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133 reviews for:
52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn't Get Taught At School
James Felton
3.82 AVERAGE
133 reviews for:
52 Times Britain was a Bellend: The History You Didn't Get Taught At School
James Felton
3.82 AVERAGE
To be fair to the British education system, I did actually learn about some of these horrors at school, though, to be fair to Felton, not in quite these terms. And there were a fair few awfulnesses which were new to me.
I was brought up at a time when “but we gave them cricket!” was still thought an adequate comeback to “we slaughtered how many?”. I am delighted that there are people like Felton, and more serious historians, who are presenting the British past more honestly to the populace.
Some of the 52 listed terrible things ‘Britain’ did were in fact done by members of the ruling classes to other British people, and some are less outrageous in the context of their time, and what the governments of other nations were doing at the time. But overall, it’s a shameful, if amusingly presented list.
Each chapter is no more than a page long, so there is little depth, or seriousness, but it’s great to dip into. It’s a sort of Horrible Histories for grownups (and, to be fair to Terry Deary, The Barmy British Empire does cover a lot of what is in this book). Some of the 52 cartoons are more amusing/ relevant than others. It’s a fun read, but also educational.
All in all, Felton has done a good job. I’ve now put it in the downstairs loo now, to amuse and educate visitors.
I was brought up at a time when “but we gave them cricket!” was still thought an adequate comeback to “we slaughtered how many?”. I am delighted that there are people like Felton, and more serious historians, who are presenting the British past more honestly to the populace.
Some of the 52 listed terrible things ‘Britain’ did were in fact done by members of the ruling classes to other British people, and some are less outrageous in the context of their time, and what the governments of other nations were doing at the time. But overall, it’s a shameful, if amusingly presented list.
Each chapter is no more than a page long, so there is little depth, or seriousness, but it’s great to dip into. It’s a sort of Horrible Histories for grownups (and, to be fair to Terry Deary, The Barmy British Empire does cover a lot of what is in this book). Some of the 52 cartoons are more amusing/ relevant than others. It’s a fun read, but also educational.
All in all, Felton has done a good job. I’ve now put it in the downstairs loo now, to amuse and educate visitors.
informative
fast-paced
Terrible, terrible book. Not a all funny, not even that informative. It's just a list of tragedies, with no real commentary or insight. Calling someone a bellend for committing a genocide is tone deaf, as well as demeaning
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
Repackaging Sir Francis Drake as a state-sponsored pirate and murderer sounds about right.
James Felton is a funny writer, which is certainly saying something considering the material he has to work with here. Felton’s humour softens up these bites of history so that you come away informed but not so depressed and ashamed that you lose all hope in humanity. In fact, humanity is key in this book since Felton is always punching up, not down, laying his blows directly at the establishments that took advantage of the poor, foreign and working classes.
In the back matter are some snippets of another book of his about The Sun newspaper. Christ on a bike, that publication serves up a lot of hate. Much as with this Bellend book, Felton delivers his punches upwards. I plan to read that book next, but not for a while since first I think I need a lie down.
James Felton is a funny writer, which is certainly saying something considering the material he has to work with here. Felton’s humour softens up these bites of history so that you come away informed but not so depressed and ashamed that you lose all hope in humanity. In fact, humanity is key in this book since Felton is always punching up, not down, laying his blows directly at the establishments that took advantage of the poor, foreign and working classes.
In the back matter are some snippets of another book of his about The Sun newspaper. Christ on a bike, that publication serves up a lot of hate. Much as with this Bellend book, Felton delivers his punches upwards. I plan to read that book next, but not for a while since first I think I need a lie down.
I loved the book... but it was very short, with more room devoted to simple illustrations than the actual text. And the text was often just a portion of one page.
Never-the-less, James has a great way with words and what he shares is both educational, embarrassing and infuriating!
Never-the-less, James has a great way with words and what he shares is both educational, embarrassing and infuriating!
History isn't, and shouldn't be, just limited to the happy and comfortable bits.
funny
informative
fast-paced
What a great read, nice to know the British government have always been corrupt lying assholes.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Wow, we really were bellends!!
I always assumed that something was missing from our history that we were taught at school, and here it partially is. Now to find out more
I always assumed that something was missing from our history that we were taught at school, and here it partially is. Now to find out more