Publisher's Synopsis
David Mitchell explores how England's monarchs, while acting as rulers firmly guiding their subjects' destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky sods who were mostly as silly in real life as they appear today in their portraits. Taking us back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist), David tells the founding story of post-Roman England up to Elizabeth I (spoiler: she dies). It's a tale of narcissists, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars and excessive beheadings, as the population evolved from having their crops nicked by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a divinely anointed king. How this happened, who it happened to and why it matters today are all questions David 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.
