The True Story Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27602

Title

The True Story Book

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Andrew Lang, this collection offers children a thrilling escape from fairy tales into the realm of history. Featuring the conquest of Mexico, Prince Charlie's exile, and daring escapes, the book blends romance with fact. It presents true adventures of princes, pirates, and explorers, proving that real history can be as strange and exciting as fiction.

Summary up to 500 words

Edited by Andrew Lang, *The True Story Book* invites young readers to leave the enchanting realm of fairies for the actual, often stranger, workaday world of history. While lacking dragons and giants, the collection promises adventures that are as romantic as fiction, featuring princes, gallant races, and dramatic escapes. The volume opens with the conquest of Mexico, a tale of immense romance and cruelty. A handful of Spaniards, led by Cortés, overcame the mighty Aztec empire. The narrative details the awe-inspiring beauty of the Mexican valley, the diplomatic maneuvers involving Montezuma, and the eventual fall of the capital. It highlights the massacre at Cholula and the desperate flight of Spanish survivors down a treacherous river filled with cataracts and freebooters. Other tales include the dramatic escape of English captives from Algiers aboard the *Shannon* and *Chesapeake*, the tragic romance of Grace Darling, and the adventures of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in the Highlands. The book also covers the discovery of Vineland by Leif the Lucky, the enduring mystery of Kaspar Hauser, and the exploits of Casanova and Benvenuto Cellini. Lang emphasizes that true stories often end with the sobering reality of history rather than a guaranteed happy ending. Through these varied accounts, the editor aims to demonstrate that history, too, can be a source of wonder and excitement for children, proving that real events can rival the strangeness of invented tales.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27602.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27602.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-04 06:45 UTC

Categories

• History