The Short and Bloody History of Knights, Spies, and Pirates - Hardcover

Admit it. You fantasize about donning a suit of armor and jousting in the lists, stealing secret information behind enemy lines, scaling a ship's rigging with a knife clenched in your teeth. Who doesn't? The Short and Bloody History of Knights, Spies, and Pirates puts you right into the action with fascinating facts, surprising stories, and close encounters with real life adventurers. The Short and Bloody History of Knights, Spies, and Pirates is a fact-filled romp through history. Learn how these adventure-seekers plied their trades, what tools they used, and why they kept at it despite the hardships. Did you know that the Knights Templar were responsible for brining the idea of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the telescope, and the "note of hand" (personal check) to Europe from the Holy Land? Did you know that Genghis Khan's spies-on-horseback network became one of the inspirations for the Pony Express? Did you know a pirate would wear a gold earring so that if his body washed ashore after a shipwreck, there'd be money for a decent burial?