Debunking History: 152 Popular Myths Exploded - Softcover

Rayner, Ed; Stapley, Ron

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0752451995 ISBN 13: 9780752451992

Publisher: The History Press, 2009

Synopsis

How true is the history we learned in school? Did the English intend the Irish to starve as a result of the Great Famine? Did a haughty Marie Antoinette indeed urge the masses to eat cake? History is full of myths, legends, fables, folklore, misinformation, and misconceptions. Whether they have come about inadvertently or deliberately, many have become part of the public imagination. This book presents some of the most popular and enduring of these myths from the time of the American and French revolutions to the two world wars and beyond. Arranged within well-defined geographical or thematic sections, and through a mix of short and long entries, each topic is clearly explained and the myth, error, or controversy is exposed, ranging from ancient grievances such as the Boston Tea Party to unresolved problems such as the intractability of the conflict in the Middle East. This is an authoritative, compelling, and illuminating miscellany, where you can find a straight answer to all those nagging questions about the past.

About this title

About the Author:

Ed Rayner and Ron Stapley are history professors and history textbook authors.

Review:

"Intriguing attempt at setting the record straight regarding the myriad misrepresentations that inform our knowledge of history . . . To the credit of the authors, all are dealt with in a succinct manner that is often absent in historical debate and discussion."  —Kirkus Reviews UK

About this edition

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0752451995
• ISBN 13: 9780752451992
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 468