Unruly

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What to expect

This will be the most refreshing, entertaining history of England you'll have ever read.

Certainly, the funniest.

Because David Mitchell will explain how it is not all names, dates or ungraspable historical headwinds, but instead show how it's really just a bunch of random stuff that happened with a few lucky bastards ending up on top. Some of these bastards were quite strange, but they were in charge, so we quite literally lived, and often still live, by their rules.

It's a great story. And it's our story. If you want to know who we are in modern Britain, you need to read this book.

Critics Review

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
Full of jokes and canny insights, 100 per cent sparkier and more revernt than your school textbooks
I
An enjoyable, rollicking read, definitely not a conventional history book
Sunday 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 knew
DAN SNOW, HISTORIAN AND BROADCASTER
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 funny
JESSE 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 Schama
Andrew Marr
A Peep Show history of England
Sunday Times
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 accomplishment
Gerard DeGroot, The Times
Chatty, irreverent and liberally sprinkled with gags and opinions. Horrible Histories with added swearing.
Guardian
I can’t recommend this book enough. Very funny and interesting, it is above all a proper work of history
Charlie Higson

User Reviews

Book 4.7
Narration 4.9
5.0
5.0
Wow! This is a look at all those historic figures, the Kings and Queens etc of times gone by. But it’s all written and presented through the unique perspective that is David Mitchell - and that is what elevates this book.
His quips tend to shed light on aspects that might otherwise be overlooked..
There is so much of interest in this book, you will be tempted to listen to it in one sitting. It is funny, horrifying (as history so often is) and without doubt, 100% engaging.
misdirect 03/12/2025
5.0
5.0
Extremely informative and witty!! Whilst the topic is for the most part deemed irrelevant by the author, I hope for a sequel.
Anneka 30/10/2025
4.0
5.0
Mars Aquila 20/07/2025
5.0
5.0
Kiks 10/06/2025
4.0
5.0
Funny, interesting and excellently narrated
Addy 25/01/2025
5.0
5.0
GaelleK 16/12/2024
5.0
5.0
alisonleeper 01/12/2024
5.0
5.0
Chris.Wright 01/10/2024
4.0
5.0
jonosdsutton 25/09/2024
5.0
5.0
I really enjoyed David's comedic style to tell such a blood thirsty time in history.
Jimjim31 08/09/2024
5.0
5.0
Who’s have thought kings could be fun… even with all the killing.
vincenze 21/07/2024
5.0
5.0
Ecellant
Ratnachuda 10/06/2024
3.0
5.0
emilypike 21/04/2024
5.0
5.0
Great book, listened again and again. Loved learning and laughing at the same time, such and easy and engaging listen
alavender 01/04/2024
5.0
5.0
pat512 20/02/2024
5.0
5.0
David has surpassed himself in this book. Totally irreverent, currently weaving topical events into his narrative. I wonder how they will pan out in 10 or 20 years time. Glorious exposé of our inglorious past. Well done ! ! !
Geoff Miles 25/01/2024
5.0
5.0
Which king exploded? What was the role of Gaviscon in the dark ages? I'm ready for my GCSEs!
TB 20/01/2024
5.0
4.0
bookwormchick99 02/01/2024

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