Biography

A portrait of Al Capone, the most notorious gangster in American history. Includes photographs, films and interviews.

Tells the life story of nineteenth-century American writer Mark Twain, from his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri, to the fame and tragedies that shaped his adulthood.

Tells the story behind the creation of Google, the Internet search engine developed by Stanford University Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the late 1990s.

Towering over his countrymen, literally and figuratively, he virtually single-handedly modernized his immense nation. From 1696 to 1725, he ruled Russia with an iron hand, and his life and legacy have captivated generation after generation ever since.

Travels back to China's troubled feudal era to tell Confucius' dramatic story, from his impoverished childhood and down the long road to his years as a celebrated teacher. Reveals why his message of "five virtues" was not always accepted by the leaders of the day.

Take an astonishing journey into the heart of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization's secret world. From the beginning as Arab Afghans fighting under the banner of Islam in the 1980s to their involvement in present-day conflicts and terrorist attacks, examine the origins, aims, and history behind this infamous group. Delve into the personality of their leader Osama Bin Laden, and discover the reasons why he and his followers have become the implacable enemies of the United States.

Presents an introduction to French Impressionism, focusing on five artists, including Renoir, Monet, Degas, Pissarro, and Morisot, with excerpts from their letters and diaries, as well as critical interpretations of their lives and work.

Examines the life of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, drawing from Soviet archival film and a wealth of interviews, including a discussion with Mikhail Gorbechev, to reveal the atrocities of Stalin's twenty-nine-year reign of tyranny.

Recounts the life and conquests of twelfth-century Mongolian leader Genghis Khan.