Author:John O'Farrell
Many of us were put off history by the dry and dreary way it was taught at school. Back then 'The Origins of the Industrial Revolution' somehow seemed less compelling than the chance to test the bold claim on Timothy Johnson's 'Shatterproof' ruler.But here at last is a chance to have a good laugh and learn all that stuff you feel you really ought to know by now...
In this 'Horrible History for Grown Ups' you can read how Anglo-Saxon liberals struggled to be positive about immigration; 'Look I think we have to try and respect the religious customs of our new Viking friends - oi, he's nicked my bloody ox!'Discover how England's peculiar class system was established by some snobby French nobles whose posh descendents still have wine cellars and second homes in the Dordogne today. And explore the complex socio-economic reasons why Britain's kings were the first in Europe to be brought to heel; (because the Stuarts were such a useless bunch of untalented, incompetent, arrogant, upper-class thickoes that Parliament didn't have much choice.)
A book about then that is also incisive and illuminating about now, '2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge', is an hilarious, informative and cantankerous journey through Britain' fascinating and bizarre history.As entertaining as a witch burning, and a lot more laughs.
A genuinely terrifying insight into how execution squads now stalk Baghdad targeting people who helped the coalition forces ... An encounter with a suicide bomber is truly harrowing but Ashcroft somehow manages to blend stark realism with gallows humour ... Edge of the seat stuff.
—— News of the WorldReaders who like big guns and adrenaline-buzzed adventure will love the second outing for Ashcroft and co-writer Clifford Thurlow ... Nuggets of political insight are woven through this page-turning adventure that is head and shoulders above the other military memoirs hitting the shelves
—— London LiteStefan Aust is well placed to write the history of the most notorious of several terrorist groups
—— Michael Burleigh , Sunday TelegraphStephen Aust's meticulously researched chronicle of German left-wing terrorism
—— Philip Oltermann , GuardianMeticulous history of the most famous German terrorist group
—— Dominic Sandbrook , Daily TelegraphStefan Aust chronicles in thorough and fast-paced detail the short but dramatic history of these violent, urban revolutionaries... His account is unique
—— New York Times Book ReviewStefan Aust has written as fine a book of its kind as this reader has had the pleasure of devouring into the small hours. The publishers liken it to a political thriller; it is all that, and a political chiller to boot
—— Irish TimesA gripping and graphic account... cool, objective... convincing
—— Times Literary SupplementAn excellent investigation
—— Times Educational SupplementWell researched ... Helen Rappenport successfully evokes the claustrophobic atmosphere within the house
—— Saturday TelegraphThe appalling end of the last Romanov and his enchanting family is well described by Helen Rappaport ... Utilising sources only recently accessible, she traces the story from abdication to slaughter, including much fascinating detail...
—— Literary ReviewRappaport exhumes the last days of the Romanovs and, relying on archival sources and neglected memoirs, tries to offer the most up-to-date account possible... Vivid...
—— Scotland on SundayEminently readable but still fastidiously researched, no compromising on scholarly or evidence-based investigation... There is a very powerful sense that you are reading the words of someone who is witnessing the sights and sounds of the place first hand, is returning to primary sources and conjuring up the atmosphere with an accomplished writer's eye. The trouble with reading any book about the Romanovs is the sure and certain knowledge of how it will end, yet despite this the book feels fresh and spell-binding ... Compelling reading
—— dovegreyreader.comUtterly absorbing, a really good read, sensitive and balanced and surely the definitive last word on the subject
—— Dr Harry Shukman, Emeritus Fellow of Modern Russian History, St Antony’s College OxfordRappaport narrates her story in an original fashion, focusing on the final two weeks inside the Ipatiev House before the murders
—— Times Literary SupplementBrilliantly shows how history is never simple but always enthralling when written with this style
—— The BooksellerExtraordinary and powerful ... Having uncovered enlightening new sources, Rappaport has produced a highly accessible account of the last 14 days in the lives of the former tsar Nicholas, his wife Alexandra and their children
—— Western Daily PressRiveting account of turbulence, social upheaval and murder in early 20th-century Russia, which draws on new evidence uncovered in the icy, remote city where Tsar Nicholas and his family met their bloody deaths. Juxtaposing fascinating domestic details with analysis of the international political scene, the author strips away the romance of their incarceration and the mythology surrounding their murders to reveal an extraordinary human situation and its seismic worldwide repercussions
—— Sainsbury’s MagazineRappaport precisely imagines those last few days ... As the pages turn quickly towards an end that is never in doubt, a picture emerges of a devout, loving and rather commonplace family
—— Waterstone’s Books QuarterlyThe great strength of Rappaport's book is her tight focus on the royal family's final three months in the Iaptiev House... She has told the human story, and the truly appalling tale of what man can do to man
—— Independent (Ireland)A tragic and thrilling account ... Ekaterinburg is really a twofold triumph for Helen Rappaport ... On top of the impressive level of research that Rappaport has conducted in order to produce Ekaterinburg, she also has an excellent and engaging writing style and succeeds in maintaining the tension and mood throughout ... Gritty and compelling
—— suite101.com