Browsing: World History

A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award winner: The whaleship Essex encounters a monstrous sperm whale in this thrilling true account of the historical disaster that inspired Moby Dick. “Fascinating… One of our country’s great adventure stories” (The Wall Street Journal).

“Gripping” (Booklist): In 1959, nine Russian hikers met a bizarre death in the Ural Mountains in a notorious case that perplexes investigators to this day. This New York Times bestseller digs into the facts and offers a compelling answer to the mystery. With over 4,200 five-star Goodreads ratings.

“A fascinating story of an extraordinary man” (Elie Wiesel) from a New York Times bestselling author: Follow the incredible life of Raoul Wallenberg, a courageous hero whose efforts saved countless Hungarian Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazi regime.

Only a fraction of Europe’s Jewish children survived the Holocaust. This gripping New York Times bestseller tells the stories of Sophie, Flora, and Carla — three young girls who defied the odds to escape Hitler’s genocide and make new lives in America.

From an award-winning writer comes a “virtuoso tour of the periodic table” (Publishers Weekly): Learn about the amazing ways the elements were discovered — and how they have shaped history. “Immensely engaging” (The Sunday Times).

In 1904, Henry Flagler began work on an unbelievable project — connecting mainland Florida to the island of Key West with 153 miles of railroad across the open ocean. Find out what doomed the disastrous project in this “remarkable” New York Times bestseller (Booklist).

Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Devil in the White City, delivers a remarkable story set during Hitler’s…

This “riveting” New York Times bestseller (The Seattle Times) details the heroic survival and rescue of three US military personnel stranded in the South Pacific at the end of World War II. “Zuckoff has uncovered, and vividly reconstructed, such an astonishing tale” (The Washington Post).

A New York Times bestseller: In Nazi-occupied Rome, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, a courageous Irish priest, ran an escape network for Jews and POWs. This “superbly written” biography (The Mail on Sunday) recounts his heroic efforts that saved thousands of lives.

Everyone knows Genghis Khan revolutionized warfare and weaponry, but his nomadic people were also responsible for vast innovation in everything from education to free trade. Discover the history of the Mongols in this New York Times bestseller with over 14,200 five-star Goodreads ratings!