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Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense
In 1830, an Italian pyrotechnician launched a sheep-bearing rocket 600 feet into the air. Russia’s Peter the Great instituted a tax on beards in 1698. And in 1901, an unfortunate cat became the first daredevil to successful conquer Niagara Falls in a barrel. Ridiculous tales like these dot our history like a bad case of the measles.
Humorist and historical fiction author Sarah Angleton jumps across centuries and cultures to highlight stories of some of history’s quirkiest characters and adventures that serve to shed light on her own experiences, like that time her eight-year-old son became obsessed with the bagpipes.
Featuring posts from the first five years of the history/humor blog, The Practical Historian, the essays in this collection are part history, part memoir, and all nonsense.
Humorist and historical fiction author Sarah Angleton jumps across centuries and cultures to highlight stories of some of history’s quirkiest characters and adventures that serve to shed light on her own experiences, like that time her eight-year-old son became obsessed with the bagpipes.
Featuring posts from the first five years of the history/humor blog, The Practical Historian, the essays in this collection are part history, part memoir, and all nonsense.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
269 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2017
3 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Angleton
6 books53 followersSarah Angleton is the author of four novels, including the companion historical thrillers Gentleman of Misfortune and Smoke Rose to Heaven, tales of mummies, scoundrels, and smoking guns. Her third historical novel, White Man's Graveyard, is a 19th century family saga following the story of Pennsylvania siblings Annie and Sylvanus who find themselves on opposite sides of both the ocean and a monumental conflict over what it means to be free. Paradise on the Pike, her fourth novel is a historical mystery set against the backdrop of the 1904 World's Fair. Her books also include the humorous essay collection Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense, patterned after her weekly blog with which she explores the ridiculous in both history and every-day family life.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 9, 2017
Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense, is a delightful collection of eighty-six favorite blog posts written by Sarah Angleton. These little gems were drawn from Angleton’s five years sharing life and history on The Practical Historian: Your Guide to Practically True History.
As her title suggests, the reader will not be buried in dry history lectures. Angleton’s pieces are witty and clever; drawing parallels between events from the past and the typical daily life of her own family in an entertaining and decidedly tongue-in-cheek fashion.
If you enjoy history and heartwarming slices of everyday moments served with a healthy dollop of humor and heart, Angleton has you covered. From the Bacon Rebellion to Catherine de Medici’s high heels to Queen Victoria’s rule-breaking white wedding gown, you’ll find plenty of tasty tidbits to savor.
As her title suggests, the reader will not be buried in dry history lectures. Angleton’s pieces are witty and clever; drawing parallels between events from the past and the typical daily life of her own family in an entertaining and decidedly tongue-in-cheek fashion.
If you enjoy history and heartwarming slices of everyday moments served with a healthy dollop of humor and heart, Angleton has you covered. From the Bacon Rebellion to Catherine de Medici’s high heels to Queen Victoria’s rule-breaking white wedding gown, you’ll find plenty of tasty tidbits to savor.
October 6, 2017
Actually, I want to give ten stars to the combination of "Launching Sheep" and to "The American Spirit."
I read them back to back. It was a great reading experience.
Sarah’s book begins with recounting how it came to be that Herodotus, the father of history, had his pants catch fire. He wrote his histories documenting many factual events, but he also included rumor, hearsay, exaggeration, and tales of cyclopes. Almost as if there was an internet in existence in 425 B.C., which if it wore pants, those pants would surely catch fire. After a war, the nation who wins it gets to write its history. When I was a US Navy pilot and we engaged in a mock dogfight, the one who got to the bar first, won the fight. Especially if he bought a round.
Doesn’t history intersect nonsense often, frequently, and in amazing ways, and in our daily lives, as we earn our daily bread, and try to impart, if not wisdom, at least experience to our children, and don’t they and history give us things to wonder and to smile about? Hemingway once wrote about writing to the effect that when he was working on a story, every day, he tried to write one true thing. In a way, I think Sarah is saying, when we read, even non-fiction, we should have our senses open for the smell of burning pants.
In the American Spirit, Mr. McCullogh, in effect, builds an altar with a tabernacle on it as a little house for history. As if History were a subject, before which, something close to worship should happen. To me, Mr. McCullogh’s book, as do all his works I’ve read, have the look, the feel, the smell, the taste, the sound of truth on and in them. Take where he says, “Nor was there ever a self-made man or woman.” Which is sort of Faulknerian, though Mr. M. delivers his message without the heavy dark tones of longing for a history of a lost time to return and play again in the present. And it’s also a chunk from “No man is an island.” Mr. M. does suggest to us, that we as Americans ought to appreciate who we are and what we stand for, and that quite frankly, America is something worth standing for. And shouldn’t at least a few of us take the time to see that notion standing atop the altar of history and take it into the core of our souls?
These two history books, I appreciate each the more for having read the other. And I have them next to each other on a book shelf. I imagine one giving a half nod of something close to worship to the other, and the other having one corner of its lips raised a tweak in something close to a smile.
I read them back to back. It was a great reading experience.
Sarah’s book begins with recounting how it came to be that Herodotus, the father of history, had his pants catch fire. He wrote his histories documenting many factual events, but he also included rumor, hearsay, exaggeration, and tales of cyclopes. Almost as if there was an internet in existence in 425 B.C., which if it wore pants, those pants would surely catch fire. After a war, the nation who wins it gets to write its history. When I was a US Navy pilot and we engaged in a mock dogfight, the one who got to the bar first, won the fight. Especially if he bought a round.
Doesn’t history intersect nonsense often, frequently, and in amazing ways, and in our daily lives, as we earn our daily bread, and try to impart, if not wisdom, at least experience to our children, and don’t they and history give us things to wonder and to smile about? Hemingway once wrote about writing to the effect that when he was working on a story, every day, he tried to write one true thing. In a way, I think Sarah is saying, when we read, even non-fiction, we should have our senses open for the smell of burning pants.
In the American Spirit, Mr. McCullogh, in effect, builds an altar with a tabernacle on it as a little house for history. As if History were a subject, before which, something close to worship should happen. To me, Mr. McCullogh’s book, as do all his works I’ve read, have the look, the feel, the smell, the taste, the sound of truth on and in them. Take where he says, “Nor was there ever a self-made man or woman.” Which is sort of Faulknerian, though Mr. M. delivers his message without the heavy dark tones of longing for a history of a lost time to return and play again in the present. And it’s also a chunk from “No man is an island.” Mr. M. does suggest to us, that we as Americans ought to appreciate who we are and what we stand for, and that quite frankly, America is something worth standing for. And shouldn’t at least a few of us take the time to see that notion standing atop the altar of history and take it into the core of our souls?
These two history books, I appreciate each the more for having read the other. And I have them next to each other on a book shelf. I imagine one giving a half nod of something close to worship to the other, and the other having one corner of its lips raised a tweak in something close to a smile.
June 27, 2017
The title Launching Sheep by Sarah Angleton continues: and Other Stories from The Intersection of History and Nonsense. The volume is comprised of eighty-six informative, fascinating and entertaining articles taken from the author’s weekly blog, which were published over a period of more than four years up until September 2016. They cover a mind-boggling variety of subjects from the history of tandem bicycles and the development of fire hydrants, to why Scottish bagpipes were considered weapons of war and the origins of the phrase ‘bringing home the bacon’. In the opening article, ‘History’s Pants Are on Fire’, Sarah quite rightly points out the random and often unreliable nature of historic records and the inclination of historians, where hard fact is lacking, to simply make things up. At the same time, she dismisses any claim to her being a serious historian in the academic sense. Her articles are more the type of weekly columns found in many newspapers over the years, centuries even, by authors and journalists like Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Giovanni Guareschi, James Thurber and others too numerous to mention. Like Guareschi, she weaves her family life into the storylines and manages to produce a mixture of interesting facts, history and day-to-day life in the Angleton household, all blended into a series of charming, sometimes thought-provoking, and often amusing vignettes.
As a bit of a trivia nut I much enjoyed Launching Sheep - it’s the sort of book that you can read from cover to cover or dip into at random and keep at your elbow for future reference; a perfect travelling companion, and a treasure trove of useful information that will never leave you short of an interesting anecdote. But what I particularly liked about the book is the way that, as we go along, we get glimpses into Sarah Angleton’s family life, her birthdays and those of her husband and two young sons, the rainy-day traumas of finding them something interesting to do, the anniversaries and Christmas celebrations. All are woven into articles such as how women’s high heeled shoes were first made for a vertically challenged princess, how President Lincoln was an insomniac, or how the planet Pluto got its name. A thoroughly enjoyable book from a talented author, and highly recommended.
As a bit of a trivia nut I much enjoyed Launching Sheep - it’s the sort of book that you can read from cover to cover or dip into at random and keep at your elbow for future reference; a perfect travelling companion, and a treasure trove of useful information that will never leave you short of an interesting anecdote. But what I particularly liked about the book is the way that, as we go along, we get glimpses into Sarah Angleton’s family life, her birthdays and those of her husband and two young sons, the rainy-day traumas of finding them something interesting to do, the anniversaries and Christmas celebrations. All are woven into articles such as how women’s high heeled shoes were first made for a vertically challenged princess, how President Lincoln was an insomniac, or how the planet Pluto got its name. A thoroughly enjoyable book from a talented author, and highly recommended.
May 19, 2017
This book is filled with amusing factoids. (Lord Byron had a weight problem!) I appreciated the lighthearted, humorous tone the author maintains while condensing historical information, pairing it with personal anecdotes, and ending each entry with a zinger.
Angleton's writing voice is warmly conversational-- peppered with parenthetical comments. Like its blog origins, this accessible style makes a reader feel like the writer is a friend.
Although the author is flat-out wrong about how to properly hang a roll of toilet paper and has terrible instincts regarding how to squeeze a tube of toothpaste, she is right on target regarding The Princess Bride, the joy of road trips, the absurdly anachronistic nature of Renaissance fairs, and the folly of wearing heels. Additionally, Sarah Angleton's book scores bonus points for referencing Bradbury's classic short story "A Sound of Thunder" in relation to chaperoning a field trip to view butterflies.
The brief chapters hit a stride at the outset and remain consistent in voice, pace, and substance. This book could easily be read and mulled over in small doses, but I binged it entirely in one afternoon.
My complaints about the book are primarily visual. I dislike the font used for the chapter titles, subtitle, and dedication. I'm also surprised that no sources are listed at the end, but that's probably only because I'm accustomed to being very picky about such details as part of my daily work life.
Angleton's writing voice is warmly conversational-- peppered with parenthetical comments. Like its blog origins, this accessible style makes a reader feel like the writer is a friend.
Although the author is flat-out wrong about how to properly hang a roll of toilet paper and has terrible instincts regarding how to squeeze a tube of toothpaste, she is right on target regarding The Princess Bride, the joy of road trips, the absurdly anachronistic nature of Renaissance fairs, and the folly of wearing heels. Additionally, Sarah Angleton's book scores bonus points for referencing Bradbury's classic short story "A Sound of Thunder" in relation to chaperoning a field trip to view butterflies.
The brief chapters hit a stride at the outset and remain consistent in voice, pace, and substance. This book could easily be read and mulled over in small doses, but I binged it entirely in one afternoon.
My complaints about the book are primarily visual. I dislike the font used for the chapter titles, subtitle, and dedication. I'm also surprised that no sources are listed at the end, but that's probably only because I'm accustomed to being very picky about such details as part of my daily work life.
May 7, 2017
I like short stories but not like I enjoy a long novel. I also like older type novels that have depth and detail as opposed to the newer quick-moving conversational setups of modern lit. My exception is the collection of essays by Sarah Angleton titled Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense. These short tales are snappy, entertaining and hold some personal insight to the author as well as a bit of history.
Angleton admits she wasn’t always into history, but now finds it challenging to study. She is far from the dry historian one might think of. She researches lesser known stories and brings them forward. For example, she details the history of the bicycle built for two, gives us a new look at sharks, and introduces us to a fight over pinball machines!
These short reads are great for a sunny day at the beach, time waiting at the dentist office, or even those extra minutes waiting for a pizza to be delivered. Each are complete in themselves, full of entertainment and a chuckle or two. High recommend!
Angleton admits she wasn’t always into history, but now finds it challenging to study. She is far from the dry historian one might think of. She researches lesser known stories and brings them forward. For example, she details the history of the bicycle built for two, gives us a new look at sharks, and introduces us to a fight over pinball machines!
These short reads are great for a sunny day at the beach, time waiting at the dentist office, or even those extra minutes waiting for a pizza to be delivered. Each are complete in themselves, full of entertainment and a chuckle or two. High recommend!
July 17, 2017
This book is a collection of the author's blog posts which display a unique view of her life with historical information weaved into each short story. This book boasts colorful titles, history tidbits which are stretched at times for humor, and everyday life. One of my personal favorites was the blog post titled "Pickled History Scraped from the Bottom of the Barrel" which was written September 24th 2015 and tells us the disturbing story of "tapping the admiral" which I was relieved to learn was in fact just a work of fiction of epic grossness. With the various posts comes room for everyone to find something that delights them. If you love history and are looking for a light read that has much to offer in the way of subject matter, this is the book I would recommend for you. I could see this as a wonderful book to take on vacation for those quiet moments when you need something relaxing and fun to read. It's unique, silly, and witty, in short, I highly recommend this book!
May 15, 2017
This is a good book for a trip. You can read an essay or two and then put it down. The essays are filled with quirky little details so it's fun to read. I like the way the author picks a timely topic from history; perhaps it deals with a holiday or a famous historical person. Then she pulls in something current either in her own life or in connection with the date. On a cold January day, when her children had been home from school for several days in a row, she researched a bit and found that it was National Pie Day. That led her to a Bulgarian hermit many centuries ago and eventually while telling his story, she also baked a pie or two keeping her children entertained.
August 3, 2018
Disclaimer: Although I know Sarah in the real-life world through our joint membership in a writing group, this is my honest review.
I bought Sarah's book when it first came out and it sat waiting its turn in a very tall pile of other books. One day I pulled it out, remembering she'd said it was made up of blog posts. I thought perhaps it would give me something short to read when I had little snippets of time. I am so glad I did. I laughed my way through each story and left myself wanting more, knowing there were more to come. Until there weren't and then I stared longingly at the author bio wishing there were more.
I bought Sarah's book when it first came out and it sat waiting its turn in a very tall pile of other books. One day I pulled it out, remembering she'd said it was made up of blog posts. I thought perhaps it would give me something short to read when I had little snippets of time. I am so glad I did. I laughed my way through each story and left myself wanting more, knowing there were more to come. Until there weren't and then I stared longingly at the author bio wishing there were more.
May 11, 2017
Launching Sheep and Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense is a fast-paced and fun read. This collection of excerpts from Sarah Angleton's blog, The Practical Historian, weaves personal family memories while shedding light on lesser-known historical events.
November 16, 2017
I was so blessed to win this book in a Goodreads Giveaway!
I love a book that amuses and educates all in one. This book is entertaining, educational and fun. Sarah Angleton has a fabulous talent!
I can't wait to share this one with many friends.
I love a book that amuses and educates all in one. This book is entertaining, educational and fun. Sarah Angleton has a fabulous talent!
I can't wait to share this one with many friends.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews