The Most Interesting People You’ve Never Heard Of tells the tales of the overlooked names of history, the individuals who lived fascinating, absurd, or simply amusing lives but are somehow forgotten, overshadowed by those who were larger, louder or better at self-promotion. People who may not have shaped the world like famous heroes but had lives worthy of our attention all the same-from the profound to the peculiar.

Diogenes the Cynic lived in an enormous ceramic jar, insulted Alexander the Great, and lived to tell the tale. Pope Benedict IX ‘sold’ the papacy-twice. Empress Zenobia almost conquered Rome, centuries before it finally fell. Jan Zizka never lost a battle, despite losing both his eyes. Violet Jessop survived the sinking of the Titanic, only to then be aboard the Britannic when it sank as well. Adolphe Sax had multiple near-death experiences as a kid, before growing up to invent the saxophone.

The Most Interesting People You’ve Never Heard Of tells the unsung tales of extraordinary people that will leave you captivated.

‘These potted biographies of history’s underappreciated are three parts fascinating to one part absurd.’ David Hunt, bestselling author of Girt