Rebels, Pretenders and Imposters

by Clive Cheesman, Jonathan Williams

This illustrated and light-hearted volume tells the history of the tradition of pretence and rebellion through the remarkable stories of many individuals who have pictured themselves as kings, queens or presidents. Beginning with Greek and Roman pretenders, such as the Roman governor Posthumus who declared imself emperor in AD 260, the authors discuss the circumstances that have produced imposters and the means that they have used to cling to power or keep their hopes alive. More recent pretenders include usurper Henry IV, various Stuarts, a line that still produces `heirs' today, and numerous European claimants, including the famous case of Anna Anderson or Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

192 pages, Hardcover

Published December 31, 2000

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a lot of interesting stuff here, but I feel like that's my problem with this book - it's like the author just threw out a lot of cool information, skipping all over the place, with not a great degree of detail. Also, despite the title, he incudes a bunch of other information - dynastic (and other) succession, sovereignty, microstates, national legends, etc. His claim that much of these figures and incidents will be seen through the lens of material culture doesn't really bear out either - probably les than 10% and that mostly through coinage. He does cover a wide range of pretenders (largely Western), not just the well known (the Stuart pretenders to the British probably Crown, the False Dmitri, Perkin Warbeck, etc.), but also the fairly obscure (I didn't realize just HOW MANY people claimed to be the legitimate heir to the Byzantine Empire through the 20th Century) and "Nation as Pretenders" (including the Italian Lega Nord and the Belarus' nationalistic (shaky) identification with the medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania). While it's got some entertaining moments, this book seems only good for pulling out interesting factoids at a party. 2.5 stars.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting review of the concept or pretenders through history. Very detailed and I found it interesting but it would be difficult if you didn't have a good historical basis. For those that do however, this is a well written piece.

I received this book as part of a good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Daniel]

Cheesman and Williams are curators in the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum. In their wide-ranging survey, they examine a fascinating collection of misfits, frauds, losers who have still managed to hold our interest through the ages...

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting. A book of tales, some we've heard before, some with a surprise twist (it's not really as we thought it was), and some quite shocking.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating subject but the tone is a little over-studious and the prose quite leaden. Sorry.

[Elizabeth]

I find the material fascinating but the book seems a bit I don't know - pedantic? It was hard to read but it was thorough.