It is always the fate of individuals which makes history interesting – through their deeds, misdeeds, failures, success stories and chance encounters.

Most thrilling however is to learn about the behind the scenes stories of world-defining events.

How many people really know that the famous curse of the pharaoh was in reality nothing more than a reader’s letter to the New York Times?

Why do holy communion hosts bleed? Why do plaster figures of saints cry tears? Are these miracles or easily explained phenomena? Did you know that Jane Goodall, the famous chimpanzee researcher, was in love with Tarzan?

Or that Albert Einstein once had to attend an official reception dressed in fitting attire? Remarking that he thought he resembled a Brazilian admiral, he changed his outfit and turned up in mechanic’s overalls – he was mistaken for an electrician!

After having read this book you will even be able to answer difficult quiz questions such as: “Who was the physician who became pope?”

You will surely enjoy learning about history by delving into the private lives of historical figures.

About the author:

Hans Bankl was born in 1940. At the age of 31 he became Austria’s youngest professor of pathology and is today a renowned scientist.

He has published more than 180 scientific papers and written bestsellers which include: “Der Pathologe weiß alles – aber leider zu spät” (The Pathologist Knows Everything – Unfortunately Too Late) 1997; “Die Kranken Habsburger” (The Ailing Habsburgs) 1998; “Im Rücken steckt das Messer” (The Knife in the Back) 2001; “Kolumbus brachte nicht nur die Tomaten” (Columbus Brought Back More Than Tomatoes) 2002; all of which have earned him a wide ranging readership.