'Learned, entertaining and highly approachable' BOB MORTIMER 'A treat' ALICE LOXTON 'Five stars from me.' AL MURRAY An unmissable collaboration between two comedy legends - an irresistible, family-friendly deep dive into the murky lives of the British monarchy. Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee, Harry, Dick, John, Harry three. One, two, three Neds, Richard Two, Henries, four, five, six, then who? Charlie Higson has always been fascinated by the story of the monarchy: from the b*stardly to the benevolent, the brilliant to the brutal. In this wonderful new book, using the famous rhyme he learned at school as his trusty guide, Charlie takes us through the history of this bizarre and long-lasting institution, introducing readers to every single ruler since poor Harold got it in the eye at the Battle of Hastings (or did he?). Who were all these people, and what did they do? It's all here. Bloody treachery? Check. Unruly incest? Check.
A couple of Cromwells? Check. The War of Jenkins Ear? Sadly, for Robert Jenkins, check. A rip-roaring journey that takes in the Normans, Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians and Windsors, not to mention the infamous Blois (how can we forget them?), Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an utterly engrossing and grossly entertaining guide to who ruled when and whether they were any good at it. - Inspired by Charlie's hit podcast - a light-hearted, charming and insightful trawl through the familial backbone of British history - with guests including Tom Holland, James Hawes, Charles Spencer, Dan Jones, Ian Mortimer, Helen Carr, Tracy Borman, Julia Fox, Suzannah Lipscomb, Ian Hislop, Dan Snow, Alex Loxton, James Holland and Dominic Sandbrook - A brilliantly packaged and eye-catching new history book that will appeal to all ages and across a wide reading demographic - Chock-full of wonderful, originally commissioned illustrations of each monarch by a highly experienced artist - Wonderfully realised tone and narrative voice that takes the podcast style and turns it into an engaging and insightful history book - full of historical titbits, unknown facts and funny asides - Other potential elements: breakout fact boxes; end of chapter history quizzes (to test if the reader has been paying attention!); a Foreword by an historian/academic/celebrity historian/friend of the podcast; colour picture section that includes artwork showing key monarchs or other key moments throughout history - Backed by a creative and highly engaging multiplatform comms campaign and publishing strategy. Competition: Unruly; The Shortest History of England; A Short History of England; The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England; The Rest is History; Gimson's Kings and Queens. David Mitchell; James Hawes; Simon Jenkins; Ian Mortimer; Goalhanger Podscasts & Dr Tom Holland; Andrew Gimson.