'A load of complete and utter brilliance: real history, yet really funny.' James Hawes, bestselling author of The Shortest History of England The first non-fiction book from the comedy legend - 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 interested in the story of the fabled English monarchy: from the b*stardly to the benevolent, brilliant to the brutal. In this wonderful new book, with the famous rhyme he learned at school as his trusty guide, Charlie takes the plunge into the storied history of this most treasured of institutions - introducing readers to every single ruler since poor Harold was shot in the eye at the Battle of Hastings. Bloody treachery? Check. Unruly incest? Check. Short parliaments? Check. A couple of Cromwells? Check.
A rip-roaring journey that takes in the Normans, Stuarts and Tudors, not to mention the infamous Blois (how can we forget them?), Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an utterly engrossing and grossly entertaining primer on who ruled when and why. - 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.