Creator of Salon turns World War II into Pulp History

The books use the style of razzle-dazzle fiction and comics to interest youngsters in history.

The brother and sister team of David and Margaret Talbot,are the mild-mannered creators of a new book series called Pulp History, rip-roaring nonfiction tales with enough purple prose,gory illustrations and va-va-voom women to lure in even reluctant teenage male readers.

In Shadow Knights: The Secret War Against Hitler, one of two books in the series that Simon & Schuster released last month,a British spy named Harry Rée wrestles with a Gestapo agent: He gouged at one of the mans eyes,but it wouldnt come out. He tried to bite off his nose,but it was too tough. Then Rée shoved his forefinger into the Germans mouth,between his teeth and cheeks,and pulled up hard. The man squealed in pain and sent Rée flying over his head.

David Talbot explained: We definitely did not want to make history like spinach,good for you but boring. We wanted to do the stuff that wasnt good for you,with good guys,bad guys,blood,guts and sex.

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Yet the Talbots emphasised that their books strike a more complicated tone than the relentlessly heroic illustrated and cartoon histories written for children during the 1950s. Their photograph-rich volumes,a mix of text,boxed features and cartoons,are scrupulously researched and do not shrink from the corrupt political dealings,imperialist aims and ugly racism that frequently operated behind the highfalutin verbiage. They have social significance, said Margaret.

Both siblings are well-known figures in the publishing world. David,59,was the online pioneer who created Salon magazine in 1995. He stepped down as chief executive a decade later,and in 2007 wrote Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, which argues there are compelling reasons to believe in one of the conspiracy theories swirling around the assassinations of the president and his brother. Margaret,49,is a staff writer at The New Yorker and a former contributing writer at The New York Times magazine.

Their 160-page book,Devil Dog: The Amazing True Story of the Man Who Saved America, follows the exploits of the most decorated Marine of his day,Smedley Darlington Butler a name too good to be false. As for the lustily drawn women,Margaret said,Maybe its a cheap way to lure them in,but you have to compete with whats out there.