Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: ... and Other Small Events That Changed History

In this collection of historical anecdotes, author Mason illustrates how the smallest details can have far-reaching historical consequences-or at least that seems to be the idea; in execution, there is no commentary, causal connection or even source identification that legitimizes any of Mason's information (he's known as a massive collector of ""cuttings and books chronicling the weird and the strange""), so while many stories are funny or remarkable, they're little better than gossip. Despite a repetitive format, Mason writes well, and readers looking for pithy historical trivia to share with friends will be satisfied. Aimed at a U.K. audience, Mason tends toward topics like British royalty and the nuances of cricket, but there's enough conversational ammunition here for a cocktail party on either side of the Atlantic.