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History and Current Events January 2020
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| Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, the Berlin Wall, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Iain MacGregorWhat it's about: how Cold War tensions spurred the construction of Checkpoint Charlie, the border crossing separating East and West Germany that became a powerful symbol of the era.
Why you might like it: This dramatic, well-researched account was published to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
What sets it apart: never-before-seen interviews with border guards, intelligence operatives, and escapees. |
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| The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century by Thant Myint-UWhat it's about: how decades of colonialism, military rule, corruption, and civil war, as well as recent developments like the Rohingya genocide and China's rising political influence have wreaked havoc on the "unfinished nation" of Burma.
Why you might like it: Drawing from his experiences as a former diplomat and adviser to the Burmese government, Burmese American historian Thant Myint-U offers a compelling and perceptive glimpse into a country that "remains a mystery to most outsiders" (Kirkus). |
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| The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth RussellWhat it is: an extensively researched, evocatively detailed account of the Titanic's fateful voyage as experienced by six first-class passengers.
Featuring: Lucy Leslie, Countess of Rothes, who rowed a lifeboat full of passengers to safety; Jewish American immigrant Ida Strauss, who chose to die with her husband rather than board a lifeboat without him.
Don't miss: Author Gareth Russell's debunking of many of the popular conspiracy theories and falsehoods about the ship's sinking. |
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| The Wonders: The Extraordinary Performers Who Transformed the Victorian Age by John WoolfWhat it is: a lively and thought-provoking history of the "freak show," which gained considerable popularity in the 19th century even as performers were increasingly exploited by showmen like P.T. Barnum.
What sets it apart: Historian John Woolf's well-researched debut gives a voice to the performers who had few other opportunities for employment.
Did you know? Queen Victoria's known love of freak performers helped elevate the public perception of freak shows as high-brow amusements. |
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Medieval bodies : life, death and art in the Middle Ages
by Jack Hartnell
A richly illustrated history of the role of the divine in medieval health uncovers the remarkably sophisticated ways that the people of the Middle Ages thought about, experienced and treated the physical body. Illustrations.
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Labyrinth of ice : the triumphant and tragic Greely polar expedition
by Buddy Levy
Tells the gripping true story of Lt. A.W. Greely who, in July 1881, along with his crew of 24 scientists and explorers, embarked on a quest for fame and fortune that resulted in one of the most harrowing adventures in the annals of polar exploration. Read by Will Damron. Simultaneous.
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When Reagan sent in the Marines : the invasion of Lebanon
by Patrick J Sloyan
The late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist presents an account of the 1983 truck bombing in Beirut that ended 241 American lives, drawing on interviews with key players to offer insights into the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Reagan’s doomed ceasefire. Illustrations.
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A new world begins : the history of the French Revolution
by Jeremy D. Popkin
A comprehensive analysis of the principles, events and influences of the French Revolution examines the roles of such contributors as Mirabeau and Robespierre while explaining the violent debates that led to modernism and the rise of Napoleon. 30,000 first printing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Culpeper County Library 271 Southgate Shopping Center Culpeper, Virginia 22701 540-825-8691
www.cclva.org
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