Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones, & Einstein's Brain: The Remarkable Stories Behind the Great Objects and Artifacts of History, from Antiquity to the Modern Era (Henry Holt Reference Book)

Leap across time with bestselling author Harvey Rachlin as he collects over 50 of the most fascinating objects in the world, under one book. The Mounted Hide of Stonewall Jackson's Battle Horse, The Black Obelisk, The Rosetta Stone, George Washington's False Teeth, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson's Uniform Coat, The Elephant Man's Skeleton, and Lincoln's Death Bed are just some of the objects Rachlin explores with wit, pick and an amazing sense of spectacle. Publisher's Weekly calls Lucy's Bone's, Sacred Stones, and Einstein's Brain "entertaining and enlightening." Library Journal declares Rachin's work "fascinating." Parade says it is "detailed and authoritative." It is also intensely moving as Rachlin weaves together seemingly disparate histories into a holistic statement that celebrates human endeavor. This book is not simply wonderful -- it is full of wonder. Imagine what it might be like to sit in the cockpit of the Wright brothers' airplane, to see light flashing brilliantly through the Hope Diamond, or to turn the pages of Anne Frank's heartbreaking diary. History has bequeathed to us a multitude of marvelous artifacts, and locked inside each one is a piece of the endless story of our civilization. Raconteur Harvey Rachlin uses these intriguing objects to bring history alive. He spins compelling tales, telling us not only about the roles these objects played but also about the people who possessed them or were affected by them, and how the artifacts were handed down through the ages. He begins in antiquity, with the story of the Black Stone of the Ka'bah, the symbolic core of Islam, and moves through time, to the rifle that was used to shoot President Kennedy. He reveals startling new details about familiar artifacts such as the bones of the hominid Lucy and George Washington's false teeth. He introduces us to obscure curiosities, like the Blood of Saint Januarius, which mysteriously liquefies on certain days of the year. And Rachlin explains how the everyday articles that Teddy Roosevelt carried in his pocket miraculously saved his life. Learn where each object currently resides, including how London Bridge found its way to Arizona, or what ultimately happened to the bones of John Merrick, the "Elephant Man."

Beginning in antiquity (the Black Stone of the Ka'bah, the Crown of Thorns), moving through the Dark and Middle Ages (Columbus' Books of Privileges), and finally arriving at the modern era (the Enola Gay, the rifle that killed JFK), this unique book pictures and describes the world's most fascinating artifacts, detailing the causes of their fame, recording their past and present ownership, and celebrating their lasting legend. 80 photos.

Once again historian Harvey Rachlin uncovers odd and stirring stories behind some of the most fascinating objects in the world.'Jumbo's Hide,'Publisher's Weekly writes,'is entertaining and enlightening ... a pageant of human aspiration, achievement, obsession, and belief.'Artifacts explored include: The truce flag that ended World War I, The Maltese Falcon, John Adam's pigtail and Jesse James'Stickpin and Galileo's middle finger. The author uses such objects as the Wright brothers' airplane, the Hope diamond, and Anne Frank's diary to tell about the roles these objects played, the people who possessed them or were affected by them, and how the artifacts were handed down through the ages