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Brilliant
A history book with a difference, this book looks at the forgotten stories, the ones that didn’t make it into the mainstream books
I totally loved this book, there were so many different stories that I didn’t know, that had previously passed me by, and reading it bought me closer to the unknown side of the story. Sorry, just realised how wooly that sounds! In short, this book educates and challenges the reader, with some popular and but mostly unknown stories that make up our history
The writing style drew me in and each page caught my attention even more and I think I loved that about it. Each chapter is a different story so it’s easy to drop in and out and there is something in there for everyone
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy something different, who want to learn but also be totally engaged in what they are reading

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thank you #NetGalley for the review copy of #TheForgottenPast

This was an amusing read with a collection of brief stories about an assortment of "lesser known" historical events that are not necessarily all going to be brand new to readers, but are told in an engaging way. It's very easy to read for a short time before putting the book down again, so this book would be great for your coffee table, travel bag, or nightstand. Given the length of each part, it's nowhere near a comprehensive history book with full descriptions of the context and details of each situation, but readers can learn an assortment of trivia by reading this and there's always the option to look up anything one wants to learn more about.

If you enjoy knowing things, especially the little things of which you never knew you wanted to know them this is a book for you. After reading this you will make a killing at parties showing off all your new acquired knowledge. As long as you enjoy history that is. Exactly this is what gives the book its flavour. Another thing I like is the fact that the historical facts aren't just about kings/queens and other 'celebs' of bygone times. Quite often everyday people like you (I think), and me (I know for sure) get a role in this book.

For me the writing style didn't work and I struggled finishing it because of this. The usage of exclamation marks (!) in combination with 'showy' language took the enjoyment out of it for me. This is very personal and I understand fully many people will disagree with me.

I really enjoyed this book and will be seeking more of this author's work. I love history so it was right up my street. Highly recommended.

I thought this was an interesting read and I read it rather quickly. I did not know a large portion of the stories but a few I had some knowledge about. If you are interested in history and trivia then you will probably enjoy this book. A fast and entertaining read.

History nerds and lovers of ephemeral minutiae take note; Andrew Vinken has written the perfect book for you. This delightful little cabinet of curiosities unveils antique treasures which fell through the cracks. Here can be found tales of overlooked pioneers, troublesome spirits, siblings of the rich and powerful, and ancient relics. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the origins of words and phrases and a retelling of a spooky mystery from my neck of the woods; Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A fascinating look at the alternative side of history. Always find the unsung stories from the past to be the most interesting and this just did not disappoint.

I love books that offer little tidbits of lesser-known history especially if they are facts about everyday lives and people. "The Forgotten Past" offers this in abundance. Although I was aware of a few of these facts, there was enough new information to keep my interest. This is definitely a good read if you want to learn something that may not be in most history books.

This book is perfect for all types of history buffs and even for those that consider themselves not "history people!"

Have you ever wondered about the people who only receive maybe a footnote in history? Or worse the ones that are lost to history for being peasants, the common folk, etc etc? Then this book is for you! Peppered with colorful characters, Andrew Vinken offers short chapters on interesting anecdotes throughout history. Every thought of who came up with selling mineral water? There's a story on that. What's wife selling? There's a story for that too!

In the end the book makes you think more about everyday history, etymology, and more! You'll have plenty of fun facts at your next book club to share.

I found this a quite entertaining read, even if the writing style was sometimes a little too chatty. Still, the anecdotes were all interesting and easy to read, I could have used a little more detail on some but still recommend it

A nice easy read that sheds light on varied historical happenings throughout the world and time. I found his tales at time familiar and at times illuminating.

Este libro es perfecto para los amantes de lo inusual, lo irreverente y lo curioso. Una colección de historias tan atractivas que es imposible creer que a pocos les puedan interesar.

This book is perfect for lovers of the unusual, the irreverent and the curious. A collection of stories so appealing that it's impossible to believe that few may be interested in them.

Full review to be publsihed on August 3: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2019/07/resena-review-forgotten-past.html

The forgotten past is a lighthearted look at history. Vinken provides brief lesser-known narratives of the past complete with related illustrations. The interesting and engaging stories are filled with history trivia and quirky details. This is a great resource for history lovers!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I received a free copy of this 'The Forgotten Past' by Andrew Vinken from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The book is a eclectic collection of little known stories from the annals of History, two stories I particularly enjoyed reading were, The Phantom Doggie of Logeriat Parish and The world's worst poet

I found this book really easy to read and I enjoyed the conversational style of writing.

As the book is a collection of stories it was easy to dip in and out of and there was need to read from front to back.

All the stories are engaging and taught me something new some, the stories would also make great conversation starters at parties.

Would recommend this book to history lovers and people who love reading trivial.

I was expecting more depth or more interesting stories. It's a fast easy read which isn't something that appeals to me where history is concerned. There are more interesting stories in Dan Carlin's Hardcore History for example that include little known players. To be fair, this isn't trying to do that, but the tone and style were too superficial for my taste.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

*** I received an ARC of this book from Matador and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

I found the synopsis and title of the book quite interesting, and so decided to give it a try! I will say I am a bit disappointed, as you can see from the rating I gave it...
This was a collection of 'little known' historical facts, of 'history from below', around 40 of them. In an ebook that is about 100 pages long, you may guess those stories are quite short... Especially when they include images (which I encourage!). In the end the stories just weren't very in-depth. On top of that, most of the information was apparently sourced from wikipedia. Not doubting the work that is put into that website, I just find that the research put into this book was very shallow, so not what I was expecting.
In a similar vein, some of the stories included were not actually what I would consider interesting or 'history from below'. For example, the case of the Winchester House and the events surrounding its construction are quite well-known. And I don't really care about specific murders, no matter how weird the events or how unsolved they are. I was expecting to learn more about little known people and events that made a big impact in history...
I will say I liked the informal tone of the writing, the inclusion of images and some of the stories were quite interesting (like Whitehead's first flight), and/or actually made me tear up a bit (like the one regarding the recuperation of bodies after the Titanic's disaster). But while I appreciate those things, they are not enough to make me recommend this book to anyone. I found myself skimming most of the second half, and found it mostly boring and unoriginal.

This book explores little events in history and people who may have been forgotten due to other people being credited with their achievements. The author uses a breezy style, short chapters and plenty of illustrations, making it appealing for readers in search of a light book that can be dipped in an out of. However, for more serious readers and for those in search of the verified fact I wouldn't recommend it as checking the sources at the end I found them mainly to consist of Wikipedia articles and top ten lists from other internet sites. There were some interesting articles but others I knew about or had already read as being refuted elsewhere. A good idea for a book, and certainly use ideas but don’t just rehash other articles in your own style without additional research.

One of the nicest things about this book is Vinken's writing style, he has very personable voice which made each chapter a genuine pleasure to read. The sections are varied and cover a lot of ground, from the real inventor of flight to con men, murder mysteries, and dreadful poets.

As a proud owner of McGonagall's collected works of poetry, it's always a treat to see him remembered, even if it is as a figure of fun.

Recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Matador, for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book, it ought to be a series! I felt I was sitting in an old time pub with an exccentic uncle who knew far too much and loving every minute of his non-stop one sided conversation. The collection of stories were very entertaining and made me laugh out loud more than once and the more sober stories broke my heart. A very easy book to read in manageble chapter chunks that you can put down and come back to. I have already decided to purchase a few copies of this book for Christmas stocking fillers for those whom I know will love it as much as I did.