Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens
Ratings49
Average rating4.1
A rollicking history of England’s earliest kings and queens, a story of narcissists, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and more, from award-winning British actor and comedian David Mitchell.
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 to us today in their portraits.
Taking us right back to King Arthur (he didn’t exist), Mitchell tells the founding story of post-Roman England right up to the reign of Elizabeth Ⅰ (she dies), as the monarchy began to lose its power. It’s a tale of bizarre and curious ascensions, inadequate self-control, and at least one total Cnut, 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 Mitchell answers with brilliance, wit, and the full erudition of a man who once studied history—and is damned if he’ll let it off the hook for the mess it’s made of everything.
A funny book that takes history seriously, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how the monarchy came to be—and who is to blame.
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This was fantastic! Not many History books can make you expel coffee through your nose....this one can! Whilst giving a good recounting off the Kings and Queens who ruled or maybe didn't from Celtic origins through to the end of the Tudors! Will be one I revisit frequently.
So, this wasn???t a bad overview of the concept of monarchy as it applies to the UK, which, arguably, has the most famous and most popular monarchy in the world at the moment. Mitchell digs into how UK monarchy got set up in the first place, and where its roots actually lie: not in anything so grand as the legend of King Arthur or in the divine right of kings, but just people trying to cobble together a (relatively) sensible government out of anarchy. He argues that this might apply to monarchy in general, as a system, and therefore any crowned heads of state do not really deserve the immense respect they are granted in the present day. He aims this at the current UK royal family, but I can see this extending to other current monarchies elsewhere, and not just in Europe.
One thing that might not sit right with readers is the author???s politics. He considers himself left-of-center, but there are moments when his stance will either chafe at the reader, or enrage entirely. I also suspect some readers might think he???s too cynical in parts, while others might argue he???s not being cynical enough. I personally found his stances mostly tolerable, though there were moments when they made me a mite twitchy.
Overall, this wasn???t a bad read; the author???s done his research, and he lays out the history of the early UK monarchy in a way that I found entertaining and interesting enough to get through. However, he???s also very clear about his politics, so YMMV on whether or not you can tolerate his writing.
