This is the Second Edition (2019) of Stories from History's Dust Bin, the winner of the Arizona Book of the Year Award for 2016. What is new in this edition, besides a review of all stories for new and/or updated information, is the addition of footnotes, end-of-story comments, a cross-referencing with other Dust Bin books and, in response to readers, a change in organization of the stories from chronological to alphabetical.
Inside are 122 non-fiction stories, each readable in fifteen minutes or less. The books make great companions for business or vacation travel, are excellent for reading poolside or next to the fireplace, as substitutes for in-flight or waiting room magazines, and perfect for end-of-day relaxation.
The contents feature the little known and unusual, such as the story of Jeremy Bentham (front cover), a founder in 1826 of University College London. Upon his death in 1832, as directed in his will, his body was mummified, dressed in period clothing and padded to give him a realistic appearance. Since 1850, he has resided in a glass-enclosed display case and on occasion, he is taken to College Council meetings where he is recorded as present, but not voting.
And the story of twenty-two-year-old Margaret Dickson who was convicted of murder under the "Concealment of Pregnancy Act," and hanged in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1724. Placed in a casket, the family headed home to bury their daughter. Suddenly, a furious knocking from within the coffin. Margaret, her neck badly rope-burned, was alive! She lived another forty years, known throughout Scotland as Half-hangit Maggie.
Note: Not all footnotes are available in the ebook edition.
