Oddities

Published in 1928 by Rupert Gould, the first of two books featuring strange facts about natural history, animals, and lore, Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts is filled with odd tales that will delight and baffle. Readers will get small history lessons embedded in wondrous and curious tales about Nostradamus, the Aurora Islands, and the planet Vulcan. Part of the Loren Coleman Presents series from Cosimo Classics, as well as its sequel, Enigmas: Another Book of Unexplained Facts, Oddities will entertain readers of all types, but especially those interested in mythology, folktales, and cryptozoology. RUPERT T. GOULD (1890-1948) was a cryptozoology enthusiast, as evidenced by his books on the Loch Ness Monster and the Great Sea Serpent, as well as his books on unexplained facts. Though he was a career lieutenant commander in the British Royal Navy, Gould was best known for his contributions to marine horology. His work The Marine Chronometer was considered the authoritative text on marine timekeepers for more than 50 years. His other interests lay in science (he was a science educator on the BBC's children's hour; his lectures later became the book The Stargazer Talks), tennis (he umpired at Wimbledon), and radio. In 1947, Gould received a Gold Medal from The British Horological Institute in highest honor for his contributions to the field. He died in 1948 at 57 years of age.