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This month in history
Celebrate women’s history and more with these accounts of historical happenings during the month of March.
Published on March 1, 2024
Watergate
Garrett M. GraffOn March 1, 1974, seven men were indicted for obstructing the investigation into the Watergate scandal. But the real story began nearly two years earlier with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Graff tells this spellbinding story with rich nuance at every turn. Engrossing and vivid, “Watergate” infuses new depth into a chapter of American history that’s been retold countless times but never with this level of empathy.
Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
Michael HiltzikEach year, over a million visitors travel to witness the majestic Hoover Dam, which was completed on March 1, 1936. Author Hiltzik retraces the dam’s ideation and construction, while analyzing the cultural and economic climate at the time. The result is a captivating historical narrative of a singular time in America.
Lindbergh
A. Scott BergCharles Lindbergh’s greatest accomplishment was making the first solo transatlantifdsc flight in May of 1927. However, he’s equally remembered for the tragic kidnapping and murder of his son, who was abducted on March 1, 1932. It remains one of the most prominent kidnappings in American history. Berg’s biography covers the flight, kidnapping, and other notable events from Lindbergh’s life, as well as his troubling ties to antisemitism.
The Women's March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession
Jennifer ChiaveriniThe 1913 Women’s March for the right to vote (which took place on March 3) altered the course of women’s rights in the United States. Chiarverini’s signature style seamlessly blends nonfiction and historical fiction to paint a detailed picture of the women who played significant roles in the fight for women’s suffrage. “The Women’s March” alternates between the perspectives of Alice Paul, Ida Wells-Barnett, and Maud Malone.
The Boston Massacre: A Family History
Serena ZabinThe Boston Massacre is well-known as the catalyst of the Revolutionary War. However, not much is known about the lead-up to the event and the people involved. Gripping and informative, “The Boston Massacre” takes an inside look at the interpersonal dynamics between the families of the British soldiers and the Bostonians, which ultimately led to that fateful evening on March 5, 1770.
A Time to Stand: The Epic of the Alamo
Walter LordOver the years, the last stand at the Alamo has become integral to Texan folklore — you’ll be hard pressed to find an account of the Texas Revolution that doesn’t include it. However, myths have obscured the truth of what actually happened on the morning of March 6, 1836. Social historian Lord (“A Night to Remember,” “Day of Infamy”) brings the epic story of the Alamo to life.
Selma's Bloody Sunday: Protest, Voting Rights, and the Struggle for Racial Equality
Robert A. PrattThe peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery in March of 1965 ended in horrific bloodshed. Despite clashing with waves of white resistance, Selma’s Bloody Sunday marked one of the most pivotal moments of the civil rights movement and led to the Voting Rights Act. Along with giving a historical account of what unfolded, Pratt also compares the struggle for racial equity in the 1960s to the ongoing struggles of Black Americans today.
Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It
Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It
Gina KolataThe 1918 influenza pandemic, which started in February but reached the U.S. in March, killed over 100 million people as World War I troops spread the disease far and wide. To this day, there is no definitive answer as to the exact cause of the devastating illness. Kolata, a reporter, delves into the history of the 1918 flu and how it could have been prevented.
Julius Caesar
Philip FreemanEt tu, Brute? This list wouldn’t be complete without a biography of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and an analysis of the lead-up to his assassination on March 15, 44 BC. Freeman reveals that the Shakespeare play we all know may have taken some artistic liberties. Read the real story — and beware the Ides of March.
St. Patrick and the Conversion of Ireland: Each year on March 17th, millions of people attend St Patrick’s day parades in memory of the man who reputedly converted the Irish to Christianity. He is a figure shrouded in myth but in this podcast we examine the truth behind the one time slave and f...
St. Patrick and the Conversion of Ireland: Each year on March 17th, millions of people attend St Patrick’s day parades in memory of the man who reputedly converted the Irish to Christianity. He is a figure shrouded in myth but in this podcast we examine the truth behind the one time slave and f...
Irish History PodcastEach year on March 17 we don our best green attire and gather to attend parades, drink green beer, and bask in “the luck of the Irish.” The “Irish History Podcast” offers just that, with this episode focusing on the real Saint Patrick, a bishop and Christian missionary.
Best Pick: A Journey through Film History and the Academy Awards
Jessica ReganThe very first Academy Awards took place in May of 1929, but it wasn’t until March 19, 1953 that it was televised, allowing the general public to experience the event (hosted by Bob Hope). In this audiobook, the authors comb through Oscar nominees, winners, and ceremonies throughout history, including all the drama and scandal you can handle. Whether you listen to “Best Pick” before or after the 2023 Oscars, you’ll never look at the awards the same way again.
Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation
Philip NormanThere are plenty of milestones surrounding The Beatles, including two in March: March 22, 1963 marked the release of their first album, “Please Please Me.” A year later, on March 30, an astonishing 10 of their songs simultaneously hit Billboard’s Hot 100. In this biography, Norman takes readers through all the triumphs, tragedies, highs, and lows of one of the most-loved bands of all time.
Patrick Henry: Champion of Liberty
Jon KuklaConsidering he was one of the biggest champions for American independence, it seems odd that Patrick Henry’s life and legacy aren’t as well known as others in history. Kukla’s spirited biography brings Henry back into the limelight, spanning his childhood, careers in law and politics, and his most famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death,” spoken on March 23, 1775.
Uprising
Margaret Peterson HaddixThe Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire remains one of the darkest moments in America’s industrial history. On March 25, 1911, the New York City factory burned down as a result of unsafe and inhumane working conditions, killing 146 workers. Haddix brings this tragedy to life through the eyes of three very different women (a socialite, a union leader, and an immigrant) whose paths cross at the factory. “Uprising” is historical fiction rooted in facts.
Collision on Tenerife: The How and Why of the World's Worst Aviation Disaster
Jon ZiomekTo this day, the Tenerife airport disaster, which took place on March 27, 1977, has the highest fatalities of any aviation accident (583 lost their lives). Ziomek gives a moment-by-moment chronicle of the horrible mistakes that led to the collision between two Boeing 747s, incorporating accounts from the few survivors.