Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Inspire Me to Learn More

This week's Top Ten Tuesday focuses on topics that books inspired us to learn more about.  Here are some of my favorites:

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1.  Henry VIII - Philippa Gregory's Tudor series - When I first read this series many years ago, I couldn't believe some of the events that occurred. I was so captivated by the Tudor court, I read many non-fiction accounts of Henry's many wives and the drama that ensued.

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2.  Princes in the Tower - Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series also inspired me to learn more about the events surrounding the disappearance of the princes.  When I visited the Tower of London a few years ago, I loved learning even more about this and the various theories surrounding their disappearance. 

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3.  Yellow Fever - Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson inspired me to learn a bit more about this disease that swept through Philadelphia. Since I live outside Philadelphia, I was really intrigued by this and loved sharing this book with my students. Even the most reluctant of readers enjoyed this novel.

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4.  Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 - Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck first introduced me to this tragedy. I love all things Hemingway as well as the Florida Keys, so when I read about this hurricane, I was captivated. What a horrific natural disaster! It was the strongest and most intense hurricane in history and what happened to the veterans is such a tragedy. 

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5.  The Lost Generation - The Sun Also Rises and A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway inspired me to learn more about the Lost Generation after WWI.  I took a class on this very topic in college and I found it to be really interesting.  It's always fascinating to read about the American "exiles" and their adventures in Paris.

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6.  Jacobite Uprising - Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabladon sparked my interest in this topic. I had no clue about it before and after reading this book (and watching the show on Starz), I was definitely intrigued. In fact, I wish I read more about the Jacobite Uprising before I read Dragonfly. That would have cleared up any misunderstandings on my part! 

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7.  Wilhelm Gustloff - Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys really blew me away this year. I had no idea about this tragedy and that this ship was carrying mostly civilians when it sunk.  I was stunned. After finishing the novel, I immediately read many articles about it; it's truly heartbreaking.  

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8.  The Kennedys - The Kennedy Wives by Amber Hunt and David Batcher and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Donald Spoto both contributed to my love of the Kennedy family. For years, I have been interested in the Kennedys. I find their lives to be utterly fascinating as well as devastating  It's almost unbelievable what they went through. These two books definitely added to my interest in the Kennedys, especially the women. 

Me at Highclere Castle in England

9.  Highclere Castle - I have always been a fan of Downton Abbey and was even lucky enough to visit Highclere Castle a few years ago, but after reading Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon, I came to realize that the real life residents as well as their ancestors are just as interesting as the fictional inhabitants. After reading this book, I immediately wanted to learn more about the history of Highclere.

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10.  Austrian-Hungarian Empire - The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki really sparked my interest in this empire, which I initially knew very little about. At the time I was reading this book, I was also studying my genealogy and one of my ancestors and his family lived in Austria during this time. 

So, have you read any novels that really inspired you to learn more about a time period or new-to-you topic? Let me know in the comments.  This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.