Popular European Biography Books
Find biography books written by authors from Europe for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge. (93)
71.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly : A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean-Dominique Bauby EN
FranceDescription:
A triumphant memoir by the former editor-in-chief of French Elle that reveals an indomitable spirit and celebrates the liberating power of consciousness. In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the father of two young children, a 44-year-old man known and loved for his wit, his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of the year he was also the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brainstem. After 20 days in a coma, Bauby awoke into a body which had all but stopped working: only his left eye functioned, allowing him to see and, by blinking it, to... continue
72.
The First and the Last by Adolf Galland EN
GermanyDescription:
"Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Gallnd (1912-1996) was a German Luftwaffe General and one of the greatest flying aces of World War II. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the defence of the Reich fronts. He survived being shot down four times and was credited with an astonishing 104 aerial victories, all of them against the Western Allies. He is a legend of aerial combat, and this is his heroic story."--Back cover.
73.
The Genius Under the Table : Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin EN
RussiaDescription:
Eugene Yelchin recounts growing up in Cold War Russia.
74.
The Hard Parts : A Memoir of Courage and Triumph by Oksana Masters EN
UkraineDescription:
“A gut-wrenching, wildly inspiring story about overcoming the most daunting obstacles through steely tenacity, sheer will, and a great big dose of motherly love.” —Jeannette Walls, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle An inspirational and powerful memoir from the United States’s most decorated winter Paralympic or Olympic athlete, The Hard Parts is Oksana Masters’s gripping account of overcoming extraordinary Chernobyl disaster–caused physical challenges to create a life that challenges everyone to push through what is holding them back. Oksana Masters was born in Ukraine—i... continue
Belarus76.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill EN
Country: Europe / 
Netherlands
Netherlands
Description:
Corrie ten Boom was a woman admired the world over for her courage, her forgiveness, and her memorable faith. In World War II, she and her family risked their lives to help Jews escape the Nazis, and their reward was a trip to Hitler's concentration camps. But she survived and was released--as a result of a clerical error--and now shares the story of how faith triumphs over evil. For thirty-five years Corrie's dramatic life story, full of timeless virtues, has prepared readers to face their own futures with faith, relying on God's love to overcome, heal, and restore. Now releasing in a thirty-... continue
77.
The King's Speech : How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue, Peter Conradi EN
Country: Europe / 
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Description:
One man saved the British Royal Family in the first decades of the 20th century - he wasn't a prime minister or an archbishop of Canterbury. He was an almost unknown, and self-taught, speech therapist named Lionel Logue, whom one newspaper in the 1930s famously dubbed 'The Quack who saved a King'. Logue wasn't a British aristocrat or even an Englishman - he was a commoner and an Australian to boot. Nevertheless it was the outgoing, amiable Logue who single-handedly turned the famously nervous, tongue-tied Duke of York into one of Britain's greatest kings after his brother, Edward VIII, abdicat... continue
78.
The Marriage Portrait : A novel by Maggie O'Farrell EN
IrelandDescription:
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court. "O’Farrell pulls out little threads of historical detail to weave this story of a precocious girl sensitive to the contradictions of her station ... You may know the history, and you may think you know what’s coming, but don’t be so sure." —The Washington Post Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable ... continue
79.
The Mechanic : The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane by Marc 'Elvis' Priestley EN
Country: Europe / United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Description:
In the high-octane atmosphere of the Formula One pit lane, the spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers. And yet, without the technical knowledge, competitive determination and outright obsession from his garage of mechanics, no driver could possibly hope to claim a spot on the podium. These are the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have critical consequences. That's not to say the F1 crew is just a group of highly skilled technical engineers, tweaking machinery in wind tunnels and crunching data through high-spec computers. These boys can seriously let their hai... continue
80.
The Nazis Knew My Name : A Remarkable Story of Survival and Courage in Auschwitz by Magda Hellinger, Maya Lee EN
SlovakiaDescription:
The extraordinarily moving memoir by Australian Slovakian Holocaust survivor Magda Hellinger, who saved an untold number of lives at Auschwitz through everyday acts of courage, kindness and ingenuity. In March 1942, twenty-five-year-old kindergarten teacher Magda Hellinger and nearly a thousand other young Slovakian women were deported to Poland on the second transportation of Jewish people sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The women were told they'd be working at a shoe factory. At Auschwitz the SS soon discovered that by putting Jewish prisoners in charge of the day-to-day running of... continue