The Jerusalem Publishing House

THEY MADE HISTORY

A Biographical Dictionary

by Dr. Geoffrey Wigoder

“All history,” said Emerson, “resolves itself very easily into the biography of a few stout and earnest persons.” Even the analysis of history into mighty processes must make allowance for human elements, not least in the leaders these processes have thrown up. Tolstoy tried to edit out the impact of the individual, but the consensus of views is otherwise. Apart from the political and military giants who have emerged down the centuries, history has been made by other individuals, such as the discoverers and inventors who have changed the face of the known globe and the way of human life. Moreover a comprehensive world view does not separate cultural history from political history, and such an outlook sees the crucial role played by the great figures in the sciences and arts as having profoundly influenced human history.

They Made History, therefore, takes the widest view of the great of all time. Napoleon and Michelangelo, Lao Tzu and Newton, Cicero and Hemingway, Catherine the Great and Gandhi, all find their place among the 750 'Greats' in this all-time Hall of Fame.

The biographies are not written in the dry style often associated with reference books but are lively descriptions of the subjects, with anecdotes, unusual information, and sayings. Often these are presented in special “boxes'” designed to make easy reading of special information.

Hard cover; 6 1/2 x 9 1/2

712 pages; 150 b/w illustrations

English

In preparation: Hebrew, German and Spanish