Book-It 'o9! Book #25
More of the Fifty Books Challenge! This was a library request.
Title: A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans: Pirates, Skinflints, Patriots, and Other Colorful Characters Stuck in the Footnotes of History by Michael Farquhar
Details: Copyright 2008, Penguin Books
Synopsis (By Way of Back Over): "'History is the essence of innumerable biographies.' -- Thomas Caryle
What Caryle neglected to mention is that very few biographies get the attention they so richly deserve-- countless fascinating characters are relegated to an afterlife as a footnote. A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans rescues thirty of these almost-famous men and women from obscurity, trumpeting their dastardly deeds, inspiring martyrdom, daring exploits, and passionate patriotism from the forgotten corners of the historical record. From the mother of Mother's Day to 'America's Sherlock Holmes,' the Mayflower murderer to the most miserly of millionaires, these figures are more than runners-up -- they're some of the most intriguing, unusual, and yes, memorable Americans in history.
You'll meet:
• Anne Bonny, a rowdy, bawdy pirate of the Caribbean!
• William Dawes, the other midnight rider!
• Louise Arner Boyd, San Francisco's socialite explorer!
• Isaac Parker, the Wild West's notorious hanging judge!"
Why I Wanted to Read It: I'm generally a fan of "forgotten" history and this seemed like it would be an amusing read.
How I Liked It: I'm currently reading a couple of Farquhar's similiar books (A Treasury of Royal Scandals and A Treasury of Deception) and notice that these types of books appear to be hit and miss on a chapter by chapter basis. He devotes a chapter to each forgotten figure, lecherous throne, or shyster/group of shyster/specific act of shystry perpetrated and they're either vaguely amusing/interesting or you read the chapter and realize you're finished, it's that bland. Curious, but then, Farquhar's in that category of author that's crossed over from newspapers. Maybe not as difficult a transition as the magazine writer that gives it a try (judging by most efforts) but certainly, it's an adjustment of medium. Also, for as amusing as Farquhar's stories can be, they'd greatly benefit with some pictures in the style of An Underground Education by Richard Zacks.
In this book in particular, Farquhar's devotion to "foolishly forgotten" individuals who need to be restored to what he feels is their rightful place in history would've benefited greatly with pictures (again, in the style of An Underground Education, not the curious black and white relief that faces the title page); wood cuts, newspaper headlines, paintings, et cetera. A pity that he didn't work with a better team to flesh out these "colorful characters stuck in the footnotes of history".
Notable: The cover illustrations of all Farquhar's books have the same illustrator and this one in particular was especially unnerving as Anne Bonny's breasts are just barely contained in her corset. Why? I thought I recognized the illustrator as the same artist that created the covers of the (now sadly dated and thusly woefully unfunny) James Finn Garner series of Politically Correct Fairy Tales, something I and my brother chuckled over. While not really a children's series of books (but then, my brother James was nine and I was eleven) it's nonetheless still ensconced in my mind as a book series for children. I wondered at the illustrator who'd use the same style for a "children's" book series as for one decidedly adult (the cover for A Treasury of Royal Scandals I'm surprised didn't get perhaps a "censor ribbon" on some bookstore shelves), not out of any sort of misplaced propriety, but out of a style that would appear to be hard to adjust. However, I learned it's actually two different illustrators with similiar styles. Brian Ajhar created the covers for Farquhar's "Treasury" series and it was actually Carter Goodrich who illustrated the covers of the "Politically Correct" tomes.
The two are actually distinctly different when put side by side, but still a fairly similiar style. Yet another reason Farquhar could've used a better art director for his series.
Title: A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans: Pirates, Skinflints, Patriots, and Other Colorful Characters Stuck in the Footnotes of History by Michael Farquhar
Details: Copyright 2008, Penguin Books
Synopsis (By Way of Back Over): "'History is the essence of innumerable biographies.' -- Thomas Caryle
What Caryle neglected to mention is that very few biographies get the attention they so richly deserve-- countless fascinating characters are relegated to an afterlife as a footnote. A Treasury of Foolishly Forgotten Americans rescues thirty of these almost-famous men and women from obscurity, trumpeting their dastardly deeds, inspiring martyrdom, daring exploits, and passionate patriotism from the forgotten corners of the historical record. From the mother of Mother's Day to 'America's Sherlock Holmes,' the Mayflower murderer to the most miserly of millionaires, these figures are more than runners-up -- they're some of the most intriguing, unusual, and yes, memorable Americans in history.
You'll meet:
• Anne Bonny, a rowdy, bawdy pirate of the Caribbean!
• William Dawes, the other midnight rider!
• Louise Arner Boyd, San Francisco's socialite explorer!
• Isaac Parker, the Wild West's notorious hanging judge!"
Why I Wanted to Read It: I'm generally a fan of "forgotten" history and this seemed like it would be an amusing read.
How I Liked It: I'm currently reading a couple of Farquhar's similiar books (A Treasury of Royal Scandals and A Treasury of Deception) and notice that these types of books appear to be hit and miss on a chapter by chapter basis. He devotes a chapter to each forgotten figure, lecherous throne, or shyster/group of shyster/specific act of shystry perpetrated and they're either vaguely amusing/interesting or you read the chapter and realize you're finished, it's that bland. Curious, but then, Farquhar's in that category of author that's crossed over from newspapers. Maybe not as difficult a transition as the magazine writer that gives it a try (judging by most efforts) but certainly, it's an adjustment of medium. Also, for as amusing as Farquhar's stories can be, they'd greatly benefit with some pictures in the style of An Underground Education by Richard Zacks.
In this book in particular, Farquhar's devotion to "foolishly forgotten" individuals who need to be restored to what he feels is their rightful place in history would've benefited greatly with pictures (again, in the style of An Underground Education, not the curious black and white relief that faces the title page); wood cuts, newspaper headlines, paintings, et cetera. A pity that he didn't work with a better team to flesh out these "colorful characters stuck in the footnotes of history".
Notable: The cover illustrations of all Farquhar's books have the same illustrator and this one in particular was especially unnerving as Anne Bonny's breasts are just barely contained in her corset. Why? I thought I recognized the illustrator as the same artist that created the covers of the (now sadly dated and thusly woefully unfunny) James Finn Garner series of Politically Correct Fairy Tales, something I and my brother chuckled over. While not really a children's series of books (but then, my brother James was nine and I was eleven) it's nonetheless still ensconced in my mind as a book series for children. I wondered at the illustrator who'd use the same style for a "children's" book series as for one decidedly adult (the cover for A Treasury of Royal Scandals I'm surprised didn't get perhaps a "censor ribbon" on some bookstore shelves), not out of any sort of misplaced propriety, but out of a style that would appear to be hard to adjust. However, I learned it's actually two different illustrators with similiar styles. Brian Ajhar created the covers for Farquhar's "Treasury" series and it was actually Carter Goodrich who illustrated the covers of the "Politically Correct" tomes.
The two are actually distinctly different when put side by side, but still a fairly similiar style. Yet another reason Farquhar could've used a better art director for his series.