rac·on·teur
rakˌänˈtər
noun
A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.
History is all too often presented as a boring compilation of dates and names to be memorized for no discernable reason. I don't see it that way at all. History's stories connect us through time and place, and allow us to take a long view of the geographic, economic, political, scientific and religious connections that form a culture or society. Understanding our past is how we understand who we are. That is why history matters. History is not just about things long ago and far away -- it's about what has brought us to where and what we are today, while guiding us to where we're going and what we can become.
And never is history easier to put into perspective than when told with a dash of spark and humor by one who truly loves sharing it.