Private Lives: Curious Facts About the Famous and Infamous

by Mark Bryant (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1996

  $4.22

  The fascinating private worlds of famous figures throughout history are uncovered: childhood, marriage, children, and sex life; physical appearance and favored clothing; unusual personality traits, work habits, and mannerisms; sports and hobbies; religion, politics, health, and even the manner of death. Some examples: Alexander the Great had two wives, one of whom murdered the other. Christopher Columbus wrote a book foretelling future events. Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales at first were considered unsuitable for children. James Matthew Barrie added the idea of fairy dust to his Peter Pan play because children were taking Peter's ideas about flying too literally. Winston Churchill wrote several screenplays for film director Alexander Korda, for which he was paid $25,000 each.

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $3.17

  Did you know that Walt Disney never drew Mickey Mouse, that Florence Nightingale owned 60, that Cervantes had only one arm, or that Elizabeth I drank beer for breakfast? Or then again, that George Washington had wooden teeth, Rossetti kept a pet wombat, Wordsworth and Hemingway never wrote at a desk (while Proust worked in bed)? Most biographical dictionaries merely list a subject's date of birth, brief life history and major achievements and never give any idea of what he or she was like as a human being. Private Lives, by contrast, sets out to give the full picture. Fascinating and entertaining, this book is essential reading for those who want to know all the tiny details of the private lives of famous people.-- From Alexander the Great to Emile Zola, this dictionary covers a cross-section of people throughout history-- Over 200 entries-- An entertaining read as well as an invaluable reference source-- Perfect for browsing or reading from cover to cover