This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
Dido Elizabeth Belle was born in 1761. It would be nearly 100 years before slavery was abolished. The date would be of little importance if not for one important factor: Belle's father was white, but her mother was African. It was an unthinkable act for the time, and Belle's life was destined for only bad things. But remarkably bad things did not happen.
Belle was sent to live with her uncle, the Earl of Mansfield; here she was raised as a free woman and given the same privileged upbringing as her cousins. This book tells the inspiring true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, and how the life of a woman most people have never heard helped pave the way for future change.
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
The Birds was different from most of Hitchcock’s work.
For admirers of Hitchcock, The Birds also raises disturbing questions about the director as a person. He was a complex and confusing character in many ways, and perhaps it’s not surprising that someone who built a career out of creating suspense and fear on-screen might also have had some darker sides to his personal life.
Beyond the details of the story and how it came to be filmed, though, one of the most interesting questions about The Birds is why Hitchcock made it in the first place. It took its title from a short story by English author Daphne du Maurier, but beyond the basic idea of people being attacked by birds, it didn’t take much else from it. The storyline was pure Hitchcock. So where did it come from?
It turns out that his inspiration was a strange and alarming incident that happened just a few miles from his home in California.
This book uncovers the truth behind the plot as well as other factoids that fascinate any fan of the film.
In 1835, at the age of 13, a young boy walked nearly 300 miles to Paris; he worked odd jobs and did whatever it took to survive. He eventually learned a craft: box making. Before long, the young boy had earned enough to open his own box-making store.
The tale may seem a bit unremarkable until you consider the boy’s name: Louis Vuitton.
You know the brand, but not the man; take a look at the genius that created one of the most recognizable brands in the world with this biography.
★★★ The code breaker that helped win the war ★★★
Hundreds of movies and thousands of books have been written about the heroes of World War II. For dozens of years, however, few people knew about one of the greatest heroes of the war—a mild-mannered, eccentric mathematician from the University of Cambridge.
This man, an undeniable genius whose later life was plagued by controversy and tragedy, probably played a greater role in the eventual Allied victory than anyone else. Until quite recently his contribution to the war effort was barely recognized.
Everyone’s heard of Churchill, Eisenhower, Montgomery, Patton, and even de Gaulle, but far fewer have ever heard of Alan Turing. This is his incredible story.
★★★ The incredible forgotten story of the WWII female bomber regiment ★★★
From 1942 until the end of World War II, the Soviets had a secret weapon: women.
The 588th Night Bomber Regiment was one of the most decorated units; each member had flown more than 800 missions by the end of the war, and twenty-three were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union (the highest distinction).
Despite all the awards, the unit is largely forgotten now. This book looks at the history of one of the most daring aviation units ever commissioned.
★★★ Gone in an instant ★★★
Pompeii was one of the most advanced cities of its time; it had a complex water system, gymnasium, and amphitheater. Despite its advancements, there was one thing it wasn't ready for: Mount Vesuvius--the volcano that led to its ultimate doom.
The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius was one of the worst disasters in all of European history. In a near instant, over 15,000 people were dead and a city was completely destroyed.
This book looks at the rise, fall, and rediscovery of the great city of Pompeii.
★★★ In the shadow of every great man is a greater woman ★★★
T.E. Lawrence is often credited with bringing diplomacy to the Middle East; in the shadows of every great man, you will often find an even greater woman. In Lawrence’s case, that woman’s name was Gertrude Bell.
In a time when women didn't go to school, Bell did; in a time when women didn't join the army, Bell secured a job at the Army Intelligence Headquarters in Cairo; she spoke Arabic, Persian, French, and German. She knew the Middle Eastern terrain and culture better than almost any Westerner of her time.
In a male-driven world, Bell managed to become one of the greatest policymakers the world has ever known; without her, the Middle East might very well be a much different place, and her influence in the territory gave her the nickname 'Queen of the Desert.'
This biography tells the extraordinary story of one of the most adventurous and fascinating women you will ever encounter.
A gripping true story you won't be able to stop listening to!
Jefferson Davis Parish has been described as quaint, and in many ways it certainly is. For anyone from a big city much of the area, especially out among the farms, is like a trip in a time machine. For a sleepy rural community, however, Jefferson Davis is a lot more violent than you’d expect, and these days cheap, potent rocks of cocaine are at the root of a lot of that violence.
Crack addicts are famously willing to do just about anything to subsidize their habit so street prostitution has become a real issue, mostly concentrated in the town’s poorer neighborhoods south of the railway track. Prostitution – especially on the street – is a dangerous business, so the sheriff’s office weren’t too surprised when the first one turned up dead. As the body count climbed people started to take notice, but despite all their efforts the killings continued until eight women were dead.
This book traces one of the most fascinating unsolved crimes in the history of Louisiana. In 2014, many believe it became one of the inspirations for the first season of HBO’s “True Detective.” But the crimes in this book are much more shocking than anything captured on TV.
Please note: This book is not published or endorsed by the creators or producers of “True Detective.”
