Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

A fun and informative look at the naughty bits of history, from kinky 18th-century British sex clubs to J. Edgar Hoover's favorite party outfit, and more from "a terrifically funny writer" (Boston Globe).

"It's so great to have a truly funny (and poetic) writer putting the lurid colors back on the pale marble, where they belong. . . . Full of the 'get-a-load-of-this' factor—those juicy, vivid stories you can't wait to tell your friends. To my mind, that quality is the distinguishing trait of great nonfiction." —Teller of Penn & Teller, entertainer in Las Vegas

When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed.

The story of Napoleon's privates triggered Perrottet's quest to research other such exotic sagas from history, to discover the actual evidence behind the most famous age-old mysteries: Did Churchill really send condoms of a surprising size to Stalin? Were champagne glasses really molded upon Marie Antoinette's breasts? What was JFK's real secret service? What were Casanova's best pickup lines? Napoleon's Privates is filled with offbeat, riotously entertaining anecdotes that are guaranteed to amaze, shock, and enliven any dinner party.

"A sinfully entertaining survey of perversions." —Salon

"Popular history at its best." —Norman Cantor, Professor Emeritus of History, New York University

"It's refreshing to find such an entertaining writer whose history is also meticulously researched. Perrottet's take on the past is erudite, original and witty—even, frequently, hilarious." —Paul Cartledge, Professor of Classics, Cambridge University

1111739001
Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

A fun and informative look at the naughty bits of history, from kinky 18th-century British sex clubs to J. Edgar Hoover's favorite party outfit, and more from "a terrifically funny writer" (Boston Globe).

"It's so great to have a truly funny (and poetic) writer putting the lurid colors back on the pale marble, where they belong. . . . Full of the 'get-a-load-of-this' factor—those juicy, vivid stories you can't wait to tell your friends. To my mind, that quality is the distinguishing trait of great nonfiction." —Teller of Penn & Teller, entertainer in Las Vegas

When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed.

The story of Napoleon's privates triggered Perrottet's quest to research other such exotic sagas from history, to discover the actual evidence behind the most famous age-old mysteries: Did Churchill really send condoms of a surprising size to Stalin? Were champagne glasses really molded upon Marie Antoinette's breasts? What was JFK's real secret service? What were Casanova's best pickup lines? Napoleon's Privates is filled with offbeat, riotously entertaining anecdotes that are guaranteed to amaze, shock, and enliven any dinner party.

"A sinfully entertaining survey of perversions." —Salon

"Popular history at its best." —Norman Cantor, Professor Emeritus of History, New York University

"It's refreshing to find such an entertaining writer whose history is also meticulously researched. Perrottet's take on the past is erudite, original and witty—even, frequently, hilarious." —Paul Cartledge, Professor of Classics, Cambridge University

11.99 In Stock
Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

by Tony Perrottet
Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped

by Tony Perrottet

eBook

$11.99 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

A fun and informative look at the naughty bits of history, from kinky 18th-century British sex clubs to J. Edgar Hoover's favorite party outfit, and more from "a terrifically funny writer" (Boston Globe).

"It's so great to have a truly funny (and poetic) writer putting the lurid colors back on the pale marble, where they belong. . . . Full of the 'get-a-load-of-this' factor—those juicy, vivid stories you can't wait to tell your friends. To my mind, that quality is the distinguishing trait of great nonfiction." —Teller of Penn & Teller, entertainer in Las Vegas

When Tony Perrottet heard that Napoleon's "baguette" had been stolen by his disgruntled doctor a few days after the Emperor's death, he rushed out to New Jersey. Why? Because that's where an eccentric American collector who had purchased Napoleon's member at a Parisian auction now kept the actual relic in an old suitcase under his bed.

The story of Napoleon's privates triggered Perrottet's quest to research other such exotic sagas from history, to discover the actual evidence behind the most famous age-old mysteries: Did Churchill really send condoms of a surprising size to Stalin? Were champagne glasses really molded upon Marie Antoinette's breasts? What was JFK's real secret service? What were Casanova's best pickup lines? Napoleon's Privates is filled with offbeat, riotously entertaining anecdotes that are guaranteed to amaze, shock, and enliven any dinner party.

"A sinfully entertaining survey of perversions." —Salon

"Popular history at its best." —Norman Cantor, Professor Emeritus of History, New York University

"It's refreshing to find such an entertaining writer whose history is also meticulously researched. Perrottet's take on the past is erudite, original and witty—even, frequently, hilarious." —Paul Cartledge, Professor of Classics, Cambridge University


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780061863417
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
Publication date: 12/15/2023
Sold by: OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED - EBKS
Format: eBook
Pages: 262
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

A long-term denizen of Manhattan, Tony Perrottet is the author of Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists and The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Greek Games. His irreverent yet thoroughly researched approach to history has made him a regular contributor to Smithsonian Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside, The Believer, National Geographic Adventure, and the New York Times, with frequent appearances on NPR radio and the History Channel, where he has discussed everything from the Crusades to the birth of disco.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews