Showing results by author "The History Hour" in All Categories

Adolf Hitler was a German politician, demagogue, and Pan-German revolutionary who was the leader of the Nazi Party, chancellor of Germany, and führer ("leader") of Nazi Germany. As dictator, Hitler initiated World War II in Europe with the invasion of Poland and was central to the Holocaust.

Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler was voivode of Wallachia three times. The tales about the burning of the lazy, the poor, and the lame at Vlad's order and the execution of the woman who had made her husband too short a shirt can also be found among the German and Slavic anecdotes. Books describing Vlad's cruel acts were among the first best sellers in the German-speaking territories.

Adolf "Adi" Hitler’s birth was unremarkable, as was his carefree boyhood and troubled teenage years. A talented artist but a lazy pupil who hated following rules, how did a school dropout who had failed an entrance exam to one of the most prestigious art schools - twice - and had been a constant pain to his teachers end up as the leader of the largest political party, then the Chancellor, and lastly, the dictator of Germany?

Mark Twain Samuel Clemens the greatest humorist America has produced. Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain, whatever name you want to call him, was a complex individual who was moody and had a dark side but never showed it to his audience because he needed their buy-in for him to make money...You can get the most complete information about this great author by listening to his autobiography. So you can understand the life, thoughts, and ideas of a great writer. Listen to Mark Twain biography right now!

Was Joan of Arc accused because she was a woman? Then why did so many fierce and battle-hardened male warriors line up their troops behind her? Yet, not even one of her soldiers, be they longbowmen, cavalry riders, knights, artillerymen, and nobles, ran from the command of a woman. Instead, they marveled at her as she mounted the ladders to a heavily defended castle, right along with the men, shot arrows, thrust spears, and galloped on her great white steed along with the best of them. She was wounded twice and yet did not shirk from battle.

Has Ivan Chetvyorty been a wicked and ruthless leader? Has his nation suffered as he pursued his own corrupted agendas? Surely, though, none comes close to the violent, lascivious, vengeful reign of Ivan Chetvyorty Vasilyevich, born to the Rurik Dynasty in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy. Indeed, this man’s period in power was one of the longest in Russian history, lasting more than half a century.

There is a lot more to the story than just the light bulb, and there is a lot more to the invention of the light bulb than just Thomas Edison. One thing is for sure - he is still remembered as one of the greatest inventors of all time and perhaps the greatest that America has ever produced. In truth, Edison was a man who invented a lot of things while bringing about incredible advancements in many other things. With the stock ticker, the telegraph, the light bulb, and the motion picture, he may not have invented them, but he improved on them beyond any recognition.

Nikola Tesla pursued his ideas for wireless lighting and worldwide wireless electric power distribution in his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments. Hear more about Tesla in this audiobook.

Probably the most naturally gifted musician the world has ever known, Mozart began his career early as a child prodigy. By the age five, he was already proficient on the violin, the harpsichord, and piano keyboard, and had begun composing music that had integrity. He was a showman as well, according to contemporary documents, and charmed many of the crowned heads of Europe with his performance and his manner.

There are many tales of his military might and strong character, there are those who see Ernesto “Che” Guevara as a hero and the greatest socialist mind of his time, but there are those who see him as a ruthless military leader who executed people without trials and who violated several human rights. Very few men have been subject to as much mysticism and admiration as Ernesto Guevara. His image has been used as the symbol for revolution, freedom, and rebellion in every corner of the world.

John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. He served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his presidency dealt with managing relations with the Soviet Union. At age 43, he became the youngest man to be elected as U.S. president as well as being the first (and only) Roman Catholic to occupy that office. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the state crime, but he was never prosecuted.

Phineas Taylor Barnum was a successful small business owner, entrepreneur, newspaper editor, museum owner, sideshow operator, touring promoter for opera singers, theatrical producer, circus owner, congressman, mayor, and philanthropist. He had an influence on virtually every aspect of American life and it cannot be underestimated. Phineas Taylor Barnum’s name has been associated with circus sideshows and freaks and jokes for more than a century, but the truth is that he was a great man and a visionary who shaped the country he loved so much.

Why should anyone who is not interested in aviation or history be interested in the Wright brothers? What do their life and struggle have to add to the lives of the common person out there? Do world changers possibly have more in common with us than many of us realize? As you will listen to in this book, the Wright brothers encountered many challenges within their lives. The buzzwords of the business world today all encompass what the Wright brothers possessed in great abundance.

Ludwig van Beethoven, a genius composer, one of the most recognized and influential of all composers. Ludwig van Beethoven is a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Classical music. Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe.

Alexander Hamilton started his life in the British West Indies. His story seems like a classic tale from rags to riches, of a poor boy whose hard work and perseverance allowed him to become one of the greatest historical figures of a nation. Alexander Hamilton left behind an impressive legacy, in no small part due to his success in defining the economic and political systems of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson was one of the men who helped to bring the United States into being, and he shepherded the country through some of the most dynamic political years in its history. It is possible that without his brilliance, the fledgling democracy, the first in the world since the end of Ancient Greece, may not have survived its first few trials by fire.

In the 20th century, the nation had come of age, a brand-new political landscape was taking shape. It was during the 20th century that the US president became not just the leader of the United States but the Leader of the Free World. The US essentially inherited this hegemony from the British Empire at the close of World War II and retained it for the remainder of the century, which gave the country’s presidents a whole new set of problems to deal with. While the Monroe Doctrine had long dictated concern for events in the Americas, the US now became the policeman of the entire world.

In this book, you will learn a lot about Norma Jeane (a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe) and what a horrible childhood she had, in and out of foster homes, and why she married at such a young age. You will find how she was "discovered" as a movie star and how hard she worked to climb her way up a glass wall in the Hollywood scene. You will also find what an insecure person she was and how she turned to alcohol and drugs to bolster her insecurities.

We keep in our mind for some reason as we grow and get older that George Washington wore false wooden teeth and that is why you never see a picture of him smiling. The explanation sounds good when you are a child, and at that time you can’t refute that story. In this version, you will find things about George Washington that might surprise you and that you did not know before you listen to this audiobook. You will find out that he was the type of man that tried to lay things out in such a way as to make his opponent look bad or if need be, to bend the truth if necessary.

Fidel Castro ruled the country of Cuba for almost 60 years, and he changed the political structure of the country to a one-party socialist state. He ruled firstly as a Prime Minister before converting it to the title of President and Commander-in-Chief of Cuba. Castro’s political journey started on a rebellious note as he participated in the revolt against right-wing administrations in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. He later rose to become the leader of the communist revolution.