Preview
  • The Square Pegs

  • Some Americans Who Dared to Be Different
  • By: Irving Wallace
  • Narrated by: Joseph Courtemanche
  • Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (3 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Square Pegs

By: Irving Wallace
Narrated by: Joseph Courtemanche
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Irving Wallace herein presents the stories of “some Americans who dared to be different” - crackpots, perhaps, all of them, but also exceedingly diverting people to meet, know, and watch as they pursue their peculiar activities. This picturesque and wacky crew is brilliantly dealt with in these nine chapters:

  1. In Defense of the Square Peg
    Wherein we meet Wilbur Glenn Voliva, who believed the Earth was flat, and we learn the need for encouraging individualism and nonconformity.
  2. The King of 36th Street
    Wherein we meet Baron James A. Harden-Hickey, American ruler of Trinidad, who became an authority on the art of suicide.
  3. The Man Who Was Phileas Fogg
    Wherein we meet George Francis Train, millionaire member of the Commune, who was the first man to travel around the world in 80 days.
  4. The Free Lover Who Ran for President
    Wherein we meet Victoria Woodhull, stockbroker, spiritualist, and prostitute, who competed with Ulysses S. Grant for tenancy of the White House.
  5. The Forty-Niner Who Abolished Congress
    Wherein we meet Joshua Norton, self-appointed Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, who issued orders to Abraham Lincoln.
  6. The Lady Who Moved Shakespeare’s Bones
    Wherein we meet Delia Bacon, schoolteacher frustrated in love, who became the implacable enemy of the Bard of Avon.
  7. The Explorer of the Hollow Earth
    Wherein we meet John Cleves Symmes, hero of the War of 1812, who planned an expedition into the interior world through holes in the North and South poles.
  8. The Editor Who Was a Common Scold
    Wherein we meet Anne Royall, widow and author, who interviewed a chief executive while he was in the nude.
  9. The First in the East
    Wherein we meet Timothy Dexter, merchant prince and foe of grammar, who sent coals to Newcastle and published a book without punctuation.
©1957 David Wallechinsky (P)2021 David N. Wilson
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Square Pegs

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

A book of mini books!

This is a wonderful book with many mini historic stories. It’s super easy to listen and follow agin too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Fantastic and inspiring book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I enjoyed hearing about the people who embraced their individuality and tried to make an impact in a unique way. I find this inspiring to my own life, and how I should try to make a difference in some way or another as well. Great book, good job by both the author and narrator. Would recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!