The book you like most discussion

I would like to know (if people are willing to answer), who your favorite or most interesting (historical) figures/ families are to read about and why. If you'd like you can post the books + authors.

I myself for instance like reading about queen Victoria, because I always saw her portrayed as the woman dressed in black and she was actually quite an interesting figure. Becoming a queen at 18, having 9 children, while hating being pregnant, etc. I also loved the TV-series Victoria so that helped. Books are from Daisy Goodwin + Hellen Rappaport. Furthermore, the Romanovs I found interesting, mainly I was curious about their live before they died (since I mostly read about their deaths). And the fact that I read that Maria and Alexei were missing instead of Anastasia, made me want to find out more. And I really like how Hellen Rappaport writes, even though you have to be really awake when reading her books, because there are a lot of places and dates and people. And then I feel compelled to Google everything, seeing what the person or building looked like. And then you end up on Wikipedia for 1 hour reading about a palace. But she really does her research. And lastly, Empress Elisabeth of Austria I have always find intriguing, because of the romantic portrayal in the famous movies and the struggles and heartache she actually had in life. Authors: Allison Partaki + Daisy Goodwin + Brigitte Hamann. It also really wanted to make me go to Vienna (which I was luckily able to).

There are many compelling historical figures, but my all time favorite would be Anne Frank. I have not only read her diary, but other books relating to her. When I visited Anne Frank House in Amsterdam it was a surreal experience. It came from my reading about the secret annex and I knew where things would be even before turning a corner - like I said it was surreal. Other historical figures I like reading about are the Romanovs and Empress Sisi. There are also some good novels out there about famous painters that I've enjoyed reading.

Anne Rice of all people wrote imagined biographies about Jesus called OUT OF EGYPT https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and THE ROAD TO CANA. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
They were about Christ before he came into his power as Christ. I don’t know about everyone else, but I always wondered about what Jesus was like before he was the Messiah, and there is very little about him as a child in the Bible, and Anne Rice did a lot of research then did a beautiful “guess” about the early life of Christ. I don’t really think we could call them biographies, but I enjoyed them all the same and would probably most have loved to meet Jesus.

The Borgias / Pope Borgia

To me its so intriguing how he manipulated and bought his way into the Papacy. The idea of like a position thats ment ro be held by the purist and most righteous then being taken over by someone who is all about greed, deception and power. He was also a Spaniard and was looked down upon by the cardinals who he then had to extort bribe or straight up threaten in order to get their votes during Conclave. After taking the position he had his sons conspire with him politically even having them murder in order to help him hold his position. He married his daughter Lucrezia multiple times in order to gain alliances with different countries. Not to mention the endless procession of women he would have snuck into the Vatican. Theres a pretty good show called The Borgias about it.

Hands up for H.G. Wells :)

Yoli wrote: "The Borgias / Pope Borgia

To me it's so intriguing how he manipulated and bought his way into the Papacy. The idea of like a position thats ment ro be held by the purist and most righteous then bei..." I have never heard of him, but I will definitely will be looking him up. I will look up the show as well. Will also be checking out how he was able to marry his daughter off multiple times. Did the men just die, because I am guessing divorce wasn't approved? It sounds like he would have been a great asset to the Tudor-household.

Danny wrote: "There are many compelling historical figures, but my all time favorite would be Anne Frank. I have not only read her diary, but other books relating to her. When I visited Anne Frank House in Amste..." Thank you! My mom read Anne Frank her Diary to me when I was little but it gave me nightmares a lot, but maybe I should give it another try. (And I am glad to read you like Sisi and the Romanovs as well :))

i really liked the bio of Dicky Chapelle (female war photographer) and also reading lolita in Teheran

Empress Theodora, no question.

Larissa -

so the first husband he had divorced on the grounds of impotency . but for the rest he allegedly had them killed or found grounds for divorce. Definitely in his Tudor-era !😂

Yoli wrote: "Larissa -

so the first husband he had divorced on the grounds of impotency . but for the rest he allegedly had them killed or found grounds for divorce. Definitely in his Tudor-era !😂" He studied law and had several mistresses and was a pope, I think he did everything he was supposed not to do (like killing people and having intercourse). Or were popes allowed to have intercourse and children?

Discovered H. G. Wells in the 4th grade. Had been moved to a 7th grade reading class. They had these marvelous things called 'book orders'; still go back and reread the guy, 60 years later!!

My favorite historical figure is Anne Boleyn because of her act and her way of standing up with confidence and how she treated her people like a queen should and I just think she’s iconic for standing up for herself for all of the tragic things happening in her life and how she was brave even when she was beheaded it inspires me

Vickie wrote: "Discovered H. G. Wells in the 4th grade. Had been moved to a 7th grade reading class. They had these marvelous things called 'book orders'; still go back and reread the guy, 60 years later!!"
I taught 2nd grade for 18 years before moving on to middle school. My students LOVED those book orders. We lived in a rural area with no bookstores so the books from the book orders were real treasures. It was such a big deal for them to take a book home to keep. Book Fairs were a big deal too but they only had one per year. It's cool that you remember them too.

It's easily Walt Disney, man was years ahead of everyone and definitely an inspiration. Would recommend reading Walt Disney: An American Original as it's not only beautifully written, but pays tribute to one of the greatest Americans who have ever lived.

Yes to Walt Disney. Another man truly ahead of his time was the Renaissance Man: Leonardo da Vinci. He was so much more than the painter of the Mona Lisa. His museum in Vinci, Italy portrays him as so much more than the painter the world knows. He was an inventor, an engineer, an innovator, a visionary and so much more.

Anne Boleyn

Grew up in southernmost Eastern KY. No book stores. The local drug store had a book rack and a comic book rack.
I taught middle school math for 30 years, everything from Algebra to remedial. Some of my students introduced me to Robert Jordan and Harry Turtledove.

Alexander the Great. Fascinating character, inherited a kingdom from a great leader and war general, grew that kingdom to far beyond anyone else in such a short time in reign.
I recommend the biographical novel by Phillip Freeman.

I am very fascinated by my country's rich history, so its gotta be Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta's reign marked a pivotal period in Indian history due to his accomplishments and contributions. He is best known for unifying most of the Indian subcontinent and establishing a centralized and efficient administration system. He, in my humble opinion was the greatest king in his time in the entire world both in terms of his army's strength and his competency as a ruler. I still wonder despite having it all why he didn't invade any country for more land and resources and instead chose to live most of his life doing boring things like spreading peace and building educational institutes, hospitals etc.

Jimmy Carter because he is a genuinely compassionate person!

I admire Tesla because he wanted to provide the world with free power for everyone. That's when he lost funding. He died penniless and the government came immediately to take all his notes and files.

Anne Boleyn by Norah Lofts is a very fascinating character to me. Norah Lofts wrote several different books about her. Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII's Most Faithful Servant is also fascinating.

I love learning about King Henry VIII's wives. Six the musical really got me in to learning about the wives and their backstories.

Anne Frank.
I read every book by her and on her.

A Man Called Intrepid by Sir William Stevenson who set up the spy network in WW2 which helped to beat back the Nazi war. It's a great book outlining some of the bravest people and the sacrifices made.

There are many historical figures that I find fascinating...Akhenaten, Elizabeth I, T.E. Lawrence, Henry II of England, and George Washington all come to mind.
But Julius Caesar is probably my top choice. I could read about him all day.