Did you know Thomas Edison proposed to his wife in Morse code? Or that the CIA considered covering Castro's shoes in thallium to get rid of his iconic beard? The strange facts and foibles of history's famous figures are divulged in Felons, Freaks, and Fruitcakes . The book is a fun, bite sized compendium of the weird and unbelievable. Big names--small disclosures. Important historical data--little to none. This book can be picked up and read anywhere, from any starting point. Skim a section or just peruse a page, but you may find yourself hooked after reading a few of the hilariously strange entries inside. Deborah Warren, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and The Paris Review , deals out the strange facts of history's famous with a poetic style and a sense of humor. The collected details, those which history might rather have forgotten, are given their place in the spotlight.

Start from the front, but if it's not your thing, flip around the pages. There are plenty of Felons, Freaks, and Fruitcakes.