Customer Reviews

A Treasury of Great American Scandals: Tantalizing True Tales of Historic Misbehavior by the Founding Fathers and Others Who Let Freedom Swing

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Many of the scandals referred to in Farquhar's title are familiar (Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's duel; Ben Franklin's animosity toward his son; Robert Lincoln's commitment of his mother to an insane asylum), but there are quite a few that strike a cord. Thomas Jefferson's brother Randolph for one. Apparently he couldn't be trusted to manage his own affairs and one of Jefferson's slaves refers to him as "one mighty simple man--used to come out among the black people, play the fiddle and dance half the night." Unfortunately, this account is only one-page long, and Farquhar makes no mention of the fact that it may have been Randolph rather than Thomas who impregnated Sally Hemings.
Some of the other highlights (or lowlights) from GREAT AMERICAN SCANDALS involve James Buchanan's sexual preference; J. Edgar Hoover's vindictiveness; and some direct quotes from Richard Nixon's Oval Office tapes. And there's an especially eerie section on what happened to some famous corpses, including Tom Paine's and John Paul Jones's.
The section on the Salem Witch trials shows how duplicitous human beings, even young ones, can be. According to Farquhar, life in Salem was so dull that the girls made the whole thing up to get attention.
Despite the rehashing of some well-known historical episodes, SCANDALS is a fast read and well-worth the cost of the book.

I read this author's first book on Royal Scandals and found it both informative and, at times, very funny. This new book on American Scandals is even better. In Great American Scandals, the reader will find topics that are generally familiar and completely unknown. From the Salem Witch Trials to the 1970s Congressional sexcapades, the author writes with a combination of facts and wit. You will realize, after reading this book, how much you didn't know about the topics you thought you were familiar with.

For example, everyone knows that Mary Todd Lincoln was mentally ill. Who knew her own son took her to court to have her committed to a mental institution!

Farquhar gives a great history on "dueling" - beginning with the famous Burr-Hamilton duel and moves into its history and its popularity in the 19th century - involving several well and lesser known politicians.

I particularly enjoyed the information on the Presidents...the Nixon "quotes" are classic...

I highly recommend this book - a must read for all fans of US History!

I picked up Michael Farquhar's book because I thought the cover was so funny. Glancing at a few pages, I knew I had to buy it. Turns out, you really can judge a book by its cover! The stories are hilarious, and sometimes even moving. Anyone who was ever bored by their American History classes should read this wonderful book and discover just how fun history can be.

No, this is not an in-depth history book, and thank goodness for that! Rather it is a hilarious (and well-researched)collection of historical American scandals--mostly political, and all really, really funny. A great way to learn, and also just a great read. Highly recommended.

For those who are looking for the stories history books can't tell, this a book for you! This book will leave you in shock when you read the juicy accounts of dueling, murder, affairs, insane mother's and wife's, treason, and other scandalous behavior by our founding fathers and other highly esteemed people in our history books! Who would have thought that Ben Franklin would imprison his own son, the son who he also made test his kite and key lightning experiment. You will read of hateful feuds amongst our countries founding fathers, an attempt to steal one of our former President's graves, and the many prejudice comments made by former President Nixon. I personally enjoyed this book because it was funny, and the entertaining stories will also teach you a lot. This book will keep you on your toes, and make you want to know what will happen in the next chapter of scandalous behavior. The history America doesn't shed much light on, is in full color in this book.

Concise and short chapters, packed with information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain as a student of history having to remember dates and historical characters, geography etc. Mr. Farguhar has to have collected this treasury for decades. Indispensable reading for any serious student of history.

The paragraphs are short, probably, no more than 3 pages full of beautiful historical readings. No sentence is wasted. Highly recommended specially Mr. Michael Farquhar.

This is a terrific, well-researched book that left me laughing and learning at the same time. I highly recommend it, especially to those who were turned off by their American history classes growing up. This book will change your mind, and proves once and for all that history doesn't have to be boring.

Easy read and non-partison. Tidbits you won't hear anywhere else! Some facts I had heard but not in this detail!
Worth the money!

I enjoyed this book very much, although not as much as the authors book on the Royalty of Europe. A very entertaining and quick read. I would recommend this absolutely!

Before I begin, I do not go as far as to say that Mr. Farquhar's research is exemplary or that I hold his words to be truthful history. I do go as far to say, however, that this book is absolutely HILARIOUS.

Without attempting to tarnish the evidently great works of our Founding Fathers and the counterparts and characters of their time period, Mr. Farquhar kicks over the pedestal that the noble bust stands on to show us the bald spot on the top of the revered one's head. He lets us peek at their humanity - the odd habits, the awkward family interactions, the annoyance of men with other men scrabbling to lay waste to their best laid plans. This book is humanity at its finest, with names and faces we recognize.

Hats off to you, Mr. Farquhar. I have not laughed so long and so loud with a book for a long time.