If you know anything about David Mitchell, you’ll know what to expect from this book. And thankfully, it is exactly as I expected. A fun, funny, interesting exploration of English monarchs, with the occasional rant about some aspect of modern culture that I can entirely get behind.

Beginning with a brief look at the legendary origins of England’s monarchy, with figures like King Arthur and King ‘King’, Mitchell unpacks some of the fascinating stories of myth and fact with his classic wit and humour. Parts 2-4 of the book then trace each of England’s monarchs from King William I to Queen Elizabeth I.

Who wrote it

David Mitchell, who is quite happy to say throughout the book that he is not a historian. He is, however, a great writer and communicator. I listened to the audiobook that he narrates it, and I feel like that is the best way to consume this book.

Why I read it

I’ve been keen for a while to read this, mostly to hear Mitchell’s take. I’ve taken up more interest in recent years to understanding the history of Britain.

What I liked

I love his wit and humour. Overall, there is enough here to make you feel educated, but not too much that it feels overwhelming. A delightful read (or listen!)

What I didn’t

There’s very little I didn’t like. Perhaps in some of the middle chapters, my sense of the kings and their distinctives got a little blurry. At times, it feels like a bit of a rush through a number of figures. Hard to fault the book for that though. They need to be covered, and if there’s not much of interest to say, you can’t exactly make it up.

Major Takeaway

“He was predictable. That’s the key. It’s disappointing in a lover but, in a feudal overlord, it hits the spot.”

“I don’t know where the idea of Vikings having horns on their helmets came from, but it’s a brilliant one. In every possible way, other than the literal truth, they totally had horns on their helmets. Horned helmets was absolutely their vibe and I feel we all have a right to that deeper artistic truth. They had limited technology and manufacturing helmets was pretty tricky for them, I imagine, so putting horns on them wouldn’t have been workable, and wouldn’t have increased the functionality of the helmets, but I swear they’d have given it a go if they’d thought of it.”

Who should read it

Worth a read (or preferably a listen) for anyone with a remote interest in the history of England.