1066 and All That
by W.C. Sellar, R.J. Yeatman
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 82)
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
people who are bad with dates
I've always enjoyed history, but I have a terrible head for dates, which has made life difficult for me in terms of studying the subject. Fortunately there is this book, which has pared down British history to approximately 115 pages and two dates, both of which are (as the authors promise) exceedingly memorable.
It's written in a jaunty, friendly tone that would have Strunk and White grabbing their heads and shouting, but is just about right for a history book which hits only the memorabl...more
It's written in a jaunty, friendly tone that would have Strunk and White grabbing their heads and shouting, but is just about right for a history book which hits only the memorabl...more
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Read in October, 1995
A blithe send-up of the sort of English history that was force-fed to generations of Britons. With test questions such as:
"Describe in excessive detail:
a) The advantages of the Black Death
b) The fate of the Duke of Clarence
c) A Surfeit"
In short, the more I read of British humor circa 1870-1960, the more I understand where Monty Python was coming from.
"Describe in excessive detail:
a) The advantages of the Black Death
b) The fate of the Duke of Clarence
c) A Surfeit"
In short, the more I read of British humor circa 1870-1960, the more I understand where Monty Python was coming from.
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recommends it for:
anglophiles
Everything wonderful about British humor: dryness, understatement, caustic wit...
When I read this book, I hear the Monty Python narrator in my head:
"Canute began by being a Bad King on the advice of his Courtiers, who informed him (owing to a misunderstanding of the Rule Britannia) that the King of England was entitled to sit on the sea without getting wet."
When I read this book, I hear the Monty Python narrator in my head:
"Canute began by being a Bad King on the advice of his Courtiers, who informed him (owing to a misunderstanding of the Rule Britannia) that the King of England was entitled to sit on the sea without getting wet."
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Read in November, 2007
This probably would have been funnier if I knew anything about British history. I think it's not the kind of book you want to read straight through, anyway; it would've done fairly well as a website one could just click through when one was bored.
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Like other American readers, I wish I had been schooled in England circa 1920 in order to get all the jokes in this fine piece of satire. Of course, for many other reasons, I am very glad I was NOT schooled in England circa 1920.
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I've read this book about a jillion times. It's *hilarious* in that dry British way. Might be hard to find, since it was published in the 30s, but it's Totally worth it.
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I thought this was a big disappointment. I kept hearing about how funny it was but I didn't laugh even ONCE. Richard Armour fans would like it though.
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Read in January, 2008
*snortgiggle* This was pretty damn fun. No recollection where I heard of it, but it was a quick and amusing read.
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