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Unruly: The Number One Bestseller ‘Horrible Histories for grownups’ The Times Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 5,641 ratings

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A funny book about a serious subject, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how we got here - and who is to blame.

'Clever, amusing, gloriously bizarre and razor sharp. Mitchell – a funny man and skilled historian – tells stories that are interesting and fun. Here is Horrible Histories for grownups’ GERARD DEGROOT, THE TIMES

'Just fantastic. Delightfully contrary and hilariously cantankerous. Very, very funny’ JESSE ARMSTRONG, CREATOR OF SUCCESSION AND PEEP SHOW
'Clever, funny. Makes you think quite differently about history’ DAN SNOW, HISTORIAN AND BROADCASTER

----

Think you know your kings and queens? Think again.

Taking us right back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist),
Unruly 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, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and at least one total Cnut.
How this happened, who it happened to and why it matters in modern Britain are all questions David 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.
*The Times Number One Bestseller October 2023*

----
‘An
enjoyable, rollicking read, definitely not a conventional history book’ THE TIMES
Chatty, irreverent and liberally sprinkled with gags and opinions. Horrible Histories with added swearing’ GUARDIAN

'Mitchell clearly knows his history, with a book that owes as much to Monty Python as it does to Simon Schama' ANDREW MARR, BROADCASTER

'Who knew a history of England's rulers could be this hilarious?' i

'I can’t recommend this book enough. Very funny and interesting, it is above all a proper work of history' CHARLIE HIGSON

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Popular highlights in this book

From the Publisher

The No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller

Sunday Times

David Mitchell

Funny, Fizzing, Entertaining

Horrible Histories
quote

Product description

Review

Clever, amusing, gloriously bizarre and razor sharp. Mitchell - a funny man and a skilled historian - tells stories that are interesting and fun. His rants alone are worth the price of the book. And amid all the jokes and delightful nonsense, Mitchell sneaks in a serious message about English identity. Here is Horrible Histories for grownups - stripped of their finery, devoid of reverence, UNRULY's monarchs emerge as mortals with ordinary flaws. I learnt a lot and laughed a lot, and people who have never before picked up a history book will read and enjoy this one. That's an accomplishmentGerard DeGroot, The Times

I don’t think anyone other than David Mitchell could have written this book. It’s clever, funny and makes you think quite differently about history we thought we knewDAN SNOW, HISTORIAN AND BROADCASTER

A Peep Show history of EnglandSunday Times

An enjoyable, rollicking read, definitely not a conventional history bookSunday Times

Unruly is part Horrible Histories part jolly romp guided by Alan Bennett. Perhaps this is how history should be done: not by patient scholars, but by free-swearing actor-comedians cramming more ideas and jokes into their pages than many professionals have committed to print in their careers.Guardian

By turns fascinating and funny - there is a jewel of an insight or a refreshing blast of clarifying wit on every page. David brings a delightfully contrary and hilariously cantankerous eye to the history of the English Monarchy. Informative, illuminating and very very funnyJESSE ARMSTRONG, CREATOR OF SUCCESSION AND PEEP SHOW

Mitchell clearly knows his history, with a book that owes as much to Monty Python as it does to Simon SchamaAndrew Marr

Chatty, irreverent and liberally sprinkled with gags and opinions. Horrible Histories with added swearing. Guardian

Full of jokes and canny insights, 100 per cent sparkier and more revernt than your school textbooksI

I can’t recommend this book enough. Very funny and interesting, it is above all a proper work of historyCharlie Higson

From the Back Cover

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A funny book about a serious subject, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how we got here - and who is to blame.

'Clever, amusing, gloriously bizarre and razor sharp. Mitchell – a funny man and skilled historian – tells stories that are interesting and fun. Here is Horrible Histories for grownups’ GERARD DEGROOT, THE TIMES

'Just fantastic. Delightfully contrary and hilariously cantankerous. Very, very funny’ JESSE ARMSTRONG, CREATOR OF SUCCESSION AND PEEP SHOW

'Clever, funny. Makes you think quite differently about history’ DAN SNOW, HISTORIAN AND BROADCASTER

----

Think you know your kings and queens? Think again.

Taking us right back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist), Unruly 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, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and at least one total Cnut.

How this happened, who it happened to and why it matters in modern Britain are all questions David 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.

*The Times Number One Bestseller October 2023*

----

‘An enjoyable, rollicking read, definitely not a conventional history book’ THE TIMES
‘Chatty, irreverent and liberally sprinkled with gags and opinions. Horrible Histories with added swearing’ GUARDIAN

'Mitchell clearly knows his history, with a book that owes as much to Monty Python as it does to Simon Schama' ANDREW MARR, BROADCASTER

'Who knew a history of England's rulers could be this hilarious?' i

'I can’t recommend this book enough. Very funny and interesting, it is above all a proper work of history' CHARLIE HIGSON

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C4GM5KSX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 28 Sept. 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 25.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 430 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1405953207
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: 166 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 5,641 ratings

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David Mitchell
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
5,641 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-researched and informative, with a marvelous sense of humor that makes it a laugh-out-loud read. The historical content receives mixed reactions - while some appreciate the brilliant run through the stories, others find it confusing to follow. Customers describe the book as enlightening and interesting, though some find it boring at times.

237 customers mention ‘Readability’187 positive50 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well worth reading, with one customer noting its well-researched content.

"Great book and very funny, but also erudite and informative. Not sure it has to be so rude, but still well written." Read more

"...Book speeds up towards the close and becomes sketchy, but overall a good read. Can’t believe he didn’t know Sorrento had an old harbour!" Read more

"...Thanks David, a great read" Read more

"...The prose does not flow. Crude language is used throughout in an unfunny and unnecessary way. I’m not sure I learnt many facts I didn’t already know...." Read more

200 customers mention ‘Humor’172 positive28 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as a laugh-out-loud read with a marvellous sense of humor.

"This has been passed round everyone in the family. Well written and funny, David Mitchell is really witty...." Read more

"...Funny!" Read more

"Great book and very funny, but also erudite and informative. Not sure it has to be so rude, but still well written." Read more

"...That was well thought through, original informative and entertaining. Do that and you’ll save yourself many hours of indifference." Read more

29 customers mention ‘Enlightenedness’29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening, describing it as interesting and revealing, with one customer noting how it brought historical figures to life in a wonderful way.

"...The book was informative and interesting and now and again bordered on being serious...." Read more

"Interesting and funny. If you like history you’ll enjoy this book. David Mitchell at his irreverent best. A great Christmas gift!" Read more

"...I loved the list of monarchs and the maps at the start, always useful for context. Particularly interesting though were the family trees...." Read more

"...a don’t-take-history-too-seriously attitude, that is extremely refreshing. This is David Mitchell as we know him! Wonderful stuff!" Read more

37 customers mention ‘Historical content’12 positive25 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the historical content of the book, with some praising its brilliant run through royal stories while others note that the narrative gets murky and confused.

"...The problem is that the jokes are too long winded and get in the way of the narrative...." Read more

"...I got annoyed by the jokes and confused trying to follow the history. Feels a lot like this is a money grab type of book...." Read more

"...I loved the list of monarchs and the maps at the start, always useful for context. Particularly interesting though were the family trees...." Read more

"...The book was informative and interesting and now and again bordered on being serious...." Read more

24 customers mention ‘Rambling content’5 positive19 negative

Customers find the book's content rambling and boring at times, with one customer noting it contains too many profanities.

"...just going through every king and queen, but it feels like it gets boring pretty quick...." Read more

"...It just comes across as a bit childish, amateur, he can't really be bothered to make the effort...." Read more

"This would have been an impossibly dull read without David Mitchell’s brilliantly humorous and entertaining slant...." Read more

"...unmercyfully rips apart some of our most woeful monarchs with humerous criticism and fruity language which causes much hilarity...." Read more

Good read but...
3 out of 5 stars
Good read but...
The historical facts and witty comments are great. From that point of view it's a warm hearted and fascinating read. However, the book is spoiled by personal opinion surrounding modern day politics and slagging off anyone who has a difference of thought on matters such as covid; totally unnecessary. Otherwise I would have happily scored 5 stars
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2025
    A complex history analysed and simplified with superb wit and insight. David Mitchell describes the futility and ridiculous nature of Kingship with his usual sharp and pedantic insights. I hear his voice as I read, and can feel his frustrations and joy unpicking all the crazy exploits.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2024
    I'd been recommended this book and, as I enjoy the humour of the author, was looking forward to reading it.
    The idea of the book is to look at the English Kings (and occasional Queen) starting as far back as possible and ending with Elizabeth I.
    The introduction is interesting (always a good start) as David Mitchell introduces the idea of how the English people view the monarchy. I noted this had been written recently as there are references to King Charles III.
    This book was first published in 2023. There are 403 pages, if you include a "Bookend" chapter at the end - the chapter cover 39 monarchs with the first few chapters grouping a few together.
    You can definitely hear the voice of the author coming through in the writing. It's familiar and conversational in a style more commonly used in an autobiography - I thought this made the book very easy to read.
    I loved the list of monarchs and the maps at the start, always useful for context. Particularly interesting though were the family trees. We are always taught about 1066 onwards but rarely look at the periods before that so it's great to see the names and their connections.
    The book starts after the Romans and the narrative gets murky/confused for the first couple of chapters. To be fair to the author he is working through a period of history that is also very murky. He makes good efforts to pull together some basic facts in a comedic way then moves on.
    Once the Viking invade then the history becomes more familiar to both author and reader which makes everything more comfortable. Jokes generally need to be about something recognisable to make them funny and the narrative gets funnier as we progress through the book.
    The style of the book is very much like a Bill Bryson book - lots of research and lots of facts, all presented in an accessible way with plenty of humour.
    When we get to the Plantagenets the story gets muddled again and I suspect David Mitchell didn't enjoy this section. Henry Tudor eventually takes over and we are all then back on familiar ground again (bring on the jokes!).
    20 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 June 2025
    Irreverent and light hearted, the history of British monarchies made easy-to-understand whilst being comical although always accurate and well researched!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2025
    I'm tempted to try to offer a review well above my station here! One of parallel humour and with a relaxed new republicans sentiment. Thanks Mr M for an easy to read well balanced but light touch of British historical reference. I enjoyed its content and its not too deep storyline. It is said that all men are equal. As long as we just say that we believe it then it will never be the case. As you say statistically speaking we must all have at least a touch of royal blood! Can we choose the source? Ironically most I think would choose either Henry V111 or either of our two great Elizabeths! 😊 Thanks David.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2024
    Well I’ve finished it eventually by resorting to listening to DM reading his book. It’s not an easy read. The prose does not flow. Crude language is used throughout in an unfunny and unnecessary way. I’m not sure I learnt many facts I didn’t already know. It skates over many events and I’m not sure what he thought the purpose of the book was for. The White Ship by Charles Spencer is a much more informative read. If you want one chapter to read that is enlightening then read the last chapter Bookend about the importance of Shakespeare and the relative unimportance of monarchs. That was well thought through, original informative and entertaining. Do that and you’ll save yourself many hours of indifference.
    29 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 April 2025
    Well written if you laugh at his humour you’ll enjoy it. If you don’t it will be more of a trial. Certainly a different take upon those who have become the Kings and Queens along with a not quite orthodox view of where their authority both moral and legal derives from.
    The only downsides is there is a lot to get in so not all is as in depth as you would want.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2025
    Makes those boring lists of dates and names interesting and amusing. I was a bit sceptical about his humour in the past (appearances on "Would I Lie to You?" excepted) but now have to rate myself a fan.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 July 2025
    Never thought I would find History interesting, but this book does the job and some.
    I have found an author to subscribe to.
    How refreshing in this digital age.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • James
    4.0 out of 5 stars El titulo es apropriado.
    Reviewed in Spain on 18 October 2023
    El libro contiene muchos comentarios divertidos sobre los personajes y sigo leyéndolo gustosamente.
    Sin embargo, la copia que yo he recibido, tiene una lista de 56 ilustraciones que figura en las paginas 408 al 410, donde están ordenadas en secuencia y por numeros, pero las ilustraciones están en tres lugares distintas y no están en secuencia. totalmente desordenadas e.j. el 1y el 2 están seguidas por el 19 al 24 y la pagina siguiente tiene el 6 al 9, seguido poe el 29 al 32 y la próxima pagina muestran el 14 al 15.
    Todos en color y de alta calidad.
    Algo estraño. Tal vez otra broma del autor ;)
    James
    Report
  • Ewan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and enjoyable read
    Reviewed in Canada on 27 June 2025
    So funny. I can almost hear him reading it in my head. But you have to be a Brit or have knowledge of British culture/politics to understand some of the humour. But I’d recommend it to anyone who is curious about ‘English’ kings and wants a laugh.
  • Suprio ghosh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
    Reviewed in India on 23 May 2025
    A wonderful take on British history. Full of humor. Like, Aethelwold could be the name of an artisanal cheese! .A great way to get introduced to the history of the country
  • De Pauw
    4.0 out of 5 stars History in a funny way
    Reviewed in Belgium on 27 May 2025
    Great reading
  • Marga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Typisch Mitchel
    Reviewed in Germany on 26 June 2025
    Man hoert ihm reden beim lesen. Interresant und lustig

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