Bizarre History

Ben Macintyre’s Agent Zigzag was hailed as “rollicking, spellbinding” (New York Times), “wildly improbable but entirely true” (Entertainment Weekly), and, quite simply, “the best book ever written” (Boston Globe). In his new book, Operation Mincemeat, he tells an extraordinary story that will delight his legions of fans. In 1943, from a windowless basement office in London, two brilliant intelligence officers conceived a plan that was both simple and complicated - Operation Mincemeat.

Everyone has heard of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But what about close encounters of the fatal kind? The field of UFOs is rife with unsettling examples of suspicious deaths. Accounts of accidents that might not have been accidents after all, abound. Researchers and witnesses have vanished, never to be seen again. Conveniently timed heart attacks are reported. Out-of-the-blue suicides that, upon investigation, bear the distinct hallmarks of murder, are all too common.

Weird but True Stories from the Vatican: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales of Popes and Power Step behind the holy veil and discover the bizarre side of Vatican history. From corpse trials and papal poisonings to secret exorcisms and beard bans, this gripping and entertaining book uncovers ten strange but true stories from the Catholic Church’s past—each more astonishing than the last. Every chapter reveals a real event drawn from verified historical records and firsthand accounts. Meet the pope who sold the papacy, the one who may have died laughing, and the castrato singer ...

Weird but True Stories from the Roaring 1920s: Strange and Bizarre Tales from the Prohibition Era is a riveting collection of real, historically documented events that prove truth is stranger than fiction. From haunted courtrooms and dance marathons that drove people to madness, to bootlegging schemes, deadly medical frauds, and a massacre that changed organized crime forever, this book explores the weirdest corners of 1920s America. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition, jazz, flappers, and gangsters, these ten unforgettable stories showcase the bizarre side of the decade that redefined ...

Weird but True Stories from Medieval Europe: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Middle Ages Step into the shadowy, surreal, and surprisingly real world of medieval Europe like never before. Weird but True Stories from Medieval Europe takes readers on a riveting journey through the strangest corners of the Middle Ages—where pigs stood trial, bishops exploded in their coffins, and entire cities danced themselves into exhaustion. Based entirely on documented historical events, this fascinating and entertaining book reveals ten unbelievable but true stories from across Europe ...

Weird but True Stories from World War II: Bizarre but Real Tales from the World’s Strangest War dives deep into the hidden, surreal, and astonishing true events that unfolded between 1939 and 1945. From exploding rats and rubber tank armies to psychic infiltrators and bears enlisted in combat, this fascinating book uncovers the strangest corners of World War II history—stories so unbelievable they can only be true. Perfect for history buffs, trivia lovers, and curious readers, this compelling collection brings together ten incredible stories that reveal just how unpredictable and ...

Weird but True Stories from Scottish History: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Highlands to the Lowlands explores the strangest real events ever recorded in Scotland’s long and complex past. From cannibal clans and prophetic Highland seers to haunted castles, body-snatching murderers, and a legendary whisky heist, this book uncovers the weirdest episodes in Scottish history—stories that sound like fiction but are entirely true or historically accepted. Perfect for fans of unsolved mysteries, folklore with facts, and dark true history, each chapter reveals a strange and...

Weird but True Stories from the American Old West: Strange and Bizarre Tales from the Frontier, 1865–1895 is a thrilling journey through the most unusual, mysterious, and downright bizarre real-life stories to come out of the Wild West. From haunted saloon pianos and vanishing mining towns to storm-riding cowboys and a decapitated outlaw whose ghost still roams the gallows, this captivating collection brings to life the stranger side of frontier history. Every chapter reveals a unique tale rooted in actual accounts, period newspapers, or enduring local legends—all set west of the ...

In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O’Neal loathed Kobe Bryant and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O’Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.

Weird but True Stories from the Great Depression: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from America's Darkest Decade Step beyond the breadlines and dust storms into the strangest corners of America’s hardest era. This captivating collection of weird but true stories from the Great Depression reveals a side of the 1930s you've never seen—filled with eccentric survival strategies, bizarre public stunts, surreal government projects, and the unforgettable humans behind it all. Meet the man who couldn’t be killed—even when poisoned, frozen, and gassed. Discover how flour sacks ...

Weird but True Stories from Irish History: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Emerald Isle Ireland's past is filled with saints, scholars, and... flaming whiskey floods? Ghost ships? Phantom islands? In this captivating collection of true and historically verified tales, Weird but True Stories from Irish History explores the most bizarre, unsettling, and unexpected events ever to unfold on the Emerald Isle. From the medieval witch trial of Alice Kyteler to the whiskey-fueled infernos of Dublin and Tullamore, from ancient tsunamis and ghostly ships to the recent excavation of...

Weird but True Stories from Ancient Rome: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Roman Empire is a fascinating deep dive into the strangest true stories from one of the world’s most powerful civilizations. From emperors who made their horses priests to poisoners on the imperial payroll, from sewer goddesses to self-healing concrete, this book reveals the odd, hilarious, and horrifying truths often left out of traditional Roman history. Perfect for fans of ancient history, bizarre facts, and unbelievable-but-true tales, this book offers ten gripping chapters, each focusing on a...

This book explores thirteen bizarre “murder” stories that have taken place in Tennessee over the past two centuries. The first story related here takes place around 1798 and the last takes place in 1998. These stories span the breadth of Tennessee from the Smoky Mountains, to the Mississippi River and most points between. Some of these stories are about famous persons and others are about powerful persons. Some are about persons that are unknown to all but a few. One story is about an abused animal.

Weird but True Stories from Australian History: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from Down Under takes readers on a captivating journey through ten of the strangest, most fascinating, and completely true stories ever to emerge from Australia’s past. Spanning centuries—from early shipwrecks to Cold War politics—this book uncovers the bizarre corners of history where fact is far stranger than fiction. These are the real events that textbooks often overlook: tales of mutiny, mistaken identity, outlaw armor, mythical creatures, and diplomatic sabotage involving nothing more than ...

Weird but True Stories from the 1950's: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from America’s Atomic Age Think you know the 1950's? Think again. Beneath the surface of poodle skirts, chrome diners, and black-and-white TV was a decade overflowing with mystery, irony, and stranger-than-fiction true stories. This captivating collection reveals ten astonishing real-life events from the 1950's that defy expectation and logic—each one verified and rooted in historical fact. From radar panic over Washington D.C. to the eerie Phantom Whistler of New Jersey, from mid-air collisions with ...

Weird but True Stories from the 1980s: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Decade of Excess explores the wildest, strangest, and most astonishing true events that actually happened during one of the most unforgettable decades in modern history. From Cold War close calls and covert cult operations to lost video games buried in the desert and pop culture disasters on live television, this fascinating collection reveals the bizarre underbelly of the 1980s. Meet the Soviet officer who saved the world by ignoring a computer warning of nuclear war. Discover how Pepsi briefly became...

Weird but True Stories from Japanese History: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Land of the Rising Sun explores the strangest, most fascinating, and entirely true events from the rich and complex history of Japan. From a man who survived both atomic bombs to samurai women who defied tradition, from a feudal lord who challenged the military regime to a whale that literally exploded, these stories will surprise even seasoned history buffs. Each chapter dives into a unique tale - verifiably true or widely accepted by historians—that captures the weird and wonderful character...

Immerse yourself in Factastic: 2500 Intriguing and Bizarre Facts for All Ages, a captivating journey through the unknown, the peculiar, and the downright astounding. This collection of 100 chapters, each featuring 25 mind-blowing factoids, will ignite your curiosity and leave you in awe of the world's countless mysteries and marvels. Whether you're a trivia enthusiast or a knowledge seeker, "Factastic" offers something for everyone, making it the perfect addition to your bookshelf or a great gift for a loved one. Embark on a voyage through the surprising world of superstitions, the engaging...

Weird but True Stories from Elizabethan England: Bizarre and Shocking Tales from the Age of Shakespeare pulls back the velvet curtain on one of history’s most celebrated eras to reveal its strangest—and truest—tales. From fiery stage disasters and dancing marathons to invisible ink conspiracies and animals put on trial, this captivating collection uncovers the unexpected side of life under Queen Elizabeth I. While Shakespeare was penning sonnets and explorers were sailing to new worlds, ordinary people across England were making history in weird and wonderful ways. Discover the man ...

Step into the polyester-clad, disco-fueled, and unpredictably weird world of the 1970s with this fascinating collection of bizarre, shocking, and unbelievable true stories from one of the most chaotic decades in modern history. In Weird but True Stories from the 1970's, you'll explore ten astonishing tales that reveal the stranger side of the Me Decade—each one entirely real, thoroughly researched, and almost too strange to believe. From exploding record collections and garbage barges gone rogue to military standoffs over a tree and heiresses turned bank robbers, this book uncovers the ...