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Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History by Richard Shenkman  (24)

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One-Night Stands with American History (Revised and Updated Edition): Odd, Amusing, and Little-Known Incidents by Richard Shenkman  (9)  $10.36

Not So!: Popular Myths About America From Columbus to Clinton by Paul F. Boller  (15)  $17.96

That's Not in My American History Book: A Compilation of Little Known Events and Forgotten Heroes by Thomas Ayres  (18)  $10.17

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From Publishers Weekly
While not exactly revisionist history as scholars define it, this is a breezy, entertaining, if occasionally too flippant, attempt to clear up many popular misconceptions. Shenkman ( Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History ) here tackles such events as the Trojan War (the one described by Homer didn't take place) and Churchill's stirring radio speeches during World War II (they were performed by an actor). Some of the purported revelations--about the numerous contradictions in the Bible and the bad rap given to Machiavelli--are hardly news. Others, like the faking of newsreels in the first half of this century and the fact that Voltaire made up the boast "I am the state," generally attributed to Louis XIV, will surprise many. Fun to read. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Was there really a valiant little Dutch boy, a protesting Lady Godiva, a fiddling Nero, or a prudish Queen Victoria? No, says Shenkman in his latest debunking effort. The historian roams the globe and the pages of history, calling up popular images and replacing them with more prosaic accounts and the reasons the mythic versions evolved in the first place. No person, event, or thing is safe from Shenkman's corrections; among his topics are Cleopatra, Scottish kilts, Copernicus, the Middle Ages, World War II, marriage, and Frankenstein. Denise Perry Donavin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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First Sentence:
The myth about the Trojan War is that there was one. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
World War, Magna Carta, Middle Ages, United States, King Arthur, Roman Empire, Dark Ages, Great Britain, Old Testament, Catholic Church, Chiang Kai-shek, Richard Lion Heart, Age of Reason, Lady Godiva, Marie Antoinette, Pearl Harbor, Pied Piper, Star Chamber, Catherine the Great, Joan of Arc, New York, William Tell, John Boswell, Lane Fox, Arab Revolt New!
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