Logo for History Readers

U. S. History

Featured Excerpt: Lincoln’s Ghost

Magician Harry Houdini

by Brad Ricca

In Lincoln's Ghost, author Brad Ricca shares with The History Reader the incredible…
Read the article

The Man Behind the Idea of Mount Rushmore

Mt. Rushmore photo

by Matthew Davis

Matthew Davis, author of A Biography of a Mountain, discusses Jonah Leroy Robinson:…
Read the article

An End to Kings, 1776

Pulling down the statue of King George in New York City, 1776. Public Domain.

by Jack Kelly

Author Jack Kelly of Tom Paine's War shares with The History Reader the…
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: A Big Mess in Texas

Dallas Texas

by David Fleming

In A Big Mess in Texas, David Fleming reveals the incredible, untold true…
Read the article

Compelling Reads for Constitution Day

Each year on September 17, we celebrate the anniversary of the ratification of the United States…
Read the article

Cape Coast Castle’s Role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Cape Coast Castle in Ghana

by Siddharth Kara

Pulitzer Prize-finalist Siddharth Kara visited the Gold Coast in Africa while doing research…
Read the article

A Time for Every Man to Stir

by Jack Kelly

To celebrate Labor Day, author Jack Kelly shares with The History Reader why Thomas…
Read the article

National Aviation Day Must-Reads

Each year on August 19th, America celebrates National Aviation Day. Today, we bring you our favorite…
Read the article

Rope’s Role in Colonial America’s Tarring and Feathering

he Bostonian's Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering. Copy of mezzotint attributed to Philip Dawe, 1774. Public domain.

by Tim Queeney

Tim Queeney, author of Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the…
Read the article

Richard Nixon’s Call for a Cosmic Hoedown

Apollo 11 launch from Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969.

by Jeffrey Kluger

Few authors have had as big an impact on space journalism as Jeffrey…
Read the article

U. S. History

Featured Excerpt: The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz

Auschwitz gate

by Anne Sebba

An instant USA Today bestseller, The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz …
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: JFK: Public, Private, Secret

Jackie Bouvier and John F. Kennedy married in Newport, Rhode Island, on September 12, 1953.

by J. Randy Taraborrelli

J. Randy Taraborrelli shares with The History Reader an excerpt from his…
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: The Sea Captain’s Wife

Neptune's Car Clipper Ship.

by Tilar J. Mazzeo

In The Sea Captain's Wife, New York Times bestselling author Tilar J.…
Read the article

The Curious Case of Nuremberg’s Hangman

View of the defendants in the dock at the International Military Tribunal trial of war criminals in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. November 1945. Public domain. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

by Tim Queeney

In his book Rope, author Tim Queeney takes readers on a unique and…
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: Gemini

stronaut James Lovell is photographed inside his Gemini spacecraft during the Gemini-12 mission

by Jeffrey Kluger

Named by Time Magazine as one of the most anticipated books of fall…
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: Progress

Ancient civilization

by Samuel Miller McDonald

In Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy…
Read the article

2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The History Reader 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
This December, we're taking a look back at the many fascinating history books that published this…
Read the article

Featured Excerpt: Family of Spies

It began with a mysterious letter from a screenwriter, asking about a story. Your family. World…
Read the article

Connect with The History Reader

Facebook-f opens in a new window Twitter opens in a new window

Other Historical Fiction Titles

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.