Witty and engaging YouTube historian J Draper digs out unusual stories of individuals who have shaped the world, uncovering the lessons their unique experiences can teach us. Breaking away from history told through the lens of kings, queens, and nobles, this book instead lifts the lid on 24 fascinating stories of little-known underdogs, mavericks, trailblazers, and oddballs. . Through these stories, you will meet characters such as Sabrina Sidney, an orphan kidnapped into a bizarre child-raising experiment; La Chevaliere d'Eon, the French spy who was legally recognised as a woman in the 18th century; and James Chuma and David Susi, who walked hundreds of miles across Africa with a dead body. . These poignant and often hilarious true stories show us that the world as we know it was built by a far wider array of historical figures than those we encountered in our schoolbooks. J Draper's book, Mavericks: Life Stories and Lessons of History's Most Extraordinary Misfits, will be available to buy on the night. Reservation required. bibliotheque-events@vdl.lu www.citybiblio.lu