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Mavericks: Life stories and lessons of history's most extraordinary misfits
In her first book, popular TikTok historian J Draper uses her characteristic wit and intellect to introduce us to extraordinary figures marginalized by history, and the lessons we can learn from them.
Witty and engaging TikTok historian J.D. Draper digs out unusual stories of individuals that have shaped the world, and discovers the lessons their unique experiences can teach us.
Breaking away from history as told through the lens of kings, queens and nobles, this book instead lifts the lid on 24 fascinating stories of little-known underdogs, mavericks, trailblazers and oddballs. Through these stories you will meet characters such
The Chevalier d'Eon–a fencing master, spy and diplomat who came out as a woman in 18th-century London
Ellen and William Craft–a married couple who made a daring escape from slavery in the American south
Peter the Wild Boy–a child found living in the woods in Germany who was taken to the royal court in England
Caroline Herschel–the first British woman to be paid for scientific work, and a discoverer of comets
William Buckland–the man who wrote the first account of a dinosaur–yet who also ate the heart of a French king
Eleanor Rykener–a gender-bending sex worker from medieval England who spilled juicy gossip about her clients in the clergy
Juliana Popjoy–a society beauty who lived in a tree for years
Paul Robeson–athlete, singer, actor, polyglot, activist... and handsome to boot
The Rebecca Rioters–a roving crowd of Welshmen who destroyed tollbooths dressed in skirts and bonnets.
These poignant and often hilarious true stories show us that the world as we know it was built by a wider array of historical figures than we experienced in our schoolbooks.
Witty and engaging TikTok historian J.D. Draper digs out unusual stories of individuals that have shaped the world, and discovers the lessons their unique experiences can teach us.
Breaking away from history as told through the lens of kings, queens and nobles, this book instead lifts the lid on 24 fascinating stories of little-known underdogs, mavericks, trailblazers and oddballs. Through these stories you will meet characters such
The Chevalier d'Eon–a fencing master, spy and diplomat who came out as a woman in 18th-century London
Ellen and William Craft–a married couple who made a daring escape from slavery in the American south
Peter the Wild Boy–a child found living in the woods in Germany who was taken to the royal court in England
Caroline Herschel–the first British woman to be paid for scientific work, and a discoverer of comets
William Buckland–the man who wrote the first account of a dinosaur–yet who also ate the heart of a French king
Eleanor Rykener–a gender-bending sex worker from medieval England who spilled juicy gossip about her clients in the clergy
Juliana Popjoy–a society beauty who lived in a tree for years
Paul Robeson–athlete, singer, actor, polyglot, activist... and handsome to boot
The Rebecca Rioters–a roving crowd of Welshmen who destroyed tollbooths dressed in skirts and bonnets.
These poignant and often hilarious true stories show us that the world as we know it was built by a wider array of historical figures than we experienced in our schoolbooks.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2025
111 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 28, 2025
Thank you to Watkins Publishing for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Mavericks: Life Stories and Lessons of History’s Most Extrordinary Misfits is a humorous pop history collection by Jenny Draper. Covering twenty four different brief biographies of (primarily British) oddballs.
Admittedly, I was not familiar with Jenny Draper from her social media and was compelled to read the book based on title alone. Histories of under acknowledged figures, especially offbeat ones, are generally pretty fun! I think the author’s experience as a social media content creator was pretty evident in the way the information was structured. While pretty witty and filled with zippy asides, the biographies had much more in common with YouTube and TikTok than other history compilation books. At times I thought that the writing was excessively casual and as if it was lacking a little legitimacy. My assessment would be that this is much more of a humor book about history than a history book with a humorous style.
What I found somewhat difficult about this book is that while it did make me laugh, and it did seem very interesting, there was something somewhat haphazard about it. There was no conclusion or afterward that drew any major point or theme. The subheadings of the chapter were all lessons to learn from the person, but there was very little else unifying that idea of ‘lessons.’ Even the brief introductions didn’t really flesh out this idea. It almost seemed as if in one point of development the idea of a life lessons style book was proposed but abandoned, and this was a remnant left behind. The choice of historical figure was also baffling. Their inclusion seemed somewhat random and like there were too many choices that really didn’t have enough details for a full inclusion. The establishment criteria for inclusion was muddy and it really seemed like it was just twenty four interesting mostly-British people.
I think that this isn’t a bad concept. I just feel like the way it exists in its current state seems unfinished, or at least under edited, and it would work much better as a social media series than a book. 2/5.
Mavericks: Life Stories and Lessons of History’s Most Extrordinary Misfits is a humorous pop history collection by Jenny Draper. Covering twenty four different brief biographies of (primarily British) oddballs.
Admittedly, I was not familiar with Jenny Draper from her social media and was compelled to read the book based on title alone. Histories of under acknowledged figures, especially offbeat ones, are generally pretty fun! I think the author’s experience as a social media content creator was pretty evident in the way the information was structured. While pretty witty and filled with zippy asides, the biographies had much more in common with YouTube and TikTok than other history compilation books. At times I thought that the writing was excessively casual and as if it was lacking a little legitimacy. My assessment would be that this is much more of a humor book about history than a history book with a humorous style.
What I found somewhat difficult about this book is that while it did make me laugh, and it did seem very interesting, there was something somewhat haphazard about it. There was no conclusion or afterward that drew any major point or theme. The subheadings of the chapter were all lessons to learn from the person, but there was very little else unifying that idea of ‘lessons.’ Even the brief introductions didn’t really flesh out this idea. It almost seemed as if in one point of development the idea of a life lessons style book was proposed but abandoned, and this was a remnant left behind. The choice of historical figure was also baffling. Their inclusion seemed somewhat random and like there were too many choices that really didn’t have enough details for a full inclusion. The establishment criteria for inclusion was muddy and it really seemed like it was just twenty four interesting mostly-British people.
I think that this isn’t a bad concept. I just feel like the way it exists in its current state seems unfinished, or at least under edited, and it would work much better as a social media series than a book. 2/5.
January 19, 2025
Audiobook eARC provided by Watkins Audio via Netgally in exchange for a review.
Rating: 4.5/5
An amazing book about historical figures that lived extraordinary lives for one reason or another. Draper's knack for dialing up the humour when appropriate and letting it take a back seat when taking of more serious topics such as oppression and abuse, make for a book that is fun and funny but still remains respectful and socially conscious. Any fan of the author's content online would love the voice of the writing and her audiobook narration.
Rating: 4.5/5
An amazing book about historical figures that lived extraordinary lives for one reason or another. Draper's knack for dialing up the humour when appropriate and letting it take a back seat when taking of more serious topics such as oppression and abuse, make for a book that is fun and funny but still remains respectful and socially conscious. Any fan of the author's content online would love the voice of the writing and her audiobook narration.
March 17, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the ARC.
While a nice collection of extraordinary people throughout history, I feel like the need to provide a 'lesson' for each chapter was a bit heavy-handed. If their life story provides something we can take with us, great. But some chapters, it felt like the author was reaching for some one-line moral to get it to fit the structure of the rest of the book, and it was a little distracting.
While a nice collection of extraordinary people throughout history, I feel like the need to provide a 'lesson' for each chapter was a bit heavy-handed. If their life story provides something we can take with us, great. But some chapters, it felt like the author was reaching for some one-line moral to get it to fit the structure of the rest of the book, and it was a little distracting.
January 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I love a good non-fiction book, especially about the unsung heroes, those names that get lost amongst history, and so I was really excited about this one. It's given me some good Google black holes to go down.
A book this length shouldn't have taken me much time to read at all, but it was so interesting that I had to keep pausing and looking things up and going back and re-reading things.
I won't go into too much detail about every single person in the book, but here are my quick thoughts:
- Thomas Blood: a wrongun, a thief, but I couldn't help but be impressed by him
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu - I absolutely loved her, for her achievements and for her splendid name
- Ellen & William Craft - inspirational! They wrote a book and I have definitely got that on my wishlist now
- Noor Inayat Khan - a WW2 heroine; it's stories like hers that we should be teaching in schools
- Mary Frith - I feel she has not been written about more. She was a bit of a laugh (although not always law-abiding), and I will try to seek out some more literature about her
- Lady Hestor Stanhope - such an amazing woman, if potentially a little but odd by the end, but I still loved her
- William Buckland - a palaeontologist before the word 'dinosaur' even existed. I found him fascinating
- Eleanor Rykener - an individual ahead of their time; someone who would fit in nowadays but would have been somewhat of a novelty in their age
- James Chuma & Abdullah David Susi - part of a historical story that I knew nothing about
- Black Agnes - a woman involved in one of the biggest fights in royal history and yet no-one (or at least I didn't) knows of her
- Margaret Kempe - I have read about her before (in Victoria MacKenzie's For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain) and I am endlessly fascinated by her
- The Chevalière d'Éon - she once owned 6,000 books, which puts my 1,400 to shame
- Ira Aldridge - oh I would have loved to have seen him act. He was a unique man to his time, and I think he would have been mesmerising to see
- The Rebecca Rioters - a group of people (not always female) who are part of a rioting time in history that I knew nothing about whatsoever
- Julius Soubise - I didn't take to Julius or his story at all I'm afraid
- Ethel Macdonald - what a fascinating, brave lady, and more modern than some of the other entries
- The Chartists - these were fascinating and definitely worth future research
- Gerrard Winstanley - another individual and time in history I knew nothing about
- Mary Anning - I have always been in awe of Mary and would have loved to have met her. I will never find her less than an inspiration
- Caroline Herschel - I find astronomy fascinating and I loved learning about Caroline and will definitely be digging a little deeper into her life. I didn't realise how much her and her brother were integral to the way we see space now
- Peter the Wild Boy - an interesting lad, thrust into the most inhospitable environment of the time: the royal court
- Sabrina Sidney - such a sad story and very bizarre start to life
- Radclyffe "John" Hall - I hadn't heard of Radclyffe and so this was an interesting read. Radclyffe would have felt right at home had they been around 100 years later or so
- Paul Robeson - someone I feel I should have heard of but hadn't; simply inspirational
If you're still reading this then hi! I know that was a lot of information but I wanted to talk about them all. If you're a history nerd, or if you just like learning about people, then this is a great book to read. There are so many people in it I hadn't heard of and feel like I should have. You will definitely feel more enriched by reading it.
I love a good non-fiction book, especially about the unsung heroes, those names that get lost amongst history, and so I was really excited about this one. It's given me some good Google black holes to go down.
A book this length shouldn't have taken me much time to read at all, but it was so interesting that I had to keep pausing and looking things up and going back and re-reading things.
I won't go into too much detail about every single person in the book, but here are my quick thoughts:
- Thomas Blood: a wrongun, a thief, but I couldn't help but be impressed by him
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu - I absolutely loved her, for her achievements and for her splendid name
- Ellen & William Craft - inspirational! They wrote a book and I have definitely got that on my wishlist now
- Noor Inayat Khan - a WW2 heroine; it's stories like hers that we should be teaching in schools
- Mary Frith - I feel she has not been written about more. She was a bit of a laugh (although not always law-abiding), and I will try to seek out some more literature about her
- Lady Hestor Stanhope - such an amazing woman, if potentially a little but odd by the end, but I still loved her
- William Buckland - a palaeontologist before the word 'dinosaur' even existed. I found him fascinating
- Eleanor Rykener - an individual ahead of their time; someone who would fit in nowadays but would have been somewhat of a novelty in their age
- James Chuma & Abdullah David Susi - part of a historical story that I knew nothing about
- Black Agnes - a woman involved in one of the biggest fights in royal history and yet no-one (or at least I didn't) knows of her
- Margaret Kempe - I have read about her before (in Victoria MacKenzie's For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain) and I am endlessly fascinated by her
- The Chevalière d'Éon - she once owned 6,000 books, which puts my 1,400 to shame
- Ira Aldridge - oh I would have loved to have seen him act. He was a unique man to his time, and I think he would have been mesmerising to see
- The Rebecca Rioters - a group of people (not always female) who are part of a rioting time in history that I knew nothing about whatsoever
- Julius Soubise - I didn't take to Julius or his story at all I'm afraid
- Ethel Macdonald - what a fascinating, brave lady, and more modern than some of the other entries
- The Chartists - these were fascinating and definitely worth future research
- Gerrard Winstanley - another individual and time in history I knew nothing about
- Mary Anning - I have always been in awe of Mary and would have loved to have met her. I will never find her less than an inspiration
- Caroline Herschel - I find astronomy fascinating and I loved learning about Caroline and will definitely be digging a little deeper into her life. I didn't realise how much her and her brother were integral to the way we see space now
- Peter the Wild Boy - an interesting lad, thrust into the most inhospitable environment of the time: the royal court
- Sabrina Sidney - such a sad story and very bizarre start to life
- Radclyffe "John" Hall - I hadn't heard of Radclyffe and so this was an interesting read. Radclyffe would have felt right at home had they been around 100 years later or so
- Paul Robeson - someone I feel I should have heard of but hadn't; simply inspirational
If you're still reading this then hi! I know that was a lot of information but I wanted to talk about them all. If you're a history nerd, or if you just like learning about people, then this is a great book to read. There are so many people in it I hadn't heard of and feel like I should have. You will definitely feel more enriched by reading it.
April 23, 2025
I met the author of Mavericks at an event at my local independent book shop and thought that it would be an interesting book to read so bought a copy. Mavericks is a collection of 24 short chapters, describing as the front cover of the book says “Life stories and lessons of history’s most extraordinary misfits”. Although I had heard of some of the people, most were totally unknown to me before I read this book.
Although covering several centuries, many of the figures in the book were from the Georgian era - an interesting time in British history. A lot of them were women and several were black. All achieved something unusual and/or amazing and there are some very inspirational stories.
So, I learnt a lot from reading this book. I also really liked Jenny Draper’s writing style which is witty and accessible. It doesn’t feel like a history book as the characters really come alive. I was interested to discover that the author is a qualified Blue Badge guide - I’m sure her walking tours around London would be a blast!
Some favourites from the book - Mary Frith, described in the chapter summary as a 16th century ladette. This one made me laugh out loud. She was part of a south London gang of pickpockets, went around dressed in a combination of men’s and women’s clothes and was too drunk to care when she was being publicly shamed as a punishment for her crimes. She even opened a shop where you could buy back the items you’d had stolen from you!
I was very inspired by the chapter about Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Described as the first female travel writer, she traveled to Constantinople where she discovered that the Ottomans were using a process called ingrafting as inoculation against smallpox, which involves exposing healthy people to pus from smallpox blisters via a series of small scratches. They went on to catch smallpox but had it less severely and the death rate was only 2%, as opposed to 60% in the rest of the population who had not had the inoculation. This was fascinating - she was way ahead of her time!
I think my favourite chapter was about James Chuma and Abdullah David Susi who were responsible for bringing back the body and papers of the explorer David Livingstone, walking 1,400 miles across Africa carrying the body. I had never heard of them, but what a debt history owes them!
There were chapters on the Chartists and the lesser known Rebecca rioters, men dressed as women and disguised with horsehair beards and masks, protesting about tollbooths in Wales. I had no idea about the privatisation of roads in the 1840s which meant that the owners could charge what they liked for people to use their roads in the form of a toll.
I felt that Britain came across in this book as a comparatively liberal society with more opportunities for marginalised individuals to achieve their goal - or at least make more progress than they would have done in their native land. There was still prejudice against black people and women - but they had relatively more freedom in Britain.
It would be great if the figures in this book got more recognition! Maybe as part of the history national curriculum students could research some of our more quirky historical figures! I certainly got a lot out of reading this book which I think would appeal to anyone interested in history - or just in championing the underdog!
Although covering several centuries, many of the figures in the book were from the Georgian era - an interesting time in British history. A lot of them were women and several were black. All achieved something unusual and/or amazing and there are some very inspirational stories.
So, I learnt a lot from reading this book. I also really liked Jenny Draper’s writing style which is witty and accessible. It doesn’t feel like a history book as the characters really come alive. I was interested to discover that the author is a qualified Blue Badge guide - I’m sure her walking tours around London would be a blast!
Some favourites from the book - Mary Frith, described in the chapter summary as a 16th century ladette. This one made me laugh out loud. She was part of a south London gang of pickpockets, went around dressed in a combination of men’s and women’s clothes and was too drunk to care when she was being publicly shamed as a punishment for her crimes. She even opened a shop where you could buy back the items you’d had stolen from you!
I was very inspired by the chapter about Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Described as the first female travel writer, she traveled to Constantinople where she discovered that the Ottomans were using a process called ingrafting as inoculation against smallpox, which involves exposing healthy people to pus from smallpox blisters via a series of small scratches. They went on to catch smallpox but had it less severely and the death rate was only 2%, as opposed to 60% in the rest of the population who had not had the inoculation. This was fascinating - she was way ahead of her time!
I think my favourite chapter was about James Chuma and Abdullah David Susi who were responsible for bringing back the body and papers of the explorer David Livingstone, walking 1,400 miles across Africa carrying the body. I had never heard of them, but what a debt history owes them!
There were chapters on the Chartists and the lesser known Rebecca rioters, men dressed as women and disguised with horsehair beards and masks, protesting about tollbooths in Wales. I had no idea about the privatisation of roads in the 1840s which meant that the owners could charge what they liked for people to use their roads in the form of a toll.
I felt that Britain came across in this book as a comparatively liberal society with more opportunities for marginalised individuals to achieve their goal - or at least make more progress than they would have done in their native land. There was still prejudice against black people and women - but they had relatively more freedom in Britain.
It would be great if the figures in this book got more recognition! Maybe as part of the history national curriculum students could research some of our more quirky historical figures! I certainly got a lot out of reading this book which I think would appeal to anyone interested in history - or just in championing the underdog!
July 19, 2025
Lovely book
A quick, fun read by the wonderful social media personality J. Draper, about an interesting variety of lesser-known historical figures.
A quick, fun read by the wonderful social media personality J. Draper, about an interesting variety of lesser-known historical figures.
March 2, 2025
The charm and wit which define Jenny Draper’s short history TikToks and YouTube Shorts shine through in her first book. It’s a pleasant book, and easy enough to chip away at in pieces (or read in a sitting if you so choose).
My only gripes would be that there doesn’t seem to be anything joining the characters together (other than they are all somehow connected to Britain and were all weirdos) and this gave the book a somewhat disjointed feel. It also seemed to have no “point” other than being interesting. If you selected any chapter at random and removed it from the book, the quality of the final product would probably not be too much affected. Jenny’s bubbly personality translates well to the written page, but can sometimes be too much. The writing reads like the script to one of her history TikToks (which isn’t necessarily bad, this is probably where most people know her from), but I wouldn’t want to read almost 200 pages of a TikTok script - eventually it gets old. I enjoyed the book, but I don’t envision ever coming back to it for a reread.
Overall, for what it is, this is a fun and charming light read! I think Jenny successfully achieved her goals in writing this book. Unfortunately there is not much below the surface.
My only gripes would be that there doesn’t seem to be anything joining the characters together (other than they are all somehow connected to Britain and were all weirdos) and this gave the book a somewhat disjointed feel. It also seemed to have no “point” other than being interesting. If you selected any chapter at random and removed it from the book, the quality of the final product would probably not be too much affected. Jenny’s bubbly personality translates well to the written page, but can sometimes be too much. The writing reads like the script to one of her history TikToks (which isn’t necessarily bad, this is probably where most people know her from), but I wouldn’t want to read almost 200 pages of a TikTok script - eventually it gets old. I enjoyed the book, but I don’t envision ever coming back to it for a reread.
Overall, for what it is, this is a fun and charming light read! I think Jenny successfully achieved her goals in writing this book. Unfortunately there is not much below the surface.
May 21, 2025
An enjoyable look into historical stories you wouldn’t otherwise encounter.
Side note- if you happen to be planning a trip to London Jenny Draper’s tours are excellent. She is an engaging storyteller and you’ll see historical gems hidden among the modern hustle and bustle (and the bigger tourist sights).
Side note- if you happen to be planning a trip to London Jenny Draper’s tours are excellent. She is an engaging storyteller and you’ll see historical gems hidden among the modern hustle and bustle (and the bigger tourist sights).
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November 1, 2025An enjoyable read! I picked this up as I like J. Draper’s YouTube channel, especially the longer-form stuff. Each section was very short, only 5–10 pages, which both worked for and against the book. The small section size and casual style was great for jumping in quickly to read when I had a spare 10 minutes or so, and it was a great bus book for this reason. But I was often left feeling like there was more to explore and dig into with each chapter, and thus they felt a little unfinished. There were also several photographs, portraits, and other such imagery discussed that were not reproduced here. I would have liked to have seen these in the book rather than have to go look them up myself afterwards. Nonetheless, I think this would be a great book for someone in a bit of a reading slump, and a great jumping off point to go explore some of the stories introduced here in greater detail elsewhere.
September 15, 2025
Great book!
So many interesting people, and their stories—and the reasons why the author considers them mavericks—are told with compassion, humor, and a great deal of research. I learned a lot—even about people I knew about, like Paul Robeson, Radcliffe Hall, and Caroline Herschel—and did so while laughing and saying “wow” out loud a lot.
So many interesting people, and their stories—and the reasons why the author considers them mavericks—are told with compassion, humor, and a great deal of research. I learned a lot—even about people I knew about, like Paul Robeson, Radcliffe Hall, and Caroline Herschel—and did so while laughing and saying “wow” out loud a lot.
April 1, 2025
The voice is very similar to the way Draper does her video content. Haven't had the opportunity to experience one of her walking tours yet, but I'd love to, one day! If there's an audiobook version of this, I hope she narrates it!
March 22, 2025
The book is like a collection of Jenny's videos. Anecdotal, amusing and quirky. Great fun.
November 1, 2025
amazing read if you love crazy stories, factiods and parts of history that won't get told in history class.
September 28, 2025
Reads like hanging out with a history major at a bar. Sometimes it's entertaining, and sometimes you just want to enjoy your fries. Y'know?
December 9, 2024
***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this upcoming book***
Written with great detail and a healthy dose of humor, this book scratched my history itch and consistently made me smile. This book centers on various people throughout history that have made big impacts on the world but that most people (myself included) have never heard of. I highly recommend this for history buffs and the humor laced throughout would also make this a good read for people who typically wouldn’t be interested in ancient history. Give it a read!
Written with great detail and a healthy dose of humor, this book scratched my history itch and consistently made me smile. This book centers on various people throughout history that have made big impacts on the world but that most people (myself included) have never heard of. I highly recommend this for history buffs and the humor laced throughout would also make this a good read for people who typically wouldn’t be interested in ancient history. Give it a read!
October 18, 2024
4 stars
I'm not familiar with Jenny Draper or her TikTok, but I'm a sucker for reading about the rulebreakers, scoundrels, and eccentrics of history. Mavericks accomplishes the goal of being highly educational and immensely amusing with several stories that you will have to read to believe. Draper also does a wonderful job of representation with several stories about queer people as well as people of color. It's an easy, breezy read that history fans can devour in a day. Who could ask for anything more?
Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
I'm not familiar with Jenny Draper or her TikTok, but I'm a sucker for reading about the rulebreakers, scoundrels, and eccentrics of history. Mavericks accomplishes the goal of being highly educational and immensely amusing with several stories that you will have to read to believe. Draper also does a wonderful job of representation with several stories about queer people as well as people of color. It's an easy, breezy read that history fans can devour in a day. Who could ask for anything more?
Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
February 12, 2025
I really didn't like the tone of this book. It seemed like a Tik Tok script put to print. I got the impression it's Popular History aimed at people who wouldn't otherwise pick up a History book.
The rapid fire jokey delivery didn't do much for me. I wouldve preferred if the author had really gotten into the details of the different life stories and let the humour shine through more organically.
The rapid fire jokey delivery didn't do much for me. I wouldve preferred if the author had really gotten into the details of the different life stories and let the humour shine through more organically.
December 31, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for an advance copy of this book that looks at the lives groups and people who decided that the norm was not for them, who knew what they wanted, and needed and lived their lives, or did their deeds without the fear or what peers, government of even history thought of them.
I live in a country that worships the idea of John Wayne, a hero standing against things to fight for what is right. I also live in a country that has community guidelines about the color and time your garbage cans can be on the curb, the color of your front door, and grass length. And it seems isn't too afraid of the idea of fascism. People talk about living one's best life, but are quick to judge, quick to anger and slow to understand when some people live lives they disagree with. Laws are passed, cops are called, and religious leaders call for crusades and jihads against those that make them grab their pearls. Nails that stick out should be hammered into place. And that is why the arc of history is so slow to change, because people don't like change. And yet there are those, oddballs, weirdos, whatever one calls them, that look at the world and go, yeah not for me. Not for anyone. Some might protest in little ways. Some might form a movement. And some live their lives, and change the world just be being true to who they are. And we as a people are all the better for it. Mavericks: Life stories and lessons of history's most extraordinary misfits by TikTok historian, and history guide Jenny Draper is a look at those who said nope that's not for me, did the assignment better than anyone, or found a life more interesting than society, government, and or religion wanted them to have.
The book is a series of essays, 24 in number, that jump a bit in time, but look at people that might be considered weird, but considered weird by a society that fears the different. What becomes apparant in reading is that many of these oddball mavericks looked at systems that were corrupt, wrong, limiting, and hierarchical and nature and said this doesn't work for me. These culture mores meant a smaller life, and in some cases no life at all. The diversity of the people here is apparent and shows how little the world wants to change in many ways. Woman spies, fighting fascism, risking fates worse from death, and in some cases death. A slave couple who escaped their situation with a light-skinned black woman dressing as a white man moving north. Paul Robeson who was told even by his father that he wasn't good enough, but became a lawyer, singer, songwriter, actor, activist, even as his skin color was held against him. Groups who stood up for political rights, be it the privatization of roads, dressing in woman's clothes and ripping down tollbooths, or standing up to be counted as citizens in England. Some were good people doing good things, some were complicated. All were interesting.
A very good book about a diverse group of people, who might have not had the best of intention, but still left their mark in the wall of complacency. People do not like to change, and people don't like to give up power. The last 20 years have shown that in this country. These people either for love, who they were, taxes, against fascism, slavery, or even their own family, stood for things that were bigger than they were. And were willing to face the music if things went bad. I really enjoyed this book. Draper is very good at capturing the time these people lived in and makes it clear how much these people were risking being different. Their lives at the least. Draper has collected an eclectic cast, and does a good job bringing them to life. The book is both funny, and informative, with a lot of actions to think about, and share.
A good book for people just finding themselves, and to show people that people have always tried to control others. Who they can love, who they can be, the roads they drive on, the votes they cast, even what they can dream. These people didn't settle. Nor should we. Inspiring tales for a dark time, and something we need more of.
I live in a country that worships the idea of John Wayne, a hero standing against things to fight for what is right. I also live in a country that has community guidelines about the color and time your garbage cans can be on the curb, the color of your front door, and grass length. And it seems isn't too afraid of the idea of fascism. People talk about living one's best life, but are quick to judge, quick to anger and slow to understand when some people live lives they disagree with. Laws are passed, cops are called, and religious leaders call for crusades and jihads against those that make them grab their pearls. Nails that stick out should be hammered into place. And that is why the arc of history is so slow to change, because people don't like change. And yet there are those, oddballs, weirdos, whatever one calls them, that look at the world and go, yeah not for me. Not for anyone. Some might protest in little ways. Some might form a movement. And some live their lives, and change the world just be being true to who they are. And we as a people are all the better for it. Mavericks: Life stories and lessons of history's most extraordinary misfits by TikTok historian, and history guide Jenny Draper is a look at those who said nope that's not for me, did the assignment better than anyone, or found a life more interesting than society, government, and or religion wanted them to have.
The book is a series of essays, 24 in number, that jump a bit in time, but look at people that might be considered weird, but considered weird by a society that fears the different. What becomes apparant in reading is that many of these oddball mavericks looked at systems that were corrupt, wrong, limiting, and hierarchical and nature and said this doesn't work for me. These culture mores meant a smaller life, and in some cases no life at all. The diversity of the people here is apparent and shows how little the world wants to change in many ways. Woman spies, fighting fascism, risking fates worse from death, and in some cases death. A slave couple who escaped their situation with a light-skinned black woman dressing as a white man moving north. Paul Robeson who was told even by his father that he wasn't good enough, but became a lawyer, singer, songwriter, actor, activist, even as his skin color was held against him. Groups who stood up for political rights, be it the privatization of roads, dressing in woman's clothes and ripping down tollbooths, or standing up to be counted as citizens in England. Some were good people doing good things, some were complicated. All were interesting.
A very good book about a diverse group of people, who might have not had the best of intention, but still left their mark in the wall of complacency. People do not like to change, and people don't like to give up power. The last 20 years have shown that in this country. These people either for love, who they were, taxes, against fascism, slavery, or even their own family, stood for things that were bigger than they were. And were willing to face the music if things went bad. I really enjoyed this book. Draper is very good at capturing the time these people lived in and makes it clear how much these people were risking being different. Their lives at the least. Draper has collected an eclectic cast, and does a good job bringing them to life. The book is both funny, and informative, with a lot of actions to think about, and share.
A good book for people just finding themselves, and to show people that people have always tried to control others. Who they can love, who they can be, the roads they drive on, the votes they cast, even what they can dream. These people didn't settle. Nor should we. Inspiring tales for a dark time, and something we need more of.
February 24, 2025
This book delivers exactly what it promises in the blurb. So if you’re at all intrigued by the descriptions of these characters and want to know more, then by all means go for it. Draper gives the potted life histories of an intriguing cast of eccentrics with verve and an amusing turn of phrase that makes this a thoroughly entertaining read. Because I’d requested it as an arc and needed to zip through it reasonably quickly in order to get my review written, I read it straight through. However, my recommendation would be to read this one alongside other books – and when you’re in the mood to learn about a rebel, or someone who does something completely unexpected, then you could pick it up and then put it down again. I think you’d get the best out of this book if you read it in such a manner.
Obviously, I have favourites and others I’d rather avoid. William Buckland is someone I wouldn’t have wanted to spend an evening with, for starters. His obsession with eating all sorts of creatures frankly turned my stomach. But I loved those who managed to rise above their circumstances and prevail anyway. James Chuma and Abdullah David Susi’s extraordinary feat in carrying the body of David Livingstone across a chunk of Africa when there wasn’t much in the way of roads, deserves to be far better known. And poor Caroline Herschel, whose family couldn’t be bothered to consider her needs in any way, magnificently prevailed against all the odds. As did Black Agnes, who found herself defending a castle against a siege.
I did find myself wondering just how much genius has been wasted over the years, when considering how often someone with amazing talent pops up from the most unlikely backgrounds. What this book doesn’t do, is go into great detail about each of the selected characters. But there is also a bibliography at the back of the books Draper used in her research which would probably also be helpful if you wished to dig deeper into some of these characters. In the meantime, this is a readable and enjoyable introduction to a number of fascinating people and comes highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Mavericks from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 9/10
Obviously, I have favourites and others I’d rather avoid. William Buckland is someone I wouldn’t have wanted to spend an evening with, for starters. His obsession with eating all sorts of creatures frankly turned my stomach. But I loved those who managed to rise above their circumstances and prevail anyway. James Chuma and Abdullah David Susi’s extraordinary feat in carrying the body of David Livingstone across a chunk of Africa when there wasn’t much in the way of roads, deserves to be far better known. And poor Caroline Herschel, whose family couldn’t be bothered to consider her needs in any way, magnificently prevailed against all the odds. As did Black Agnes, who found herself defending a castle against a siege.
I did find myself wondering just how much genius has been wasted over the years, when considering how often someone with amazing talent pops up from the most unlikely backgrounds. What this book doesn’t do, is go into great detail about each of the selected characters. But there is also a bibliography at the back of the books Draper used in her research which would probably also be helpful if you wished to dig deeper into some of these characters. In the meantime, this is a readable and enjoyable introduction to a number of fascinating people and comes highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Mavericks from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own. 9/10
January 30, 2025
This is a rather charming collection of short biographical entries about people who have made something of themselves irrespective of their circumstances. By daring, pluck, or luck, these mavericks have managed to think outside the box, color outside the lines, etc.
Most of the people featured in this book are lesser or not-at-all known now, though they have all made a splash back in their respective day.
A lot of the people featured in this book have been marginalized in their time by their race, gender, etc. and nevertheless exceled against all odds. In that, the book is rather motivational, though it is, thankfully, not presented as such.
The presentation here is on a somewhat plain, easily accessible side, with occasional cheeky asides, often about someone's admittedly hilarious name. The overall tone is upbeat; the overall vibe is kind of cute, albeit in a good way.
The main takeaway is that I learned a lot about fascinating characters. The book serves as a nice reminder that no matter how stupid and/or oppressive rules and laws may be, they can be defied and/or broken and even on their own, they don't last forever.
Good read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
Reader beware: if you're thinking of checking out the Netgalley ARC, it is tediously formatted. A shame the publisher felt the need to do that to their early readers.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Most of the people featured in this book are lesser or not-at-all known now, though they have all made a splash back in their respective day.
A lot of the people featured in this book have been marginalized in their time by their race, gender, etc. and nevertheless exceled against all odds. In that, the book is rather motivational, though it is, thankfully, not presented as such.
The presentation here is on a somewhat plain, easily accessible side, with occasional cheeky asides, often about someone's admittedly hilarious name. The overall tone is upbeat; the overall vibe is kind of cute, albeit in a good way.
The main takeaway is that I learned a lot about fascinating characters. The book serves as a nice reminder that no matter how stupid and/or oppressive rules and laws may be, they can be defied and/or broken and even on their own, they don't last forever.
Good read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
Reader beware: if you're thinking of checking out the Netgalley ARC, it is tediously formatted. A shame the publisher felt the need to do that to their early readers.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
January 26, 2025
Fantastic! Some known and some unknown to me.
Wonderful selection of stories from British-connected history. The lives of individuals who've been unusual, outstanding in a field, memorable, or done something remarkable that makes them very worthy of being part of this collection.
I read the audio version, with the author narrating enthusiastically. It was fab to listen along with Draper as she speaks of 24 stories, many of which will not be well known, as well as the historical context of when they lived and what was going on at the time.
The men who carried David Livingstone thousands of miles out of Africa to allow him to be buried in England. The married slave couple who escaped their captors with the wife disguising herself as a white man. The female secret agent left alone in Paris as the sole radio operator sending messages back to England.
I have now ordered a library copy of the first known autobiography, The Book of Margery Kempe, on the back of this retelling of her story.
For students young and old of history and tales of historical significance. Well-written, accessible and inspiring.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio reading copy.
Wonderful selection of stories from British-connected history. The lives of individuals who've been unusual, outstanding in a field, memorable, or done something remarkable that makes them very worthy of being part of this collection.
I read the audio version, with the author narrating enthusiastically. It was fab to listen along with Draper as she speaks of 24 stories, many of which will not be well known, as well as the historical context of when they lived and what was going on at the time.
The men who carried David Livingstone thousands of miles out of Africa to allow him to be buried in England. The married slave couple who escaped their captors with the wife disguising herself as a white man. The female secret agent left alone in Paris as the sole radio operator sending messages back to England.
I have now ordered a library copy of the first known autobiography, The Book of Margery Kempe, on the back of this retelling of her story.
For students young and old of history and tales of historical significance. Well-written, accessible and inspiring.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio reading copy.
February 9, 2025
Mavericks by Jenny Draper is an astoundingly interesting collection of stories about those she deemed eccentric livers of life. from those who have done the outrageous to those who acted outrageously, and even those who had outrage forced on them. for example, Thomas blood stole the Royal Jules, and got caught before he could even get away and even injured the man he befriended who was guarding them, and instead of being hung and quartered, he was put on the king‘s payroll and lived a very lavish lifestyle for his trouble. there was the story of a castle full of Scottish women who beat the Kings army with nothing but a dust cloth a group of men calling their self the Rebecca‘s to fight paying tolls on private roads and one and so many other stories, there’s even one about a feral boy who’s beginning and ending of life was a mystery. There’s so many great stories in this book and I really enjoyed all of them. It is a book. I definitely recommend. It is well written with funny clips about the story from the author which I enjoyed. It’s not a dry educational text but more like a conversational storytelling tone which fit really good with the story and or stories. #NetGalley,#WatkinsPublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #Mavericks, #JennyDraper,
March 11, 2025
History with fun, but enough balance between authority and energy to be among the best of such books.
This is not just another "Oh, weren't people whacky?!" book of eccentrics, it's much more thorough than that, as Draper (who describes herself as a history communicator, rather than a historian - think Bill Nye, rather than Neil DeGrasse Tyson for a scientific comparison) cites the sources she can, doesn't shy away from the unpleasant aspects of the ages she touches (the Paul Robeson chapter in particular will resonate with recent White House events), and only delivers laughs that land well.
That means, for instance, that this is not a Cunk-style book aiming for laughs at mavericks throughout history. It's Proper History communication, communicated with a bouncy, enthusiastic energy, reliably modern sensibilities, and laughs where they genuinely land and make your day better.
That, ultimately, is the overall effect of Mavericks. It makes your day better.
Just...just take a quick look at the news for me.
You need a thing that'll make your day better. You know you do.
Read Mavericks. Or for the full-on experience of Draper's delivery, which adds to the joy, get the audio version and feel the smile grow on your face.
This is not just another "Oh, weren't people whacky?!" book of eccentrics, it's much more thorough than that, as Draper (who describes herself as a history communicator, rather than a historian - think Bill Nye, rather than Neil DeGrasse Tyson for a scientific comparison) cites the sources she can, doesn't shy away from the unpleasant aspects of the ages she touches (the Paul Robeson chapter in particular will resonate with recent White House events), and only delivers laughs that land well.
That means, for instance, that this is not a Cunk-style book aiming for laughs at mavericks throughout history. It's Proper History communication, communicated with a bouncy, enthusiastic energy, reliably modern sensibilities, and laughs where they genuinely land and make your day better.
That, ultimately, is the overall effect of Mavericks. It makes your day better.
Just...just take a quick look at the news for me.
You need a thing that'll make your day better. You know you do.
Read Mavericks. Or for the full-on experience of Draper's delivery, which adds to the joy, get the audio version and feel the smile grow on your face.
April 26, 2025
Easily pick-upable, easily put-downable - worth reading. There isn't much in here that any mildly keen student of history wouldn't already be aware of, but then again - there is no claim for this book to be a deep dive into anything.
It serves it's purpose well, it delivers on what it promised. I enjoyed reading it, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again.
Something did make me slightly uncomfortable, which I only realised later on - it panders to the modern way of attention spans being limited only to the bare minimum. The chapters are short, and to the point. Just as I felt as though I was beginning to enjoy it, the next chapter (a totally different subject) would begin. There is something jarring about reading books that are written in this modern style, but this isn't Draper's fault.
There is a canny execution here by Draper - she knows her audience and she has catered to them, perhaps I am not the target audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I was helped along through the chapters by the text being infused with her personality, she is witty, entertaining and charming - with a strong dose of 'take-no-prisoners'. It is certainly refreshing to read historical non fiction that isn't slave to what has come before it.
It serves it's purpose well, it delivers on what it promised. I enjoyed reading it, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again.
Something did make me slightly uncomfortable, which I only realised later on - it panders to the modern way of attention spans being limited only to the bare minimum. The chapters are short, and to the point. Just as I felt as though I was beginning to enjoy it, the next chapter (a totally different subject) would begin. There is something jarring about reading books that are written in this modern style, but this isn't Draper's fault.
There is a canny execution here by Draper - she knows her audience and she has catered to them, perhaps I am not the target audience, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I was helped along through the chapters by the text being infused with her personality, she is witty, entertaining and charming - with a strong dose of 'take-no-prisoners'. It is certainly refreshing to read historical non fiction that isn't slave to what has come before it.
November 12, 2024
Written with a very fun sense of humor, this book is the kind of history book that's not purely for history buffs. The author shines a light on lesser known figures of history, some known a little bit by academics & others pretty much drowning in obscurity. There's a good balance between showing the hard reality of life for disadvantaged people & balancing it out with a more positive outlook on the progress/advancements these misfits managed to make.
I can't really pick a favorite chapter, not when I learned about such oddballs as:
- an illiterate woman who experienced vivid visions, and somehow managed to get her words recorded in a book (that seemingly survived in a single copy)
- a noblewoman who successfully defended her castle from invaders (with a sense of style)
- or learning about the Rebecca Rioters (who really, really hated tollbooths and did something about it)
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
I can't really pick a favorite chapter, not when I learned about such oddballs as:
- an illiterate woman who experienced vivid visions, and somehow managed to get her words recorded in a book (that seemingly survived in a single copy)
- a noblewoman who successfully defended her castle from invaders (with a sense of style)
- or learning about the Rebecca Rioters (who really, really hated tollbooths and did something about it)
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
February 25, 2025
6.5/10
Mavericks was a joy to read. I genuinely don’t think the summary properly encompasses just how fascinating the people covered in the book end up being, and all with the same wit as you can usually expect from the author’s YouTube videos, interspersed with moments that truly do move. More than anything, I recommend this for anyone with even a passing interest in history, because the amount of anecdotal information we get about how it was to actually live in the settings she describes is far more than you’d expect, all whilst staying relevant and interesting. Finally, there are far more than just the main characters here; it seems almost as if every chapter has at least one, often many other fascinating side characters that we get the pleasure of being introduced to.
In conclusion, this book will engage you, educate you, and entertain you. Will it be a masterpiece revered by all? No, and it doesn’t try to be, and what it tries to do it totally succeeds in.
Mavericks was a joy to read. I genuinely don’t think the summary properly encompasses just how fascinating the people covered in the book end up being, and all with the same wit as you can usually expect from the author’s YouTube videos, interspersed with moments that truly do move. More than anything, I recommend this for anyone with even a passing interest in history, because the amount of anecdotal information we get about how it was to actually live in the settings she describes is far more than you’d expect, all whilst staying relevant and interesting. Finally, there are far more than just the main characters here; it seems almost as if every chapter has at least one, often many other fascinating side characters that we get the pleasure of being introduced to.
In conclusion, this book will engage you, educate you, and entertain you. Will it be a masterpiece revered by all? No, and it doesn’t try to be, and what it tries to do it totally succeeds in.
July 22, 2025
Mavericks is a collection of 24 short biographical sketches of "extraordinary misfits" - people who we might call eccentrics. All of them have a connection with the United Kingdom, where the author is based. The mavericks stories come from many different periods of history, and while most are from the UK, there are people from other countries as well, such as the United States and France.
The mavericks are somewhat obscure, of the 24 I think there were 2 or 3 that I had heard of before. But all of them have an interesting story, and their experiences shed light on their times and ours.
I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written and fun to read. The author has a YouTube channel about London and the UK which is also a lot of fun.
The mavericks are somewhat obscure, of the 24 I think there were 2 or 3 that I had heard of before. But all of them have an interesting story, and their experiences shed light on their times and ours.
I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written and fun to read. The author has a YouTube channel about London and the UK which is also a lot of fun.
August 26, 2025
I listened to the audiobook read by the author herself. I listened to it one chapter at a time and it was a lovely way to listen to the book, each chapter was pretty self contained with it's own complete tale (there are a few people who pop up again in other people's lives but they're all pretty stand alone).
It's history but told in a thoroughtly entertaining way. There really is a very eclectic mix of characters and it definitely lives up to the promise of extraordinary misfits. I'm sure the author had her own biases but it does feel like a fairly unflinching look at the people it's about, as much as they might be brilliant some of them were also deeply flawed and the author doesn't let her appreciation for the way they took control of their own lives get in the way of telling us about some of the less attractive aspects of their personality.
I didn't really feel like we needed the 'lesson' from each character though- it felt more like a gimmick to tie the book together than an essential part of anything.
It's history but told in a thoroughtly entertaining way. There really is a very eclectic mix of characters and it definitely lives up to the promise of extraordinary misfits. I'm sure the author had her own biases but it does feel like a fairly unflinching look at the people it's about, as much as they might be brilliant some of them were also deeply flawed and the author doesn't let her appreciation for the way they took control of their own lives get in the way of telling us about some of the less attractive aspects of their personality.
I didn't really feel like we needed the 'lesson' from each character though- it felt more like a gimmick to tie the book together than an essential part of anything.
September 9, 2025
I follow Jenny Draper online so I was excited to see she had a book available. It was definitely in the style of her online content and I enjoyed the varied figures that appeared in this book.
Each chapter is dedicated to a different individual who had a UK story, either through birth or travel, and Draper writing about their eccentricities, adventures, or lifestyles, matches her genuine tone and personality that I’ve seen online.
While the content could just as easily be a mini online bio, I was happy to be able to support a content creator whose work I really enjoy through this purchase.
If there is a sequel, I’d like to see some illustrations if available to be able to enhance the stories and help bring these people’s lives to life.
Each chapter is dedicated to a different individual who had a UK story, either through birth or travel, and Draper writing about their eccentricities, adventures, or lifestyles, matches her genuine tone and personality that I’ve seen online.
While the content could just as easily be a mini online bio, I was happy to be able to support a content creator whose work I really enjoy through this purchase.
If there is a sequel, I’d like to see some illustrations if available to be able to enhance the stories and help bring these people’s lives to life.
December 5, 2025
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IT'S OK TO BE AN ODDBALL
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"These are the stories of people whose lives have taken an unusual turn, and who have ended up very different to us ordinary folk, either because they've done something truly unusual in life, or because life has done something truly unusual to them.
They are the mavericks."
The above (in italics) comes from this witty and engaging book by Jenny Draper. She is a TikTok historian and London tour guide.
This book celebrates twenty-four mostly British eccentrics who challenged the norm. Draper does this with compassion and humour.
What I especially liked about this book is that Draper gives us a teaser about the person to be profiled in the Table of Contents and in the profile or chapter of that person includes an epigram of the lesson to learned from that person's life.
For example, a person profiled is Caroline Herschel (my personal favourite person profiled). We're told in the Table of Contents that she was "the first British woman to be paid for scientific work and a discoverer of comets." Then, in the epigram of Herschel's profile we're told that she "teaches us to turn our eyes to the starry heavens once in a while."
I also found that many of the profiles were both inspirational and uplifting.
Finally, I discovered two statements in the acknowledgements that attest to Draper's character and whose sentiments I feel permeate this book.
First, that "standing out, leading an unusual life, being a maverick, is not nearly so important as being kind."
Second, "the very best people in the world are not those who commit wacky crimes or have great accomplishments, but those who are radically, unswervingly generous with their time, thoughtful in their speech, and are not just willing but eager to help."
In conclusion, this book shines a limelight on a cast of historic characters that deserve to be remembered!!
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(2025; introduction (xiii to xvi); 24 chapters; main narrative 175 pages; references; resources; acknowledgements; about the author; index)
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IT'S OK TO BE AN ODDBALL
XXXXX
"These are the stories of people whose lives have taken an unusual turn, and who have ended up very different to us ordinary folk, either because they've done something truly unusual in life, or because life has done something truly unusual to them.
They are the mavericks."
The above (in italics) comes from this witty and engaging book by Jenny Draper. She is a TikTok historian and London tour guide.
This book celebrates twenty-four mostly British eccentrics who challenged the norm. Draper does this with compassion and humour.
What I especially liked about this book is that Draper gives us a teaser about the person to be profiled in the Table of Contents and in the profile or chapter of that person includes an epigram of the lesson to learned from that person's life.
For example, a person profiled is Caroline Herschel (my personal favourite person profiled). We're told in the Table of Contents that she was "the first British woman to be paid for scientific work and a discoverer of comets." Then, in the epigram of Herschel's profile we're told that she "teaches us to turn our eyes to the starry heavens once in a while."
I also found that many of the profiles were both inspirational and uplifting.
Finally, I discovered two statements in the acknowledgements that attest to Draper's character and whose sentiments I feel permeate this book.
First, that "standing out, leading an unusual life, being a maverick, is not nearly so important as being kind."
Second, "the very best people in the world are not those who commit wacky crimes or have great accomplishments, but those who are radically, unswervingly generous with their time, thoughtful in their speech, and are not just willing but eager to help."
In conclusion, this book shines a limelight on a cast of historic characters that deserve to be remembered!!
XXXXX
(2025; introduction (xiii to xvi); 24 chapters; main narrative 175 pages; references; resources; acknowledgements; about the author; index)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews