have, what it might be worth, and how to sell it. The Raab Collection’s president, Nathan is a modern-day treasure hunter and one of the world’s most prominent dealers of historical artifacts. Most weeks, he travels the country, scours auctions, or fields phone calls and emails from people who think they may have found something of note in a grandparent’s attic.

In The Hunt for History, “Raab takes us on a wild hunt and deliciously opens up numerous hidden crevices of history” (Jay Winik, author of April 1865) - spotting a letter from British officials that secured the Rosetta Stone; discovering a piece of the first electric cable laid by Edison; restoring a fragmented letter from Andrew Jackson that led to the infamous Trail of Tears; and locating copies of missing audio that had been recorded on Air Force One as the plane brought JFK’s body back to Washington. Whether it’s the first report of Napoleon’s death or an unpublished letter penned by Albert Einstein to a curious soldier, every document and artifact Raab uncovers comes with a spellbinding story - and often offers new insights into a life we thought we knew.

©2020 Nathan Raab (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Fascinating

I found each and every story in this book very enjoyable. A must listen for the history buff who has an appreciation of the letters, notes and artifacts involved in the making of history.

A must fr history lovers!

This book gets better and better as it goes along. If you are at all interested in history, you will be in awe.

I wished it was longer

Most of the chapters of this book was not something I have had interest in, but this book brought it into focus and was so interesting. It's amazing what families have hidden away in a box in the closet. Fascinating.

Interesting but not what I expected.

Apparently I did not read much beyond the title and tagline for this book.

What I expected was a scholarly, well sourced narrative that reflected a historian's journey through time. What I got was a collectibles dealer who became a historian. Was it worth almost nine hours of my time to listen? Indeed it was!

Raab's story and "history" intertwine to reveal the characters, personalities, and events that have shaped our nation and the world. It is not so much that he uncovers tabloid worthy tidbits ( though some are present) as that he sets both well known and hidden moments in time within the larger context of historical significance. As he notes throughout the book, it is the place of a document in its context that determines its true value.

This comes through especially in the last chapter as he discusses a vast scientific archive of correspondence among mid- twentieth century luminaries such as Einstein and Planck. It is as though, through the letters, he is in the room listening to the conversation, living the history, finding the personal connections.

What struck me most was how relevant the historical documents from the founding of our nation seem poignant to the events of our day. Someone once noted that history may not repeat itself, but it echoes. Both Raab's excerpts Gregor historical documents and his commentary reflect that sentiment.

If you are looking for a relatively quick listen that holds your attention, enhances your understanding of authenticating historical documents, and enriches your perspective on the American story, this is a good selection. it would be perfect for a two day road trip that included stops at notable historic sites!

Great Listen!

This was a great listen! I love history and this book was full of it. I just wish I was able to see some of the things he talks about in person! The narrator was great also.

If you’re into history, this book is a must.

Don’t let 4.4 rating fool u

I have over 200 books in my library, so had to decide I wouldn’t get anything w less than 4.7 rating. However, this subject interests me, so I took a chance. I’m DELIGHTED I did. Fast paced, VERY informative… fascinating. U mite need to adjust narrator speed, but the content is first class.

Will help you fall asleep

I listened to this while driving and walked. It is the first time I ever got sleepy while listening and walking. Each segment was almost like the others. I never finished it.

Interesting, but.....

The topic was fascinating and the anecdotes engaging, but the story felt like a tale that lauded the author, sometimes overwhelmingly so, more than anything.

The narration was decent, but relatively boring.

Glad I didn’t pay for the book.