From David McCullough’s “1776″:

“…the Americans of 1776 enjoyed a higher standard of living than any people in the world. Their material wealth was considerably less than it would become in time, still it was a great deal more than others had elsewhere. How people with so much, living on their own land, would ever choose to rebel against the ruler God had put over them and thereby bring down such devastation upon themselves was for the invaders incomprehensible.”

In the April 2012 issue of BBC History Magazine, Nick Rennison writes that pineapples were such elite fruits in the 18th century that they cost “about the same price as a new coach.” And that you could rent one to display on your table. (Like potatoes, tobacco and chocolate, they came from the New World, hence their exoticism.)

“Confectioners were able to rent out a single fruit for weeks to a succession of different customers eager to demonstrate their wealth and social status,” Rennison writes. As it got passed from customer to customer, the fruit naturally started to rot. “No one could eat it…and it grew more rotten each time…but its presence on the dinner table was enough.”

This story illustrates what I love about history. That some spiky fruit I’ve always taken for granted once meant everything to the upper classes of Europe. If that doesn’t change the way you look at present day status symbols-Louis Vuitton handbags for example-I don’t know what would. (If LV products are still around 200 years from now I can only imagine how people will view 21st century people’s obsession with handbags.)

I’ll remember this story every time I drink a cold slushy concoction from a pineapple. Unless that is, I go senile, in which case, I’ll have forgotten its storied past, and that will be quite a shame.

[A 17th century painting by Hendrik Danckerts. Charles II receives a pineapple from his gardener.]

On Friday, June 8th, I will be reading from Man of War at the Lancaster, PA Barnes & Noble. Fun kicks off at 7:00 pm. More information can be found here. The question remains, do they serve Yuengling?

Confederates is Tony Horwitz‘ exploration of present day (it was written in 1998, so not so present day) attitudes toward the Civil War. In it, he spends some very memorable chapters with a hardcore reenactor named Robert Lee Hodge. Hodge even graces the cover.

Horwitz’ most recent book, Midnight Rising, is about the abolitionist, John Brown. Here’s a clip of him reading from that book:

In Biblically, Jacobs spends a year following the rules of the Bible. I haven’t read it, but it was wildly popular-and a really good idea.

Jacobs and I both like to immerse ourselves in our work, grow unsightly facial hair and name our books/chapters after movies. In fact, every chapter in Man of War is a play on a movie/TV/radio title. (Par example, chapters 1-3, are: “Sleepless in Stalingrad,” “The Way We Weren’t” and “I, Carolus.”) Name the historical era that corresponds to each and I’ll send you my beard clippings.

Here’s Jacobs talking about Biblically:

And another video in which he talks about his latest book, Drop Dead Healthy:

It’s nice to be compared to two best-selling authors, but frankly I’ve always looked up to this guy.

Here’s a link to The Art of Dying

And another to a Bull Run segment

After I arrived (with wife and mom in tow), I signed some books for Vroman’s behind their tent. Sorry about giving you the finger in this photo. It was completely unintentional.

Here I am transporting a stack of Man of Wars from overstock shelving to the table where I’d later sign them. But I wasn’t just moving paper. I was trying to give customers the impression that the book is so good they have to buy ten copies. Also note my massive biceps. Lifting hardcover books is a great way to save on those ridiculous gym membership fees.

Interesting placement for MOW. One friend observed that I was in a “Hitchens sandwich.” Another friend former friend commented that Hitchens’ books look a lot wordier than mine. Likely because I don’t know more than seven polysyllabic words.

Later that day I returned to Pasadena and saw this quote by some guy named Benjamin Franklin. I liked it so much I took a photograph of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.