What I Think Happened

An Underresearched History of the Western World

by Evany Rosen

tagged: political, women's studies, history, essays

Description

A wickedly funny book in which the author recasts historical events and personalities from her own feminist perspective.

What I Think Happened, the debut book by comedian Evany Rosen, is really two books: a savvy, no-holds-barred romp through the history of the western world, and the personal story of a self-described "failed academic" who recasts historiography from a feminist perspective--albeit an underqualified and overconfident one.

In these wide-ranging comic essays, Evany explores numerous historical events and personalities that have had a personal impact on her as she attempts to understand why they've been the object of such fascination, from her unnatural obsession with Napoleon, to her misguided understanding of the Royal Family, to her intrigue over America's dumpiest presidents. Evany's approach to history is to make it personal, which any good historian will tell you is exactly what not to do; but in doing so, and with whimsy and irreverence, she rescues history from the dusty confines of "intellectually aggressive" men and makes it fun again.

What I Think Happened is the first book to be published under a new imprint called Robin's Egg Books that will feature some of the freshest, smartest, and above all funniest writing around on a variety of culturally relevant subjects. Robin's Egg Books are curated and edited by comedian, playwright, and author Charles Demers.

About the Author

Evany Rosen is a writer, standup comedian, and founding member of the acclaimed Canadian sketch comedy troupe Picnicface (Comedy Network). She has appeared at numerous comedy festivals as well as in films and on television, and has worked as a voiceover actor in animated series such as Mysticons (Nickelodeon), Hotel Transylvania (Disney), and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Cartoon Network). Her first book, What I Think Happened: An Underresearched History of the Western World, is the inaugural title published under Arsenal Pulp Press's new humour imprint Robin's Egg Books. She lives in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

Don't get Rosen started on Napoleon. As the comedian readily admits, she will find the most ingenious ways to turn any conversation to the subject of the fascinating little emperor. And it's not only Napoleon, but also much of Western history that Rosen takes on with a devil-may-care jauntiness in this wickedly funny romp. -Booklist

The book is a pointed, funny feminist perspective on historical events. -Vancouver Sun

If this blurb has the power to make you do one thing today, may I politely suggest that you get on the stick and read What I Think Happened? -Samantha Bee

Evany Rosen's book is wildly disrespectful to me and the history of my great country (America, duh doy). I was reading this book with my flag and it made my flag cry. To paraphrase the great (American) Woody Guthrie: 'This book makes flags cry.' -Paul F. Tompkins

What I Think Happened is inherently a feminist response to the dude-dominated Western history taught in most schools ... Tone-wise, the book falls somewhere between Comedy Central's Drunk History, in which inebriated celebrities share their knowledge of world events, and the subversiveness of Kate Beaton's historical comics. -Toronto Star

The wit and charm that made Evany Rosen a favorite in the comedy world has carried over to the literary scene with this delightful new collection of essays. It will make you consider history in a whole new way. -Kliph Nesteroff

Buy this book at:

Buy the e-book:

Kindle