1066 and all that: A memorable history of England by W.C. SellarMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read this, I think from my school library, many years ago. On re-read, I realize that I don't know as much English history as I thought I did, and in particular I have a big gap in the 18th century, though I'm shaky on parts of the Middle Ages too.
What I do know helped me appreciate the cleverness of this book, which is supposed to represent what the average English person actually remembers from their school history lessons (as at circa 1930, at least). It satirizes the overly patriotic, not to say jingoistic, England-centric way that history was taught at the time; whether or not England is Top Nation is a point that keeps getting reverted to. I had to smile at the description of the Pope and all his followers seceding from the Church of England in the reign of Henry VIII.
The more you know about the subject matter, the funnier it will be.
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