History & Trivia

Feed the adventurer in you with Origins of a Journey, more than 120 stories of history’s most famous travellers and their finest adventures.

Inside each of us lives an explorer who yearns to visit the great unknown. Feed the adventurer in you with Origins of a Journey, more than 120 stories of history’s most famous travellers and their finest adventures. These are the tales behind the history’s bravest pioneers, bringing you from the ocean’s black depths to the top of Mount Everest. Harriet Tubman ferries fugitive slaves along the Underground Railroad—not once, not twice, but 19 times. Teddy Roosevelt risks life, limb, and sanity as he charts the Amazon’s River of Doubt. Buoyed by the voice of God, Joan of Arc travels to Vaucouleurs to petition Charles for a chance to fight for France. Charles Darwin notices several different finch species while touring the Galápagos Islands, fundamentally changing how we understand life. Spanning from 500 BC to today, Origins of a Journey teaches us that there is always value in an adventure, no matter how small—or doomed—it may be.

“If you’ve wondered how your favorite masterpieces got their starts, the itch can now be scratched.”—Foreword Review’s Matt Sutherland
“Grogan’s research is meticulous and empirical…a lively peek into literary genius.”—Kirkus

For readers and writers alike, Origins of a Story is the inspiring collection of 202 amazing true stories behind the inspiration for the world’s greatest literature!

Did you know Lennie from Of Mice and Men was based on a real person? Or how about that Charlotte’s Web was based on an actual spider and her egg that E. B. White would carry from Maine to New York on business trips?  Origins of a Story profiles 202 famous literary masterpieces and explores how each story got its start. Spanning works from the nineteenth century to the twenty-first, this book is the first of its kind. Get glimpses of the reality behind these fictional stories, and learn about the individual creative process for each writer. Origins of a Story will not only leave you with a different perspective into your favorite works of fiction, but it will also have you inspired to take your everyday life and craft it into a literary masterpiece!

Learn about the most hilarious (and regrettable) pet choices that led to less-than-happy endings with Death by Pet.

Killed by a cassowary, run through by a red deer, and hacked down by a once-huggable hippo named Humphrey: as much as we love animals, some things are better left in the wild. Learn about the most hilarious (and regrettable) pet choices that led to less-than-happy endings with Death by Pet. Playful illustrations turn these regrettable pets into hilarious anecdotes perfect for fans of dark humor. Humorous language and hilarious asides keep each profile lighthearted enough for even the biggest pet lovers. From wolves to wildebeests, camels to cats, find out why everyone is better off with a pet rock.

Here is the classic collection of quotes from Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. 

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all time and one of the most popular: on its 35th anniversary, it continues to be a top earner on video and DVD.  But what has made this classic so compelling is the unique Corleone wit and wisdom.  Every fan will want to own this officially licensed, completely fascinating anthology of memorable words from the film.  It features a great selection of famous quotes from the “Family,” from the Don’s unforgettable “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” to Clemenza’s infamous, “Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.”  Every sharp and witty line will bring back a memory of this great movie—and that makes it a perfect gift for every Godfather aficionado.  Who would dare to resist?

The original lighthouse field guide for the Hudson River and the New York harbor.

There are seven lighthouses that light the way up the Hudson River to Albany. Many of these are famous lighthouses of significance, none more well known than the statue of Liberty and the famous Little Red Lighthouse underneath the George Washington Bridge. This book is a guide to these lighthouses and their histories and their current status. Filled with illustrations and photographs, this rich little guide to these gems of the Hudson is a sure fire way to help keep the home fires burning.

2009 marks the 400th Anniversary of the exploration of the Hudson River and it's valley which was first discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609 while about the ship Half Moon.

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most revered Presidents in the history of the United States. His persistence saved the Union, and preserved our Constitution. But his wisdom, with its homespun feel, and far deeper meanings, was the backbone of his enduring popularity. The combination of his sense of self -effacing humor and stories of backwoods life helped Lincoln make his points with the masses, and helped him communicate with a country at its lowest point, and in the middle of a terrific struggle.

 

Author Iain C. Martin assembles Lincoln's most popular and best quotations and bits of wisdom which helped Lincoln to endure through the ages. Funny, poignant, and inspiring, the greatness of the man shines through as never before.

 

"Abraham Lincoln's life helped define the essence of being an American and the ideals of freedom, and Worthy of Their Esteem offers a rich collection of the best of his sayings, grouped according to what major themes they address.  Added historical and biographical background plus vintage illustrations make this a top pick for a wide range of collections..."  -- The Midwest Book Review

The most definitive guide to the new revolution in single malt whiskey across the globe, complete with cocktail recipes, bottle reviews, tasting notes, distiller interviews, and contributions from award winning experts!

THE NEW SINGLE MALT is the only book on the market devoted solely to new world Single Malt Whiskeys and old world cutting edge Single Malt Scotches. This distinguished guide to the most discerning of beverages is a worthy collection of whiskeys from around the globe, classic and creative cocktail recipes, and full-color photographs throughout. Never before has a book taken such an in-depth look at the old and new world malts from near and far. THE NEW SINGLE MALT WHISKEY is the most up-to-date and definitive guide to the current revolution happening in single malt whiskey.

Your personal guide to one of the most iconic lighthouses in America!

Portland Head Light has long been at the center of Maine's maritime history and lore, and is undoubtedly one of the state's greatest treasures...and All About Portland Head Light is a treasure trove of facts, figures, history and folklore surrounding this majestic beacon. In this book, you'll find:

- The fascinating origins of Portland Head Light and the history of the surrounding region
- True tales of shipwrecks and daring rescues
- Efforts undertaken for preservation
- Stories of colorful keepers

In addition, this book is filled with information for visiting and viewing the lighthouse and neighboring Fort Williams. More than just a lighthouse handbook, this is your one-stop travel guide and reference source for touring and learning about this magnificent site, surrounded by beautiful Casco Bay. Expert author Jeremy D'Entremont has also added a companion title, All About Nubble Light, to his impressive body of work.

Filled with more facts than a clickbait article and more authentic than the Kardashians, this handbook is a Millennial’s first line of defense against naysayers, Baby Boomers, and politicians.

Millennials are killing everything: marriage, the economy, the environment. Or was that the Baby Boomers? Filled with more facts than a clickbait article and more authentic than the Kardashians, this handbook is a Millennial’s first line of defense against the naysayers. Hold your own in your next Twitter fight or show your Aunt Linda what it means to be “woke” with facts about the housing market, marriage, and even politics. This manifesto is packed full of sarcasm, satire, and statistics about America’s most self-centered generations.

Motivational quote books abound, but where are the volumes of misquotations?! In this era of fake news and fake quotes, The Little Book of Misquotations uncovers the truth behind the 200+ most famous things they never said!

Just because a quote is engraved in marble, stenciled on your mom’s wall, or repeated a million times online doesn’t exactly mean that it is correct. It’s time to set the record straight. The Little Book of Misquotations is the definitive collection of the quotes people frequently get wrong, including: 

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.” — Audrey Hepburn (Somebody else said it!)
“I want to suck your blood.” — Dracula (Nope! He said, “I only drink…wine.”)
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — Banksy (He wasn’t the first person to say it!)
“A penny saved is a penny earned.” — Ben Franklin (That’s not what he said!)

With deep dives on popular yet erroneous quotations from artists, writers, celebrities, scientists, politicians, and legendary figures from around the globe, The Little Book of Misquotations offers addictive reading—and a delightful reminder not to believe everything you read! 

Inspire your inner powerhouse with empowering broadsides with quotes from history’s most influential women.

With 30 inspirational posters at your disposal, you can cover every inch of your home or dorm room in motivational statements from powerful women who helped change history. Frame them, hang them as-is, or leave them bound in the book as an eye-catching coffee table reader—the choice is yours. These posters are perfect for hanging in dorm rooms, living rooms, hallways, and anywhere else that needs a pick-me-up! These broadsides are the perfect gift for anyone looking to be inspired by the women who changed history.

Bestselling author Jennifer Worick has put together an entertaining pocket-sized collection of book-related quotes, facts, and lists. From “Children’s Classics Fit for Adults” to “Scary Reads,” any reader will find something new to explore or revisit. This purse-size, leather-bound “little book” is a perfect companion for trips to the bookstore or library.

This little book of books is packed with quotes about classic titles and reading, book trivia, space for your own book notes, and dozens of lists, including:

- 10 Books from Home School You Should Revisit
- Love Hurts
- Dystopian Reads
- Guilty Pleasures
- The Sporting Life
- Short Stories
- Tragic-Comic Reads

Filled with the remarkable wit and humor of America's favorite storyteller, A Mark Twain Christmas gives readers insight into Twain's life through little known stories about how he and his family celebrated this treasured holiday. 

“If my boot should leave a stain on the marble…leave it there always in memory of my visit…and let it remind you to be a good little girl.” When Market Twain penned this enchanting letter from “Your loving Santa Claus” to his daughter Susy in 1875, a holiday tradition was born inside the Twain family home. And while Twain is celebrated as the sharpest satirist in American letters, he always had a soft spot for Christmas.
 
A Mark Twain Christmas is in turns charming, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, and it ultimately reaffirms the magic of the Christmas spirit. Looking in on three holiday seasons with Twain, we learn more about the man than we ever knew before, and we discover fascinations from gifted elephants to burglar letters to Santa’s bootprints. But most of all, we regain an understanding of what is most important in our own lives, and that is the greatest gift of the Christmas season. 

The poignant, personal, and unbelievably true story of Mrs. Robert E. Lee and General Montgomery Meigs, and the founding of the Arlington National Cemetery, in the midst of America's greatest struggle--the Civil War.

Mrs. Lee’s Rose Garden is the intensely personal story of Arlington National Cemetery’s earliest history as seen through the lives of three people during the outbreak of the Civil War: Mary Ann Randolph Custis Lee, Robert E. Lee, and Montgomery C. Meigs. With all the majesty and pathos of a Greek tragedy, this story unfolds as the war's inevitable spiral of betrayal, tragedy, loss, and death begins, ultimately transforming the nation’s most famous country estate into its most sacred ground.

In the years before the war, the Arlington estate sat like an American Acropolis towering above Washington. Mary Custis Lee was known as the Rose of Arlington, a brash, young, willful, and charming young woman, indulged by her famous father, George Washington Parke Custis, the grandson of George Washington. Artistic, well read, and highly intelligent, she was an avid gardener who spent as much time as possible tending the numerous flowerbeds of the Arlington Mansion, along with her mother and her three daughters. Handsome and dashing, Robert E. Lee was easily the most promising soldier of his generation. But long before he was a field commander he was also a great success in the Army Corps of Engineers, having worked on major projects around the U.S. His friend, Montgomery C. Meigs, who had served under Robert, was a scion of Philadelphia society, and rose to become the engineer responsible for helping to complete the capital, and one of the most accomplished builders of his generation. When the time for war arose, Lee refused the opportunity to head the Union Army. He could not draw his sword against his own state, his own people, and instead accepted a commission in the Confederate Army, pitting himself against many of his old comrades. Thus began a series of events that would ultimately pit these three against each other. Mrs. Lee’s Rose Garden is an intimate retelling of Arlington National Cemetery’s tragic beginnings, and sheds new light on this profound chapter in American history.

The perfect companion for lighthouse buffs, this comprehensible and travel-friendly full-color field guide covers over 150 lighthouses on the West Coast, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada! 

For centuries the lighthouses of the West Coast have played a key role in the maritime history and lore of the nation. From majestic structures to the smallest treasure, these beacons have guided ships safely for countless years and endeared themselves to lighthouse fans everywhere.
 
This definitive handbook features beautiful full-color photographs, highly regarded directions and contact information for each light, and complete articles on every existing lighthouse on the West Coast!
This ultimate travel guide features:
 
- stories of colorful keepers
- true tales of daring rescues at sea
- efforts undertaken for lighthouse preservation
- then-and-now photographs
- dates of establishment
- tower height and accessibility
- fun and surprising side-trips at each light 
- and so much more!

Be careful whom you cross--they may have read this book!

Killed with a toilet? Deadly belt buckles? Sexed to death?  Untimely Demise is a darkly comedic exploration of the 365 most fascinating ways people have offed one another since the beginning of time, from ninja swords to pernicious poisons, mobster murders to sneaky sabotage—and everything in between. The deadly details of 365 dastardly, mundane, ritualistic and just plain bizarre ways people have murdered one another are revealed in this darkly humorous--and surprisingly informative--cautionary collection. Whether you love a good whodunit or solve real-life murders for a living, this daily dose of dastardly deeds will shock and amaze you! Or, at least, remind you to lock your doors at night. 

A Treasure Trove of 175 Quips—Both Witty and Wise—from Beloved Writer Jane Austen!

“Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side.”—Jane Austen to Fanny Austen, 1814

No wiser or wittier words have been spoken than by one of the world’s most celebrated writers, Jane Austen. Nor have her words ever been presented in such an elegant and thoughtful fashion than in this lovely collection. Covering the timeless topics of happiness, family, fashion, beauty, human nature, society, and, of course, love and marriage, each quip has been curated from Austen’s novels and private letters. Complementing Jane’s words are more than fifty delightful 1890s illustrations from her works, resulting in the perfect gift for Janeites, aspiring writers, and anyone in pursuit of wit and wisdom.