A fun exposé of many commonly believed historical facts that are, in fact, total fiction After falling for one historical misconception too many, the time is now right to launch a spirited fightback to set the record straight, once and for all. Leading the way in this modern crusade comes this lighthearted guide that reveals the many myths, fabrications, and ambiguities found in the annals of world history. For example, Winston Churchill was not born in a ladies' toilet, Lucrezia Borgia was not an infamous poisoner, and Abraham Lincoln did not write the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Written with wit and fascinating insight, and covering numerous subjects—royalty to religion, saints to statesmen, inventors and explorers, and the lives of famous characters throughout history—this book is guaranteed to astonish, inform, amuse, and entertain.