A History of the World Through Body Parts The Stories Behind the Organs, Appendages, Digits, and the Like Attached to (or Detached From) Famous Bodies

From famous craniums to prominent breasts, ancient spleens and bound feet, this book will bring history to life in a whole new way. With their inimitable wit and probing intelligence, authors Kathy and Ross Petras look at the role the human body has played throughout history as each individual part becomes a jumping-off point for a wider look at the times. In far-ranging, quirky-yet-interrelated stories, learn about Charles II of Spain's jaw and the repercussions of inbreeding, what Anne Boleyn's heart says about the Crusades and the trend of dispersed burials, and how the Sultans' fat reveals the politics of obesity in the Ottoman Empire. A HISTORY OF THE WORLD THROUGH BODY PARTS is packed with fascinating little-known historical facts and anecdotes that will entertain, enlighten, and delight even the most well-read history buff.