A History of Britain in Ten Enemies
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Toby Longworth
-
By:
-
Terry Deary
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
A ridiculously funny history of Britain for adults from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories, perfect for fans of Unruly by David Mitchell.
Ah, Britain. So special. The greatest nation on earth, some say. And we did it all on our own. Didn’t we?
As it happens Britannia got its name from the Romans, and for the past two centuries we have been ruled by Germans. As Horrible Histories author Terry Deary argues, nations and their leaders are defined by the enemies they make.
- Elizabeth I would count as a minor royal without the Spanish Armada
- Without the Nazis, Churchill would be remembered as an opposition windbag
- The surprisingly sadistic Boudica would be forgotten if it weren't for the Roman Ninth Legion
And after all, every nation sometimes needs a bit of unifying Blitz spirit (although in an ideal world, we wouldn’t have accidentally let Corporal Hitler go in the first place).
The British have a proud history of choosing their enemies, from the Romans to the Germans. You might even say those enemies made Britain what it is today...
A History of Britain in Ten Enemies is a witty, whistlestop tour of British history that will have you laughing as you find out what they didn't teach you in school.
'If you could take just one history book to a desert island, this would be it. Laugh out loud funny... Pure joy' Conn Iggulden
'Ram-packed with mind-blowing facts, hilarious characters, and little-known tales' Dan Schreiber
'Playful, cheeky, and very clever, this is a book for anyone who ever wished there was a Horrible Histories for grown-ups' Kate Lister
What listeners say about A History of Britain in Ten Enemies
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. D. J. Narey
- 17-12-24
The guy’s not a fan …
This book can be quite comic at times, but usually in a pretty juvenile way that means you can see the “puns” coming a mile away. Historically, it is probably fairly accurate (I’m no historian so can’t make a claim) but, like all history, it is written with a certain perspective - sadly this one is the perspective of someone who dislikes the British, and positively hates the English. Never a chance is missed to degrade the achievements of the British, nor one to extol the virtues of any enemy. Basically my advise is that the buyer should beware - if you too hate the English, then this is the author for you. Choose wisely.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- S Westwood
- 26-12-24
Don’t except to learn much
This book is intended to introduce people to important periods of British history, so those with even a mediocre knowledge would be disappointed. What was distracting to the point of irritation is that Deary wastes no opportunity to push a certain anti-British agenda. Sometimes this is justified, but other times not. In fact, most of the time it comes across as though nothing Britain has ever done is of any merit. If he does depart by saying something positive it’s said so begrudgingly or is downplayed. Yes, I know he enjoys subverting the typical narrative we’re told at school (which is why I bought the book), but this is different. In the epilogue, rather than encourage newcomers to these shores to embrace shared British values. It’s something that ought to be discouraged or at the very least we should welcome the dilution of these values.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael Boultby
- 05-11-24
Preechy rather than entertaining
Some interesting lesser known stories. However, there is a thinly veiled agenda throughout the book which is made oh so clear in the ranting epilogue with the author clearly wanting a soapbox to preach to anyone who doesn't agree with his worldview.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Stephen Marshall
- 26-10-24
Shallow and superficial.
Firstly don’t be fooled, not particularly funny. Second, it is suffused with shallow analysis and biased evidence based on such cheap techniques as quote mining. It ignores any genuine complexity in favour of asserting its particular bias and totally fails to ask, let alone answer why. Finally it completely fails to put itself into the position of all involved in the times described.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Freneticmonk
- 12-10-24
Mildly entertaining.
Once you get over the author’s political bias, this is a nice synopsis of English history. The only downside to the audio book was the reader. The comedic timing just wasn’t there. At times it was painful to listen to. Next time, choose someone who can a least effectively tell a joke.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sebastian D'Anconia
- 21-12-24
A childish political treatise hidden in a history book.
I pre-ordered this book with exciting but DNF. An excellent concept made unbearable by a snooty, holier than thou writing style. Only book I read this year that was truly difficult to tolerate.
Reads like someone writing a history about a country they hate and trying to hide it poorly.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Steve
- 19-11-24
Great British History Lesson with added dry humour
A lovely listen, educational and full of dry British humour with a few new angle’s revealed on the major events in British history
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- T. Howells
- 23-12-24
Basic factual errors spoil what could have been…
Basic factual errors spoil what could have been a lighthearted walk through British history.
There are several, but the most egregious and the moment that really took me out of the book was the repeated statement that James II was Charles II’s son rather than his brother. This really is basic stuff.
I grew up on Terry Deary - his Horrible History books fuelled my love of history. For that I’ll always be grateful, but this was a disappointment.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- DayleMinshull
- 19-12-24
Great book
Great book, it’s shows how stupid our history is. It shows that we haven’t changed after all these years and that we should be better. Great humour and a powerful message at the end. Brilliant Narrator I have listened to many of the books he has read. 5 out of 5.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!