Topic

History

A collection of 432 issues

The Heist That Made Her Famous: How Three Handymen Turned the Mona Lisa into a Masterpiece

Before 1911, the Mona Lisa was just another Renaissance painting. It took a simple heist by a museum handyman, a 26-hour delay in noticing its absence, and a global media frenzy to transform Leonardo's portrait into the most famous work of art in the world.

Art, Culture & Design History Entertainment & Media

The Awkwardest Houseguest: How Hans Christian Andersen Ruined His Friendship with Charles Dickens

In 1857, Hans Christian Andersen visited his idol, Charles Dickens. A planned two-week stay stretched to five, marked by weeping fits and social blunders. The strangest moment? When Andersen demanded Dickens's son shave him daily, a "custom" that ended their friendship for good.

Biography & Personal Stories Literature & Books History

The Houseguest from Hell: When Hans Christian Andersen's Visit Drove Charles Dickens Mad

When fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen visited his idol Charles Dickens, his five-week stay became a nightmare. His bizarre behavior, including asking Dickens's son for a daily shave, destroyed their friendship and left the Dickens family utterly exasperated.

Biography & Personal Stories Literature & Books History

The Great Midwestern Pepper-Mango Mystery: Why Some People Call Bell Peppers "Mangoes"

In parts of the Midwest, some call green bell peppers "mangoes." This isn't a mistake, but a linguistic fossil from the 18th century when "mango" referred to pickled items. Stuffed, pickled peppers were called "mangoes," and the name eventually stuck to the raw pepper itself.

Food & Lifestyle History Geography & Places

More Than a Mansion: The Insane True Value of a Single Tulip Bulb in the 1630s

During the 1630s Dutch Tulip Mania, a single tulip bulb became a symbol of immense wealth. At its peak, a rare bulb's value was equivalent to a mansion, a large estate of land, or decades of a skilled worker's wages, showcasing one of history's first and most dramatic speculative bubbles.

Business & Economics History Science & Nature

The iPhone's Secret Origin: How Apple's iPad Was Born First

Contrary to popular belief, Apple's iPad was conceived long before the iPhone. After seeing a multi-touch tablet prototype, Steve Jobs realized the technology was perfect for a phone, shelving the tablet project for three years to revolutionize the mobile industry first.

Technology & Innovation Business & Economics History

Malört: The Vile Liqueur Chicagoans Love to Hate (and Force on Their Friends)

Malört, Chicago's infamous wormwood liqueur, is a true test of grit. Known for its shockingly bitter taste, this Prohibition-era spirit has become a cultural staple and a bizarre rite of passage, bonding friends and newcomers through the shared trauma of the notorious 'Malört Face'.

Food & Lifestyle History Geography & Places

The Question That Ended Censorship: How a Snobbish Remark Freed 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'

In 1960, Penguin Books was on trial for publishing D.H. Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover.' The case hinged on one famously out-of-touch question from the prosecutor about wives and servants, which made the jury laugh and marked a pivotal moment for free speech in Britain.

History Literature & Books Media & Censorship

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