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.
David Mitchell
David Mitchell is a British author known for his intricate narratives that blend multiple genres and styles. His most notable works include "Cloud Atlas," a novel that weaves together six interconnected stories spanning different time periods and genres, and "The Bone Clocks," a complex tale of immortality and destiny. Mitchell's literary style is characterized by his ability to seamlessly blend realism and fantasy, creating rich and immersive worlds for his readers. His contributions to literature include challenging traditional storytelling conventions and pushing the boundaries of genre fiction. "Cloud Atlas" is widely considered his most famous work, earning critical acclaim and a devoted following of readers. Mitchell's impact on the literary genre has been profound, inspiring other authors to experiment with structure and genre blending in their own works.
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