Mavericks: Lessons Of History's Most Extraordinary Misfits

Witty and engaging TikTok historian J Draper digs out unusual stories of individuals that have shaped the world, and discovers the lessons their unique experiences can teach us. Breaking away from history as told through the lens of kings, queens and nobles, this book instead lifts the lid on 24 fascinating stories of little-known underdogs, mavericks, trailblazers and oddballs.

Through these stories you will meet characters such as: Sabrina Sidney - an orphan who was kidnapped into a bizarre child-raising experiment Eleanor Rykener – a gender-bending sex worker from medieval England who spilled juicy gossip about her clients in the clergy Peter the Wild Boy – a child found living in the woods in Germany who was taken to the royal court in England Ellen & William Craft - a couple who escaped from slavery in the US by dressing Ellen as a white man William Buckland – the man who wrote the first account of a dinosaur – yet who also ate his way through the animal kingdom .

These poignant and often hilarious true stories show us that the world as we know it was built by a wider array of historical figures than we experienced in our schoolbooks.

Presented by Conway Hall.

This is an all ages event. Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.