Ruth Becker was just 12 years old when she escaped the sinking Titanic in 1912. From her lifeboat, she watched the enormous ship break in two, but for decades, her account was met with skepticism. Years later, an official reportedly even took away her microphone when she tried to tell her story. But the extraordinary journey from a little girl's disputed memory to an astonishing discovery on the ocean floor would take more than 70 years, and the truth was worth the wait.
Born at the peak of the Soviet Era to leader Joseph Stalin and his wife Nadya, Svetlana Stalina was as close to royalty as post-revolutionary Russia could get. But it was only ever a broken fairy tale: Svetlana lived tragedy after tragedy, and the more she tried to run away from her past, the more she stumbled into heartbreak.
Many see Mary Todd Lincoln as one of the worst first ladies in American history. Sure, she may have spent like Imelda Marcos, and yes, she dabbled in seances and brought spiritualists to the White House. But could there be another reason why she gets such a horrible rating? Todd faced unimaginable loss before, during, and after her stay at the White House. She also may have suffered an undiagnosed and mood-altering illness for her entire life.
Remember the heavy black telephone you weren't supposed to play with? Or the strange metal tray in the freezer, the green stamps tucked into a kitchen drawer, and that dangerous-looking machine Grandma used on laundry day? Baby Boomers grew up around household objects that were already beginning to disappear, but at Grandma and Grandpa's house, plenty were still hanging around. Today, some are so obsolete that younger generations might not even guess what they were for.
When Wanrong became the Empress of China, she was already ruling over a ghost land. In a matter of months, her country abolished the monarchy, turning all Wanrong’s decadent pleasures into dust. Somehow, though, this was just the beginning of her tragic tale.
Marie Louise d'Orléans was the petite-fille de France who went on to become the Queen consort of Spain. But, without producing an heir, her new Spanish home was far from welcoming. She downed her sorrows in sweets—then fell fatally and curiously ill, just like her mother.
The story of Diana Mitford is so explosive, it should come with a warning label. Born into glittering British aristocracy, she had looks, money, love, and fame at her fingertips, yet she dove headfirst into scandal at every turn. Not only was she the most beautiful of her headline-grabbing sisters, AKA “The Six,” a 1930s version of the Kardashians, but she was also the most notorious—and for good reason.
Urged to become the new mistress of Tsar Alexander II, Catherine Dolgorukova got a lot more than she signed up for when they ultimately tied the knot, especially considering their significant age gap. Although she was completely devoted to him, every day that she spent with his family was a nightmare, and they never stopped harassing her—even long after she had cut ties with them.
Duchess Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp had no chance of rising to power herself. Instead, she schemed to become the mother of a great emperor.
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