Title Statement |
Unruly: the ridiculous history of England's kings and queens / David Mitchell. |
Author |
Mitchell, David, 1974- |
Publication |
New York: Crown,2023. |
Edition |
First edition. |
Extent of Item |
431 pages, 24 pages of unnumbered plates |
ISBN |
9780593728482 (hardcover) |
Other Number |
pr07289663 |
General Notes |
"A tale of power, glory and gore from Arthur to Elizabeth I"--Cover. |
Contents |
Introduction --Part one. Pre-Willy --King Arthur --King King --King Ceolwulf of Northumbria --King Offa of Mercia --'King Hell, it's the 'King 'Kings! --King Alfred the Great --Kings Edward, Athelstan, Edmund, Eadred, Eadwig, Edgar and another Edward, and Queen Aethelflaed --King Aethelred the unready --See next you Tuesday --A pair of Cnuts --King Edward the confessor --King Harold of ... --... Hastings --Part two. The Dukes of Hazzard --King William I --King William II --King Henry I --King Stephen --King Henry II --King Richard I --King John --Part three. Here comes the reign again --King Henry III --King Edward I --King Edward II --King Edward III --King Richard II --Part four. Everything's coming up roses --King Henry IV --King Henry V --King Henry VI --King Edward IV --King Henry VI, the readeption --King Edward IV, alone at last --King Edward V --King Richard III --King Henry VII --King Henry VIII --King Edward VI --Lady Jane Grey --Queen Mary I --Queen Elizabeth I.. |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Summary |
"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."-- |
Subjects & Genres |
By Topic |
Courts and courtiers |
Monarchy--History |
Monarchy--History--England |
Monarchy--History--Great Britain |
Royal houses--England |
Royal houses--Great Britain |
By Location |
Great Britain--History |
Great Britain--History--Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 |
Great Britain--History--Medieval period, 1066-1485 |
Great Britain--Kings and rulers--Biography |
Great Britain--Kings and rulers--History |
Great Britain--Biography--Kings and rulers--Queens |
Great Britain--Kings and rulers--Queens--History |
Great Britain--Kings and rulers--Succession--History |
By Genre |
Biographies |
Personal narratives |