Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England’s Kings and Queens by David MitchellMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the expected history book that I hoped to read knowing how funny and clever David Mitchell can be. David Mitchell’s book is very funny from start to end, and does not avoid the odd expletive where he finds it appropriate. While I thought the use of some of the extreme swearwords hilarious at times, overall, for me there were times when it became overdone and would have been offensive to some readers. His opinions about so many British rulers are absolutely clear after a few chapters, whether it is the truth about mythical King Arthur, the Divine Right of Kings or right up to Elizabeth Ist and his revelations about many Anglo Saxons.
It was good to find his obviously keen respect for Shakespeare and Mitchell’s comments about Richard’s speech were so refreshing. As a stand-up, but well-informed, comedian’s approach this book was so entertaining and I enjoyed it immensely, with the few provisos above of course. Writing as a fan of David Mitchell’s TV and radio broadcasting appearances, and as someone who disliked the teaching of history during the 1950s and 60s, this book was a welcome and original change. The humour and language may be somewhat contemporary but it more than compensates for the rough ideas and information about English history I was left with at school. For me it will sit alongside ‘1066 and All That’ by W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman and be just as favoured.
