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Taking readers on a global journey through human history, Natasha Tidd examines how lies can change the world around us, from Julius Caesar’s deceptive PR machine to the cover-ups that caused Chernobyl.
A Short History of the World in 50 Lies traces forgeries that created centuries’ worth of conflict and domination, such as The Donation of Constantine, a forged papal document that went on to spark the start of the European Reformation. Also uncovered are mass political and media cover-ups, including the infamous Dreyfus Affair in France that explores wrongful accusations, antisemitism and Devil’s Island.
Alongside these are examinations of how our retellings of history can turn fiction into fact, including the Spanish Inquisition’s deceitful legacy. Plus, there is an in-depth look at how historic lies can still impact our lives today, such as the deadly legacy of America’s Tuskegee Experiment.
Meet incredible people, including Jeanne de Clisson who became the fourteenth century’s most feared pirate – all because of a lie.
A Short History of the World in 50 Lies details the profound impact of this secretive side of history and shows that the truth really is stranger – and far more dangerous – than any fiction.
Also available:
- 9781789297898 A Short History of the World in 50 Failures
- 9781789298956 A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants
“Accessible and engaging, this book is sure to inspire readers to take another look at previously accepted historical narratives.” - Booklist (starred review)
“A timely approach to world history through bite-sized chapters highlighting how the lies and propaganda of the past still impact the present day.” - School Library Journal
“At this moment, when we are in a constant fog of propaganda, political spin, and accusations of fake news, 50 Lies is particularly relevant.” - Don Noble’s Book Reviews, Alabama Public Radio
“A Short History of the World in 50 Lies shows that the march of truth isn’t always unstoppable. Lies have their own power and momentum.” - Nick Rennison, Daily Mail
INTRODUCTION
PART I: THE ANCIENT WORLD
- The Fake Bardiya
- Themistocles and the Message to Xerxes
- Julius Caesar and the Invention of Spin
- Cicero’s Philippics
- Arminius and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
- The Secret History
PART II: THE MIDDLE AGES
- The Crimes of Empress Wu
- Magic and Monmouth
- The Fall of the Komnenoi
- The Betrayal of the Knights Templar
- Jeanne and the Black Fleet
- The Travels of Sir John Mandeville
PART III: THE EARLY MODERN AGE
- Simon of Trent and the Cult of Blood
- The Spanish Inquisition: Corruption and Confusion
- Malleus Maleficarum and the Invention of Witchcraft
- The Saga of Pope Joan
- Perkin Warbeck: The Great Pretender
- The Donation of Constantine
- The Aztec Conquest
- Henry VIII and Turning a Lie into Law
- The Many (Many) Lies of Nostradamus
- The Imjin War and the Worst
- Peace Negotiations in History
- The Three Dmitrys
- The Affair of the Poisons
- Mary Toft: The Woman who Birthed Rabbits
- The Lie of Mir Jafar
- Joseph Knight’s Fight for Freedom
- The Lost Diamonds of Marie Antoinette
PART IV: THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
- The Testament of Peter the Great
- The Imaginary World of Gregor MacGregor
- The Great Moon Hoax
- Abraham Lincoln and the Invention of Miscegenation
- The Greatest Conman
- Bismarck and the Art of War
- The USS Maine and the War of Words
- The Dreyfus Affair
PART V: THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
- The Concentration Camp Lie
- The Protocols of Zion
- The Propaganda War
- The Spanish Flu Censors
- Anna or Anastasia?
- Walter Duranty and the Great Famine
- The Tuskegee Experiment
- The Theatre of Theresienstadt
- Making a Traitor: Iva Toguri D’Aquino
- The Census Denial
- Operation Legacy
- The Mirabal Sisters Cover-Up
- The Legacy of Lies at My Lai
- The Chernobyl Disaster
AFTERWORD
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX