Unruly : the ridiculous history of England's kings and queens / David Mitchell
Material type:
TextPublisher: New York : Crown, 2023Copyright date: ©2023Edition: First editionDescription: 431 pages, 22 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps, genealogical tables ; 24 cmContent type: - text
- unmediated
- volume
- 9780593728482
- 0593728483
- Ridiculous history of England's kings and queens
- England's kings and queens
| Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Book
|
Main Library | NonFiction | 941.0099 M681 | Available | 33111011189855 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * A rollicking history of England's kings and queens from Arthur to Elizabeth I, a tale of power, glory, and excessive beheadings by award-winning British actor and comedian David Mitchell
"Clever, amusing, gloriously bizarre and razor sharp. Mitchell [is] a funny man and a skilled historian."― The Times
Think you know the kings and queens of England? Think again.
In Unruly, David Mitchell explores how early England's monarchs, while acting as feared rulers firmly guiding their subjects' destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky bastards who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear today in their portraits.
Taking us back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist), Mitchell tells the founding story of post-Roman England up to the reign of Elizabeth I (spoiler: she dies). It's a tale of narcissists, inadequate self-control, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and a few Cnuts, as the English evolved from having their crops stolen by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a divinely anointed king.
How this happened, who it happened to, and why the hell it matters are all questions that Mitchell answers with brilliance, wit, and the full erudition of a man who once studied history--and won't let it off the hook for the mess it's made.
A funny book that takes history seriously, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how the British monarchy came to be--and who is to blame.
"A tale of power, glory and gore from Arthur to Elizabeth I"--Dust jacket.
Includes bibliographical references (page 405) and index.
Pre-Willy -- Dukes of Hazard -- Here comes the reign again -- Everything's coming up roses.
In this hilarious book that takes history seriously, a British actor and comedian introduces England's earliest kings and queens, who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear today in their portraits, revealing a story of narcissists, inadequate self-control, excessive beheadings, uncivil wars and more.