The Vanderbilts are likely America's closest thing to a royal family—at least, they spent money like one. The money came from Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the lavish spending came from just about anyone carrying the Vanderbilt name. Watching this family’s dramatic economic decline would be something close to comedy... if it wasn’t so darn tragic.
When King George I took over the English throne in 1714, the vaunted House of Hanover began its centuries-old reign over the British Empire, ending only with Queen Victoria. Yet dark secrets lay at the root of this seemingly glorious family tree, corrupting and corroding all that grew out of it.
Rasputin rose from an illiterate Russian peasant to one of the most powerful men in the Romanov Empire, and he did it by means that still stump historians today. Loved by an ardent, powerful few and hated by the masses, dark rumors always swirled around the “Mad Monk” who had the Tsarina in his thrall…including the details of his mysterious end. The trouble is, some of those rumors are true.
Known as one of the most skilled and ruthless commanders in history, Julius Caesar spent his life taking what he wanted with few people willing or able to stop him. After getting a taste of power and glory at a young age, he knew his destiny was to rule in one way or another. However, he made countless enemies, especially among those closest to him, so although he believed he was untouchable—others greatly disagreed.
Move over James Bond. Step aside, Ethan Hunt. There’s a new super spy in town. Virginia Hall was the real-world spy whose daring adventures behind enemy lines during WWII helped guarantee an Allied victory. She gathered valuable information, rescued downed airmen, and staged daring prison escapes. And on top of that? She did it all with only one good leg.
Marlene Dietrich, David Bowie, and Prince all played fast and loose when it came to what was the norm of dress and behavior for their gender. Let’s go back an astonishing 400 years and meet one of the original gender-fluid celebs. This was a Queen way off in Sweden and right from her birth, people had confused reactions to the child. Was it a girl? Was it a boy? Queen Christina didn’t really care what people thought. She just wanted to live life to the fullest—and she most certainly did.
Best known today as the creator of Frankenstein and its unforgettable monster, Mary Shelley’s private tragedies rivaled anything in her Gothic fiction. From her teenage rebellion to her tormented marriage and all the way up to the final, dark twist of her life, Shelley’s story has a dark magnetism you can’t look away from…even when you want to.
William Wallace may be the most famous Scottish freedom fighter in modern day, but another who outlived and even fought alongside him at one point was Robert the Bruce. Becoming an enemy of England and the law itself, he fought for Scotland’s independence and to claim his right to the Scottish throne. Facing impossible odds, Robert’s efforts would earn him the legacy of a national hero—even if he was a fugitive at the time.
Everywhere Mary Mallon went, death followed. Working as a cook in a wealthy household—and suddenly, sickness. Moving on to another house—in the blink of an eye, entire families down for the count. All the while, Mary was in perfect health. For decades, no one understood what was happening, least of all Mary herself. When they finally discovered the truth, the real nightmare began.
Maria Theresa of Spain, the wife of Louis XIV of France, is a queen whom history has sometimes overlooked. Known for her virtue and religious devotion, the Spanish royal never quite managed to fit in at the fashionable French court and was often outshone by her husband’s many mistresses. But behind her pious and long-suffering façade Maria Theresa was a fascinating woman—with some shocking secrets of her own.
Of all Truman Capote’s beautiful socialite “swans,” Gloria Guinness was the most scandalous. Called “the most elegant woman in the world,” by her admirers, Guinness nonetheless hid immense tragedy, infamy, and bitterness beneath her glittering façade—and dark rumors followed her to her immaculate grave. Pull back the curtain on this high society beauty.
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.
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