So it's Christmastime and you're thinking about buying an eReader, like the Kindle, as a gift for someone in your life. If that someone is a History buff, why not load some great free oldies for your gift recipient? The Kindle, sold by Amazon.com, is one of the most popular eReaders, and many History titles are available as free eBooks.
History Buffs and eReaders – Kindle eBooks to Download
Fortunately, Amazon.com offers a wide selection of classic and new History eBooks for the Kindle. Unfortunately, many of the smaller university presses that produce many of the best scholarly monographs haven't converted texts to Kindle eBooks yet.
In addition, many of the older titles that have been converted cost money. While that's fine if you have a budget for titles, but if you want to load some free History eBooks here's a good, solid list of titles to consider.
Free History eBooks for eReaders – 1850s to 1920s
Most free History books are classics, compiled and "sold" for free by publishers looking to build a brand. Here are some classics you'll find, free, at the Kindle site:
- Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart - the story of a widow and her two-year-old daughter claiming 160 acres in western U.S. territory at the turn of the 20th century. Written as a series of letters by the author.
- Woman's Life in Colonial Days by Carl Holliday - published in 1922, this book compares the life of colonial women in the U.S. with women in the 1920s. A double primary source and a fascinating read.
- The Log Cabin Lady: An Anonymous Biography - imagine being raised on the frontier and suddenly being thrust into high society in Boston in the early 1900s. This anonymous biography of one society matron describes her experience rising through social classes at a time when manners displayed one's station.
- Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself by Harriet An Jacobs - Harriet Jacobs' autobiography is a well-known piece of "slave narrative," like Frederick Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The book gives the female perspective on slavery and is a compelling companion piece to Douglass' work, which is also available for free on Kindle.
Christmas Gifts and More for History Buffs
Looking for some free History eBooks that cover a broader scope? Try these titles:
- A Short History of the United States by Edward Channing - want a quick read from an early 20th century writer? This classic will please any History buff.
- The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - this clasFree German and French eBook Translations of A Christmas Carolsic from the 5th century B.C.E. chronicles the clash between Athens and Sparta.
- The French Revolution by Thomas Carlyle - this classic narrative, published in 1837, that brings the reader into the moment in the 1790s.
Load these seven titles on any Kindle and your Christmas gift recipient will be thrilled to have a reading list loaded and ready to go. In addition, look for other free History eBooks related to these from other websites compatible with the Kindle.
Need more gift ideas for History buffs? Check out Weird History Books for Christmas Gifts - Three Quirky Titles to "pick" the right History book. In addition, if you need a French or German translation of the classic "A Christmas Carol," read Free German and French eBook Translations of A Christmas Carol to learn where to download.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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