Lizzie Borden was the upper-class Sunday school teacher who became the prime suspect in the brutal axe attack on her father and stepmother. Ultimately, a jury acquitted her of all the charges—but questions around her involvement still linger. Money, madness, and manipulation swirl around this macabre mystery.
Princess Margaret might have grown up in the shadow of her older sister Queen Elizabeth II, but she didn’t stay that way. By the time she was a teenager, the young, beautiful, and fashionable princess was the talk of the town…and not for the right reasons. From her scandalous bedroom tastes to her tragic end, Margaret’s life was far from a fairy tale.
When her own mother betrayed her on her wedding day, Margaret of Valois sprang into action—and her act of bitter revenge soon turned her into a hero.
Townes Van Zandt combined folk, country, and blues to create some of the most beautiful songs—and sang so achingly about heartbreak because he knew it well.
Gloria Swanson was the Queen of the Silent Era, but all the fame in the world couldn't save her from an utterly heartbreaking life.
Whether large or small, beneficial or disastrous, each of the US presidents left a legacy behind, but a handful have stood out from the rest. Even among some of the most notable, many believe Franklin Delano Roosevelt to be a superior example of American leadership. In helping his country through some of the toughest times in recent history, FDR earned no small amount of praise—even if others might disagree today.
Virginia Oldoini, better remembered as the Countess of Castiglione, was as captivating as she was scandalous. The Italian aristocrat’s beauty and obsession with the camera helped make her one of history’s earliest models, but her fame went far beyond photographs. From her provocative love affairs to her devastating decline, the Countess of Castiglione lived a life that demands a closer look.
Maureen O’Hara was "The Queen Of Technicolor"—but behind the scenes, things weren’t always so bright.
As Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr is often treated as little more than the last chapter in his story. She’s continually framed through other people—her late husbands before Henry, the stepchildren she brought back together, and the aging king she helped see through to the end. But Catherine Parr’s life, both before and after Henry, was a romantic saga in its own right. Still, she’ll likely always be remembered as Henry VIII’s great “survivor.” Separate myth from reality with these 53 resilient facts about Catherine Parr.
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