David Mitchell's "Unruly" stands out as a wonderfully narrated history of English monarchs from Arthur to Elizabeth I. It's incredibly funny, entertaining, snappy but, at the same time, light and easy to read. For people who don't know much of English history, it'll be a great way of learning about the monarchs in a funny way. As for history enthusiasts who know the majority of what the book tells us about, it'll be a new way of looking at some aspects of British history. "Unruly" feels like having a gossip with your friend about the neighbours, only they are kings and queens. That's the best part of it - you almost want to say: "Yes, what a dramatic bunch!". Overall, highly recommend to read!

David Mitchell is a man who, like Stephen Fry, appears to know a lot more than he actually does. He is a high priest of popular erudition - he reads really erudite people's work and makes it easily digestible, whilst using his dry wit to add some seasoning, if that isn't stretching a cookery metaphor too far. This is a book that canters through the middle age King of England, broadly around Alfred to Elizabeth I, in order and skims through their reigns, marking them as good/bad/evil/stupid or whatever. Occasionally he turns the lens on the present - was Mary's re-adoption of Catholicism a lesson in why reversing BREXIT is a bad idea? - but generally he does what David Mitchell does best. Writes as he speaks, ranting from time-to-time for comic effect, and tries to educate, entertain and inform like a BBC Radio 4 presenter ought to. It is easy to read, and worth the effort if you don't want wade into either a popular fiction tome on a narrow field ("How Edward the IV Changed the World" or some such nonsense), or an academic tome that assumes you read the footnotes. It is exactly what his publishers and this reader expected it to be. It will sell well, and be forgotten in a couple of years. It is none the worse for that.

This book had me howling most of the way though. I'm an advid history buff so to read it all like this was different, fresh brilliant. I will more than likely read it again. Note: the cover of the book pulled me in as soon as I saw it.

Upfront, I have to admit that I have been bannedn from reading this in bed, as my laughter was keeping Mrs awake! Wonderfully irreverant, brilliantly funny, but still informative, this has knocked all my recent history reads into a cocked hat! (Or a pointy metal hat!) Sorry Tracy Borman, but your Cromwell biography is relegated to second place! Written in Mitchell's trademark curmudgeonly style, he hits the spot just right when pointing out the absurdities of monarchy, without losing sight of the subjet matter, and the impact it has had on the national conciousness over the last 1,500 years. Whether you are a monarchist or not, this book is just a brilliant read, and serves as a reminder that the author is not just a guy from the TV who regularly gets baffled by Bob Mortimer!

(Signed hardback edition). Very interesting book that covers from "the mists of time" up until the end of Elizabeth I's reign. David is whitty and funny throughout, covering each monarch in detail. Context of events is also covered. Learned lots of new facts. Colour photographs are included within a few sections of photographic paper. Humor frequently made me chuckle. N.B. Swear words are found throughout this book. Great book overall.