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Everybody knows Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, drew that famous guy inside a circle, and-oh yeah-has something to do with that code, too. But what about the man behind the myth? Although he's incredibly famous for his artistic achievements, most people don't know much about this genius's life. 101 Things You Didn't Know about Da Vinci takes a fun, fresh look at the master, from his less-than-illustrious origins as an illegitimate child, to his later years hobnobbing with popes, dukes, and kings. This engaging volume is your ticket to all sorts of off-beat tidbits, including how and why: Leonardo developed a backwards writing code, to keep his ideas secret. The Italian military swiped the bronze for one of Leonardo's sculptures. Catholic monks filed a lawsuit against Leonardo over the Virgin of the Rocks. And more Full of the unexpected, this book takes you beyond the hearsay and hype, proving that when it comes to Leonardo Da Vinci, fact really is stranger than fiction! About The Author Shana Priwer has a bachelor's degree in Architecture, with a minor in Math and Art History, from Columbia University. She earned her Masters degree in Architecture from Harvard University, and she currently works as a software designer in the San Francisco Bay area. Dr. Cynthia B. Phillips is a scientist at the SETI Institute. She received her B.A. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics at Harvard University, and her Ph.D. in Planetary Science, with a minor in Geosciences, from the University of Arizona.