Unruly - by David Mitchell (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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."--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Clever and amusing . . . gloriously bizarre . . . razor sharp . . . People who have never before picked up a history book will read and enjoy this one."--The Times

"Mischievous . . . astute and distinctive."--The Wall Street Journal

"David Mitchell brings a delightfully contrary and hilariously cantankerous eye to the history of the English monarchy, offering a jewel of an insight or a refreshing blast of clarifying wit on every page. Unruly is informative, illuminating, and very, very funny."--Jesse Armstrong, writer and creator of Succession

"A sardonic, endlessly funny update to the classic 1066 and All That."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

David Mitchell is a British comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality, part of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, best known in the U.S. for the TV cult classic Peep Show and the Ben Elton-penned historical comedy Upstart Crow, which also became a West End hit. He writes articles for The Guardian and Observer.