anecdotes

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anecdotes

I'm a stranger here myself

notes on returning to America after 20 years away
2003
Bill Bryson recounts some of the strange experiences he had when he returned to the United States after living in Britain for twenty years.

Driving the Saudis

a chauffer's tale of the world's richest princesses (plus their servants, nannies, and one royal hairdresser)
2012
After more than a decade of working in Hollywood, actress Jayne Amelia Larson found herself out of luck, out of work, and out of prospects. Without telling her friends or family, she took a job as a limousine driver, thinking that the work might be a good way to dig out of debt while meeting A-list celebrities and important movie moguls. When she got hired to drive for the Saudi royal family vacationing in Beverly Hills, Larson thought she?d been handed the golden ticket.To be a good chauffeur means to be a ?fly on the wall,? to never speak unless spoken to, to never ask questions, to allow people to forget that you are there. The nature of the employment?Larson was on call 24 hours a day and 7 days a week?and the fact that she was the only female driver gave her an up close and personal view of one of the most closely guarded monarchies in the world, a culture of great intrigue and contradiction, and of unimaginable wealth.While experiencing a life-changing ?behind the veil? glimpse into Saudi culture, Larson ultimately discovers that we?re all very much the same everywhere?the forces that corrupt us, make us desperate, and make us human are surprisingly universal.

King George

what was his problem? : the whole hilarious story of the American Revolution
2015
Presents an informal history of the American Revolution, covering the Stamp Act, Paul Revere, and the battle of Ticonderoga, and includes extracts from letters, memorable quotes, and line illustrations.

That's not in my American history book

a compilation of little-known events and forgotten heroes
2004
A collection of true stories illuminating little-known facts and events from American history and dispels many commonly held myths about key moments in American history.

Leaving China

an artist paints his World War II childhood
James McMullan was a timid, artistic boy growing up in a privileged western community within China. When WWII erupted, his comfortable life was turned upside down.

Legends and lore of Lake Ontario

"Historical folklore and legendary stories from the waters and the shores of Lake Ontario"--.

New York curiosities

quirky characters, roadside oddities & other offbeat stuff
2013

Journeys home

inspiring stories, plus tips and strategies to find your family history : featuring Andrew McCarthy, Joyce Maynard, Pico Iyer, Diane Johnson & the National Geographic travel team ; foreword by Dr. Spencer Wells, National Geographic explorer-in-residence
"Actor and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy discovers his ancestry in a compelling narrative that combines 26 intriguing and heartfelt stories about discovering home and roots with tips and recommendations on how to begin your own explorations. Addressing the explosive growth in ancestral travel, actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy recounts his own quest to uncover his family's Irish history, along with 25 other prominent writers whose stories span the globe. Each story offers a personal take on journeying home; actively seeking unknown relatives, meeting up with seldom-seen family members, or perhaps just visiting the old country to get a feel for one's roots. Sidebars and a hefty resource section provide tips and recommendations on how to go about your own research, and a foreword by the Genographic Project's Spencer Wells sets the scene. Stunning images, along with family heirlooms, old photos, recipes, and more, round out this unique take on the genealogical research craze"--Provided by publisher.

1913

the year before the storm
2013
Discusses the history of Europe in 1913, the year before the beginning of World War I.

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