Utterly interesting

The bizarre story of Napoleon’s preserved penis, amputated at his autopsy in 1821, sold across Europe and America, refused by France, and hidden under a bed in New Jersey. A tale of relics, ridicule, and history’s strangest souvenir.

He was Stalin’s right-hand man — and one of history’s most feared figures. Lavrentiy Beria ruled through terror, orchestrated purges, and preyed on countless victims. This is the story of power, brutality, and absolute corruption.

What do a man who wore an alarm clock on his wrist, munched raw onions like apples, and once strutted out of the shower to bark orders...

In a tragedy not befitting one synonymous with sartorial splendour, the demise of Maurizio Gucci bore the unmistakable stamp of ignominy....

Percy Bysshe Shelley, born in 1792, emerged into the world as the eldest son of Sir Timothy Shelley, a prominent Member of Parliament,...

Starting in the mid-1800s, police began capturing the faces of known criminals. Dubbed "mug shots" (derived from the British slang "mug" meaning "face"), these images replaced sketches and descriptions on wanted posters. Scientists even analysed mug shots to explore whether physical characteristics could forecast criminal behaviour. Once convicted, men underwent another round of photography after their hair and beards were shaved to prevent lice spread, while women’s hair rem

The mass suicide of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult in March 1997 remains one of the most chilling and enigmatic episodes in modern...

In 1970s Baku, the Berberov family became Soviet celebrities for raising lions in their apartment. What began as love for animals ended in heartbreak and disaster. Discover the unbelievable true story of the family who lived with lions

John Thomson’s 1870s photographs capture the grit and grace of Victorian London — from costermongers to street sweepers. A rare look at life beneath the city’s polished veneer.

Three men stand together; two tall men in traditional clothing, and one shorter man holding a hat. Tents in the background, sepia tone.

The My Lai massacre will always be a disturbing memory in the American conscience and will often resurface in any discussion or...

When reflecting on the true heroes of the Second World War, few names evoke as much admiration and awe as that of Sir Tommy Macpherson....

Throughout history few stories are as harrowing and cautionary as that of Eben Byers, a wealthy industrialist whose life was forever...

John F. Kennedy’s closest friend was not a politician or adviser but Lem Billings, a constant presence from prep school to the White House. Their intense bond, long shadowed by rumours, reveals how personal loyalty shaped life inside Camelot.

Charlie Chaplin, the eternal Little Tramp, had audiences rolling in the aisles for decades. His physical comedy crossed borders, class...

Roger Tichborne (left) The man claiming to be him (right) The Tichborne Claimant case has everything you’d want from a Victorian...

Roberta Haynes and Cary Grant both attended Dr. Mortimer Hartman’s LSD therapy sessions. When we think of the ever-poised Cary Grant,...

Discover the extraordinary life of Peter Freuchen, the towering Danish explorer who survived an ice cave with a frozen dagger, hunted polar bears, resisted the Nazis and became a game show champion. A remarkable story of adventure, resilience and survival.

In the age of chivalry, monasteries and monarchs, land was rarely handed out lightly. Yet in 12th-century England, one rather singular individual managed to secure a manor and 30 acres (12 hectares) of prime Suffolk countryside not through valour in battle or ecclesiastical service, but by passing wind on command. Roland le Petour, better known to posterity as Roulandus le Fartere , was no ordinary court entertainer. Likely serving as a jester in the royal household of King H

In the realm of Hollywood, tales of family history often carry a mystique of their own. One such story revolves around the father of...

On the 7th February 1991, the IRA fired three mortars over Whitehall during a Gulf War Cabinet meeting. One exploded in Downing Street’s garden, narrowly missing the Prime Minister and senior ministers. A detailed look at the attack and its aftermath.

Leopold II reigned as King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909 and established the Congo Free State in order to seize vast quantities of...

A painting like this is bound to draw anyone in, and also arouse some questions in regard to it's back story. What makes it even more fascinating is that the pale breasts, framed by swirling fabric, were painted by the artist herself, Sarah Goodridge, an accomplished miniaturist born in 1788, on a small ivory plate. The intrigue deepens when you find out that, in 1828, Goodridge sent this particular miniature, carefully enclosed in a leather case with two clasps, to the newly