Although there's no question that war can bring out the worst in people, it can also inspire individuals to heights of courage, compassion, and desperation that are perhaps unattainable in times of peace. Illustrated with 16 pages of photos, this collection offers fascinating accounts of ordinary men and women swept up in the turbulence of conflict. Spanning the 18th century through the present, the 34 true stories include those of Edward Seager, who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade; Krystyna Skarbek, the quick-thinking SOE spy and saboteur known as Christine Granville during World War II; Laura Secord, who walked 20 miles to warn the British that American forces were invading Canada in the War of 1812; and Magdalene de Lancey, who tenderly nursed her dying husband at Waterloo.