It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History

"Happily ever after" did not happen for the 13 couples in this book. Starting with Nero and Poppaea Sabina, winding through the ages to describe the breakups of couples, such as English King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, it is a veritable Who's Who of bad relationships. There are some unbelievable stories here about famous, creative personalities who lived at the edge of society's mores. These rulers, artists, and writers were already larger-than-life, but heartbreak does not distinguish among the rich, poor, and eccentric. Whether their culture tolerated cruelty that was not acceptable in many other time periods (Nero and Poppaea Sabina), condemned homosexuals to a prison sentence or worse (Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas), or even tolerated their bizarre behavior (Oskar Kokoschka and Alma Mahler), each breakup left its mark on the individuals involved. For teens who know their history of popular and literary culture, this book will be a light and breezy read. The author peppers comparisons with contemporary figures, which may motivate readers to head to the nearest Wikipedia article to learn more. There are many interesting rumors, facts, and stories here that certainly can encourage further research into the complete history.