You did what? : mad plans and great historical disasters / edited by Bill Fawcett and Brian M. Thomsen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Fawcett, Bill.

Thomsen, Brian.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

History--Miscellanea.

History.

Genre:

Trivia and miscellanea.

Physical Description:

xiv, 287 pages ; 21 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Perennial Currents, [2004]

Summary:

Throughout history, the rich and powerful, and even just the dim-witted, have made horrifically bad decisions that have had resounding effects on our world. From kings to corporate leaders, from captains to presidents, no one is immune to bad decisions and their lasting legacy. The fiascoes that litter our history are innumerable ... and fascinating in their foolishness. This witty collection of historical mayhem chronicles unwise decisions from ancient Greece to modern-day Hollywood and everything in between. With more than forty-five chapters of mind-boggling flubs and follies, fans of history, trivia, and those who just want a good laugh will adore this intriguing and fun read.

Contents:

You Kidnapped Whom? Troy, the Bronze Age 1

You Insulted Whom? Britain, A.D. 43 6

You Invited Whom? Rome, A.D. 300 12

Your Son Did What? England, Twelfth Century 19

You Arrested Whom? Rome, A.D. 1244 24

You Armed Whom? Hungary, 1514 29

You Chose Whom to Be the What? England, 1535 33

You Bought What? Netherlands, 1636 39

You Sent Whom, Governor? America, 1753-1754 46

You Lost Your Head Paris, 1794 55

You Are Shocking Europe, 1796 61

You Married Whom? Germany, 1858 66

You Shot Whom? Weehawken, New Jersey, 1804 71

You Invaded Where? Russia, 1812 77

You Gave Command to Whom? Waterloo, 1815 81

You Wore What? Washington, D.C., 1840 88

You Set Loose What? Australia, 1859 92

You Lost What? Antietam, 1862 97

You Taught Them What? Kansas and Missouri, 1863 103

You Sent Them Out in What? Off the Confederate Coastline, 1864 108

You're Building What, Where? Panama, 1881 112

You Put Him in Charge of What? Washington, 1896 118

You Hit What? The Mid-Atlantic, 1912 127

You Demand What? Authors, Everywhere, All the Time 136

You Ignored Whose Warning? Galveston, Texas, 1900 140

You Unleashed What? China, 1900 146

You Allowed What? Australia, 1950 150

You Are Doing It When, How? Africa 157

You Appointed Whom? England, 1914 170

You Traded Whom? Boston, 1920 179

You Created a Wonder Drug? Germany, 1897 183

You Sold Whom for How Much? New York City, 1937 190

You're Out of Tune United States, 1950 on (and on, and on) 194

You Executed All the What? Russia, 1937-1942 198

You Built It Where? New York, 1953 203

You Choose Whom? The Vatican, 1958 212

You Are Running Against Whom? California, 1966 217

You Quit What Show? TV Land: From 1970 to Next Season 222

You Forged What? Hollywood, 1976 226

You Switched Over to What? New York/Oakland Nfl Game, 1968 233

You Broke In Where? Washington, D.C., 1971 237

You Taped It All? Washington, D.C., 1974 243

You Vaccinated Whom Against What? United States, 1976 246

You Are Rescuing Them How? Iran, 1979 253

You Assassinated Whom? Donegal Bay, Ireland, 1979 263

You Made What? Hollywood, 1980s-'90s 267

You Forgot to Ask Them What? United States, 1985 272.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0060532505

OCLC:

53887482