“Do you ask yourself why the Normans fought the Saxons at a place called Battle? Did they see the road signs and just think that was where they were supposed to go?” When I saw that at the back of John O’Farrell’s book, An Utterly Impartial History of Britain (a.k.a 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge), I knew I had to buy it.
The RM 30 clearance sale price tag did play a big part in having me bring the book to the cashier. And did I mention that the tag line was 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge? LOL
If you can’t tell from the title, the book presents a tongue in cheek and comedic turn on the history of the British Isle right from ancient Britain (and the Romans), to the Dark Ages and all the way to World War 2. While the book makes fun of pratically anyone dead and buried (the author did say there were no sacred cows) it is guilty of being overbearing at times and (at times..again) is anything but the accessible history of Britain he promised.
Now I know where the Saxons from the word Anglo-Saxon came from, but where the heck Anglo came from? Anyways, what do you expect from comedy. If you like your history laced humourous anecdotes and seemingly irrelevant notes (I can’t wait to read on what he has to say on the Tudors), this is the book for you. And one things for sure, unlike any history book I’ve read, this won’t be putting you to sleep.
