Project Gutenberg 1997-07-01 Public domain in the USA. 244 Gordon, Irwin Leslie 1888 1954 Gordon, I. L. (Irwin Leslie) Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date Biographical Dictionary of the Famous and Those Who Wanted to Be Produced by Charles Keller, and David Widger "Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date" by Irwin Leslie Gordon is a biographical dictionary edited in the early 20th century. This collection contains humorous and satirical profiles of historically significant figures, blurring the lines between notable and obscure individuals who shaped history with their deeds or aspirations for fame. The opening of this work features an intriguing introduction by the editor, setting the tone for the entire collection. It outlines the criteria for inclusion—only deceased individuals who can prove their passing are entertained, and it includes whimsical and quirky entries that characterize various famous personalities throughout history. From biblical figures like Adam and Abraham to iconic historical heroes like Julius Caesar and Joan of Arc, each biography mixes satire with fact, delivering entertaining critiques of their lives and legacies. The light-hearted and irreverent style hints at a broader commentary on fame, success, and the passage of time, making the opening portion an engaging invitation to explore the amusing and often absurd realities of those who were—or wished to be—"somebody." (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 69.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en American wit and humor Parodies Biography -- Humor PN Text Biographies Category: Humour Category: Biographies 186972 2025-07-01T07:53:06.247145 text/html 182867 2017-12-13T04:25:16 text/html; charset=us-ascii 65910 2017-12-13T04:25:32 text/html; charset=us-ascii application/zip 148069 2025-07-01T07:53:12.348093 application/epub+zip 150246 2025-07-01T07:53:09.130097 application/epub+zip 135323 2025-07-01T07:53:08.036099 application/epub+zip 315300 2025-07-01T07:53:14.797077 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 293063 2025-07-01T07:53:11.669108 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 279418 2022-09-01T09:02:36.166796 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 154693 2025-07-01T07:53:05.844146 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 154561 2017-12-13T04:25:14 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 62697 2017-12-13T04:25:32 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 18773 2025-07-01T07:53:14.919089 application/rdf+xml 15270 2025-07-01T07:53:08.525119 image/jpeg 3769 2025-07-01T07:53:08.278124 image/jpeg 144053 2025-07-01T07:53:06.261126 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog