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There are plenty of reasons for Canadians to feel a sense of national pride. Maple syrup, bacon, beavers, and igloos might come to mind, but when the fireworks get going, look no further than the inspirational and heartbreaking story of Terry Fox to simultaneously pick you up and make you cry.

Lorenzo the Magnificent was a powerful statesman in Renaissance-era Florence. An enthusiastic patron of the arts, his money funded some of the best-known art of the era. But behind his generous and cultured façade lurked a cunning political and diplomatic mind…

Patricia Highsmith was most famous for her sharp thrillers like The Talented Mr Ripley, where rage and fear seethes on every page. Seemingly every relationship Highsmith ever had, from familial to romantic, was shot through with agony—and, sadly, Highsmith may have been the root of the problem.

From the moment of her birth, Margaret of Austria was in a position of great power. However, that power was not always her own. After years as a political pawn—bought and sold through marriage after marriage—Margaret saw the chance to embody her power and took it.

Some people believe that Edward de Vere was Queen Elizabeth I’s illegitimate son. Or her lover. Others speculate that he was the real author behind Shakespeare’s works. Well, if you can believe it, those rumors are actually the least interesting things about him. After all, who else has an entire Wikipedia section dedicated to “Quarrels, plots, and scandals?” No one did controversy and intrigue quite like Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford—and here’s the proof.

History portrays Edward VI as the feeble and ultimately doomed son of Henry VIII, but the truth is so much darker than that. Far from a weakling, even as a boy, Edward proved nearly as twisted as his rotund father—and his gruesome end was likely a blessing for England. Don't believe us? Dive in and find out for yourself.

We spent years knowing him as the Prince of Wales, but Charles now goes by the title of King Charles III of England—and his scandalous and tragic past rivals the messiest monarchs in Britain’s long history.

Born into an affluent family, Patricia Hearst was likely used to the public’s attention by the time she was 19, but then her whole life turned upside-down. What followed was one of the most sensationalized cases ever faced in America. Seen as a domestic terrorist by some, and a hero by others, Patricia would live to answer for her actions and provide her side of the story—even if the details remain foggy to this day.

Queens of France have a long tradition of drama and downfalls, but Queen Marie Leszczyńska’s personal foibles put them all to shame.

Helen Keller is a household name. Everyone knows the story of the blind, deaf woman who defied the odds. However, what do we truly know about the woman she was beyond her disabilities? Discover the true Helen Keller, the woman who overcame incredible odds and wrote a life story that still inspires us all.

Immortalized beyond the pages of history books, King Henry V became the subject of many literary works. However, his true legacy may be murkier. While many were quick to celebrate him as a hero king, who led Britain to greatness against its enemies, others have since pointed out his faults—and how he may not be as noble as previously thought.

The world owes so much to Alan Turing. Without his quick and clever mind, the Allied Forces may never have been able to unravel the impossible messages produced by the German Enigma machine. WWII would have looked very different without that knowledge. Despite this, the British government detained Turing simply for being himself. Let’s shine a light on the true Alan Turing—and all he’s done for the world.