Showing results for "The Book of Firsts" in World

Every night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell. We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now...

War and Peace (Russian Война и мир, Voyna i mir) is an epic masterpiece by Leo Tolstoy, first serialized between 1865 and 1869 in Russki Vestnik. This monumental novel captures the essence of Russian society during the tumultuous Napoleonic Era. Often hailed as one of Tolstoys two great works—alongside Anna Karenina—its celebrated as one of the worlds finest novels. War and Peace introduces a vast array of characters intertwined in a narrative that explores grand themes of war and peace, as well as the intricate dynamics of youth, aging, and marriage. While its classified as a ...

On the night of April 11, 1950, a B-29 Superfortress bomber took off from Albuquerque, New Mexico and crashed three minutes later, killing the entire crew. The incident was a designated a "Broken Arrow," an unexpected event involving nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons components. The crash was the second Broken Arrow in U.S. military history, and the first to occur within the Continental United States. "Boomtown" is a limited podcast series that will investigate the crash, the aircrew, the aircraft and everything in between. Using declassified military records, along with newspapers, personal ...

“A delightful compendium of the kind of facts you immediately want to share with anyone you encounter . . . . Simon Winchester has firmly earned his place in history . . . as a promulgator of knowledge of every variety, perhaps the last of the famous explorers who crisscrossed the now-vanished...

It is an era that redefined history. As the 1790s began, a fragile America teetered on the brink of oblivion, Russia towered as a vast imperial power, and France plunged into revolution. But in contrast to the way conventional histories tell it, none of these remarkable events occurred in...

The mesmerizing, larger-than-life tale of an eccentric adventurer who traversed some of the greatest frontiers of the twentieth century, from uncharted Arctic wastelands to the underground resistance networks of World War II. Deep in the Arctic wilderness, Peter Freuchen awoke to find himself...

It is an era that redefined history. As the 1790s began, a fragile America teetered on the brink of oblivion, Russia towered as a vast imperial power, and France plunged into monumental revolution. But none of these remarkable events occurred in isolation. In The Great Upheaval, acclaimed...

“David K. Randall has conjured the first air race to circumnavigate the globe in all its death-defying glory, featuring a cast of unlikely heroes who had the right stuff before anyone knew what that was.” — Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of Lost in Shangri-La and 13...

In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News,...

Celebrate the impact women have made in our culture: This feminist book is a beacon of brilliance. It is the perfect gift for artists, intellectuals, and anyone who seeks to be inspired by words and profound lives. Most of all, it is a celebration of the journeys and accomplishments of women who have worked to have their voices heard in black and white letters across the world.

The day after Jesus' death, whatever small mark he made on the world seemed destined to disappear. Instead, his impact on human history has been unparalleled, leading believers and nonbelievers alike to ask, Who Is This Man? In Who Is This Man, bestselling author John Ortberg explores the...

An important book of epic scope on America’s first racially integrated, religiously inspired movement for change The civil war brought to a climax the country’s bitter division. But the beginnings of slavery’s denouement can be traced to a courageous band of ordinary Americans, black and...

Set sail on a journey back to 1860 with Samuel Butler, as he leaves behind his life as the son of a Church of England clergyman and ventures to the South Island of New Zealand in search of fortune. Arriving at Lyttleton, the key port for the Canterbury Settlement, Butler embarks on a life-changing adventure into sheep farming. In A First Year in Canterbury Settlement, Butler vividly recounts his daring travels on horseback along the Canterbury rivers, leading him to the high country sheep run where he founded his station, Mesopotamia. He successfully returned to England in 1864, with his ...

Dive into the world of one of the most influential medieval monarchs in this installment of the Twelve English Statesmen series. Explore the reign of Edward I, a ruler whose actions were either fueled by a profound dedication to his subjects welfare or a relentless quest for personal power. Responsible for kick-starting the unification of the United Kingdom, Edward I left an indelible mark on the countrys landscape through the imposing castles dotting the countryside. This podcast invites you to view history through his lens.

Join us as we delve into the harrowing adventure of Hazard Stevens and P.B. Van Trump, the first to successfully ascend Mt. Rainier in 1870. Guided by Sluiskin, a Native American, they dared to challenge the local belief that the mountain was enchanted and inhabited by an evil spirit. The duo, in their audacity, believed they could conquer the summit and return the same day, leaving behind crucial survival gear. Caught in the bitter cold, they endured a nightmarish night, huddled near a volcanic steam vent within an ice cave. This tale, originally published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1876 and ...

A warm, intimate account of the love between Eleanor Roosevelt and reporter Lorena Hickok—a relationship that, over more than three decades, transformed both women's lives and empowered them to play significant roles in one of the most tumultuous periods in American history In 1932, as her...

In this insightful biography, we revisit the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, a century after the long-drawn agony of Saint Helena. With clarity brought by time, we now have a better understanding of his motives and actions, along with a wealth of new evidence. Join us as we strive to portray Napoleon in his true light, aiming to extenuate nothing, nor set down aught in malice. - Walter Geer

Join nature enthusiast John Muir as he embarks on a transformative journey through California’s breathtaking Sierra Nevada range during the summer of 1869. From the picturesque landscapes of French Bar to the serene shores of Mono Lake and the majestic Yosemite Valley, Muir was captivated by the wonders of the natural world. He marveled at the intricate lives of the smallest “insect people” and found inspiration in the resilience of ancient Juniper trees clinging to life in the most unlikely places. This recording not only celebrates the 140th anniversary of that remarkable ...

Dive into the intriguing final years of Johannes (John) Gutenberg, the visionary behind the invention of the movable letter press. Set in the backdrop of Mayence, this podcast explores Gutenbergs life of poverty, his allies, adversaries, and the surprising reasons behind his financial struggles. This narrative was meticulously crafted by volunteers at Distributed Proofreaders in just two days, marking their 15th anniversary with the 50,000th published book at Project Gutenberg. (Narrated by Claudia Salto)

Delve into the captivating world of cricket with Dick Barlow, one of the most celebrated all-round cricketers of the late 19th Century. Known for his strategic batting and exceptional bowling, Barlow recounts his 40-year journey in club, county, and test cricket, sprinkling in delightful anecdotes about how he frequently dismissed his contemporary, W. G. Grace. For newcomers to sports autobiographies, the three chapters on Barlows Australian tours with the England cricket team serve as an engaging starting point. The book is concluded with Francis Thompsons At Lords, a nostalgic tribute to ...