Taking an intriguingly innovative approach to the life and legend of actress Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), this biographical dictionary concentrates on Marilyn's circle of friends, acquaintances and coworkers--618 in all. Distilled from hundreds of celebrity biographies are references to, and quotes about, the iconic Hollywood sex symbol from such diverse personalities as architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Israeli diplomat Abba Eban, beat poet Jack Kerouac, novelist Somerset Maughan, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, counterculture guru Timothy Leary and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, to name but a few. All of these remarkable people have, in one way or another, crossed paths with the magnificent Monroe. Alphabetically arranged with source listings for further reading and research, the entries in this volume confirm the fact that Marilyn Monroe remains a figure of enduring fascination even five decades after her death.

Christianity abounds with fascinating, little-known trivia. Gas station attendants, for example, enjoy their own patron saint. So do stamp collectors, truss makers and sailors in the Bolivian navy. Jesus and Judas were common names in the biblical period, and Jesus of Nazareth had a brother named Judas. The forbidden fruit was more likely an apricot than an apple, and Delilah hired a barber to cut Sampson's hair. This dictionary of miscellany combs the annals of Christian esoterica, offering the most intriguing facts that are often forgotten, overlooked or ignored. Departing from the standard subject matter, this work serves as an unruly companion to the typical Bible dictionary. Nearly 1500 entries range from Aaron's beard (a popular name for Saint John's wort) to zounds (an antiquated Christian swear word). Information is cross-referenced and includes numerous quotations.

The newspapers called him "Overshadowing Monarch Mastodon, " "Behemoth of Holy Writ" and "Prodigious Mountain." He was the main event at the greatest show on earth: Jumbo, at around 61/2 tons and almost 12 feet tall, the biggest elephant anyone had ever seen. Jumbos mere presence in the Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson circus guaranteed an additional $3,000 a day in box office receipts. More of an exhibit than a performer, Jumbo was simply paraded around the three rings. But still the people came, just to marvel at the size of this monster pachyderm. This work traces Jumbos capture in East Africa, his life in the London Zoo, the controversy over his sale for $10,000 to American showman P.T. Barnum, his journey across the Atlantic, his life as the most famous attraction in Barnums circus, and his tragic death in a railway accident in Canada in 1885.

In its most precise definition, a " dead country" is a place that once issued postage stamps but no longer does. Harding has used this definition as a basis for a fascinating investigation of world history. Collected in Dead Countries of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries is a telling portrait of global change. The book is organized as a series of entries for each dead country, arranged alphabetically under fifteen broad geographical headings. These short entries provide wonderfully detailed summaries of the history of the dead countries that fill in gaps and expose the hidden histories of many geographic locations throughout the world. The entries not only detail the creation and makeup of the dead country, but most importantly, describe the significant historical factors that caused its disappearance. Countries that have fractured politically or been absorbed into larger conglomerations are also included as dead countries. Each entry begins with a literary epigraph that offers a fresh way of thinking about the area in question. Also included is essential reference information such as area (in both square miles and square kilometers), capital city, estimated population, and an illustration of the region's postage stamp that provides a visual reference of the culture. Included at the end of each entry is a list of references that contain additional sources of information.

The thrilling story of Canada's aviation pioneer. Born in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, J. A. Douglas McCurdy had a unique childhood during which he assisted world-famous scientist and inventor, Alexander Graham Bell in fascinating and frequently dangerous experiments conducted with kites and airplanes. He was the first person to fly an airplane in the British Empire. Later he became a barnstormer and daredevil pilot, taking part in some of the earliest air races. He was the first person to fly out of sight of land and the first pilot to receive a wireless message while airborne. McCurdy and the Silver Dart was first published in 1998.