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Unruly
- Author
- David Mitchell
- Narrator
- David Mitchell
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 28 September 2023
- Run Time
- 11 hours 40 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Rating
- 4.7 (18 reviews)
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What to expect
THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Read by David Mitchell.
A funny book about a serious subject, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how we got here - and who is to blame.
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*
'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
‘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
©2023 David Mitchell (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Critics Review
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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
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Full of jokes and canny insights, 100 per cent sparkier and more revernt than your school textbooks
I
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An enjoyable, rollicking read, definitely not a conventional history book
Sunday Times
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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
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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
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Mitchell clearly knows his history, with a book that owes as much to Monty Python as it does to Simon Schama
Andrew Marr
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A Peep Show history of England
Sunday Times
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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
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Chatty, irreverent and liberally sprinkled with gags and opinions. Horrible Histories with added swearing.
Guardian
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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
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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 2025-12-03 -
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 2025-10-30 -
4.0 5.0
Funny, interesting and excellently narrated
Addy 2025-01-25 -
5.0 5.0
I really enjoyed David's comedic style to tell such a blood thirsty time in history.
Jimjim31 2024-09-08
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5.0 5.0
Who’s have thought kings could be fun… even with all the killing.
vincenze 2024-07-21 -
5.0 5.0
Ecellant
Ratnachuda 2024-06-10 -
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 2024-04-01 -
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 2024-01-25 -
5.0 5.0
Which king exploded? What was the role of Gaviscon in the dark ages? I'm ready for my GCSEs!
TB 2024-01-20
Details
- Author
- David Mitchell
- Narrator
- David Mitchell
- Duration
- 11 hours 40 minutes
- Release Date
- 28 September 2023
- ISBN
- 9780241605929
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- European history, Biography: royalty, Collected biographies, Humour
- Rating
- 4.7(18 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.9(18 reviews)
Synopsis
THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERRead by David Mitchell.A funny book about a serious subject, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how we got here - and who is to blame.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*'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‘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©2023 David Mitchell (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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