Horrible Histories is a series of illustrated books published in the United Kingdom by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in history by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant. The series has proved exceptionally successful in commercial terms. The books are written by
Terry DearyTerry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
,
Peter HepplewhitePeter Hepplewhite is a North-East based children's author. Most famous for co-writing the Awesome Egyptians in the Horrible Histories series, Peter is an experienced writer of children's history. After escaping from teaching, he became the Education Officer for Tyne & Wear Archives Service....
and Neil Tonge and illustrated by
Martin BrownMartin Brown is an Australian artist who was born in Melbourne and now lives in Dorset, England. He illustrates most of the Horrible Histories books....
and
Philip ReevePhilip Reeve is a British author and illustrator. He presently lives on Dartmoor with his wife Sarah and their son Samuel.-Biography:...
.
The first books in the series,
The Terrible Tudors and
The Awesome Egyptians, were published in June 1993.
In May 2007, 8 of the original series of books were relaunched with new covers and extra content. The remainder also have been republished in the new format, with it being completed on January 2009. See Book makeover.
Published by Scholastic UK, Horrible Histories has sold over ten million copies in the UK alone and has been translated into 37 languages worldwide.
2009
- Horribly Hilarious Joke book - June
- Top Trumps game - June
- Annual 2010 - August
- Gory Stories - Greeks - September
- TV Series Tie-ins - September
- Spies of World War II Handbook - September
2010 plans
- 4 TV Tie-ins - February
- Gory Stories: Pirates - February
- Keyring Book 2 - April
- High speed history: Egyptians - May (all new Horrible Histories sub-series that features historical tales in a comic-strip format)
- High speed history: Tudors - May
- Huge Book 2 - June
- Annual 2011 - August
- High speed history: Knights - August
- Horrible Christmas republishing - September
- Who's Horrible in History - September
- Wicked History of Britain - September
- 4 TV Tie-ins - October
2011+ plans
- All 2011 plans appear to be focused on Deary's new series "Master Crook’s Crime Academy
Master Crook's Crime Academy is a 12-part crime series by Terry Deary.The saga is set in the Victorian Era - 1837, and follows the adventures of Smiff Smith and his companion; the story arc being the misdeeds of juvenile felons and the mystery of Master Crook's identity...
"
Book categories
Though all of the Horrible History books are part of the same series, they are split up into many sub-series. Here are some of them:
Original books
These are the original books that pioneered the Horrible phenomenon:
- The Angry Aztecs - (Aztecs)
- The Awesome Egyptians (1993) - (Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and...
)
- The Awful Egyptians - (Ancient Egypt)
- The Barmy British Empire - (British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height it was...
)
- The Blitzed Brits - (The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, in World War II. While the Blitz hit many towns and cities across the country, it began with the bombing of London for 57 consecutive nights...
)
- The Cut Throat Celts - (Celts)
- The Frightful First World War - (World War I
World War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
)
- The Gorgeous Georgians - (Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history, normally defined as including the reigns of the kings George I, George II, George III and George IV, i.e. covering the period from 1714 to 1830,...
)
- The Groovy Greeks - (Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is the civilisation belonging to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth. It is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the...
)
- The Incredible Incas - (2000) (Tahuantinsuyu - The Inca Empire
The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca Empire arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in early 13th century...
)
- The Measly Middle Ages - (Middle Ages
The Middle Ages of European history is a period of European history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus...
)
- The Rotten Romans - (Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
)
- The Ruthless Romans - (Ancient Rome)
- The Savage Stone Age - (Stone age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which humans widely used stone for toolmaking.Stone tools were made from a variety of different sorts of stone. For example, flint and chert were shaped for use as cutting tools and weapons, while basalt and sandstone were used for ground...
)
- The Slimy Stuarts - (House of Stuart
The House of Stuart, also known as the House of Stewart, is an important European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century. Their direct ancestors had held the title High Steward of Scotland since the...
)
- The Smashing Saxons (2000) - (Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Old Germanic tribes. Their modern-day descendants in Lower Saxony and Westphalia and other German states are considered ethnic Germans ; those in the eastern Netherlands are considered to be ethnic Dutch; those in north...
)
- The Stormin' Normans - (Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. They descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
)
- The Terrible Tudors (1993) - (Tudor dynasty
The House of Tudor was a prominent European royal house that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch Henry Tudor, descended paternally from the rulers of the Welsh principality of Deheubarth, and maternally from a legitimised branch of the English royal...
)
- Terrifying Tudors (formerly Even More Terrible Tudors) - (Tudor dynasty)
- The Vicious Vikings - (Vikings)
- The Vile Victorians - (Victorian era
The Victorian era of the United Kingdom was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from June 1837 until her death on the 22nd of January 1901. The reign was a long period of prosperity for the British people, as profits gained from the overseas British Empire, as well as from industrial improvements...
)
- The Villainous Victorians - (Victorian era)
- The Woeful Second World War - (World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
)
Horrible Histories Two in One
There are also the 'Two Horrible Books in One' versions
- The Frightful First World War and The Woeful Second World War
- The Groovy Greeks and the Rotten Romans
- Gorgeous Georgians and Vile Victorians
- Smashing Saxons and Stormin' Normans
- The Terrible Tudors and The Slimy Stuarts
- Vicious Vikings and Measly Middle Ages
- The Barmy British Empire and The Blitzed Brits
- Angry Aztecs and Incredible Incas
- Horribly Huge Book of Awful Egyptians and Ruthless Romans
Novelty books
According to the Scholastics website,
- The Horrible (Wicked) History of the World - Earth's History
The history of the Earth describes the most important events and fundamental stages in the development of the planet Earth from its formation to the present day during the last 4.54 billion years. Nearly all branches of natural science have contributed to the understanding of the main events of the...
)
- Awesome Annual 2007 - (various periods)
- Annual 2008 - (various periods)
- Annual 2009 - (various periods)
- Annual 2010 - (various periods)
- The Mad Miscellany - (Miscellaneous)
- Cruel Crime and Painful Punishment - (Crime
Crime is the breach of one or more rules or laws for which some governing authority, via mechanisms such as police power, may ultimately prescribe a conviction...
and PunishmentPunishment is the practice of imposing something unpleasant or aversive on a person or animal, usually in response to disobedience, defiance, or behavior deemed morally wrong by individual, governmental, or religious principles.-Etymology:...
)
- Horrible Christmas (2000) - (Christmas
Christmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
)
- The Big Fat Father Christmas Book
- Action Packs: Awful Egyptians
- Terrible Tomb of Tutankhamun Pop-up Adventure
are considered Novelty Books
, and are not classified with the ordinary books.
Specials
There are a few books in the Horrible Histories series that have a special sign on the front cover stating that they are part of the Special
sub-series of Horrible Histories.
They are:
Bloody Scotland
- (History of ScotlandThe history of Scotland begins around 14,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
)
Cruel Kings and Mean Queens
- (The Kings and Queens of England, BritainThe Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801...
, and the United Kingdom)
Dark Knights and Dingy Castles
- (The history of KnightA knight was a "gentleman soldier" or member of the warrior class of the Middle Ages in Europe. In other Indo-European languages, cognates of cavalier or rider are more prevalent suggesting a connection to the knight's mode of transport...
s and CastleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
s)
England
- (England)
France
- (France)
Ireland
(2000) - (Ireland)
Rotten Rulers
- (Rulers)
Rowdy Revolutions
- (Revolutions)
The Twentieth (20th) Century
- (20th century)
The USA
- (The United States of America)
Wales
- (WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
)
Wicked Words - (The History of
LinguisticsLinguistics is the scientific study of natural language. Linguistics encompasses a number of sub-fields. An important topical division is between the study of language structure and the study of meaning...
)
Horrible Histories Cities
Some Horrible Histories books have been based around a particular city, rather than a nation or a specific time period. They also have a map when the front cover is folded out, and explain some structures in the city when the back cover is folded out. Therefore, many people consider them to be a sub-series as well. (Even though Loathsome London doesn't have these qualities, it is still based on a city.)
They consist of:
- Oxford - (Oxford
Oxford is a city, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. The city has a population of just under 165,000, with 151,000 living within the district boundary. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre...
)
- Stratford-upon-Avon - (Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of the county town, Warwick. It is the main town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers a...
)
- Dublin - (Dublin
Dublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
)
- Edinburgh - (Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow, and the seventh-most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas....
)
- York - (York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence....
)
- Loathsome London - (2005) (London
[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
)
Handbooks
The Horrible Histories Handbooks also differ from the original books. They have colour and are shaped differently.
They consist of:
- Spies - (Spies
Spies most commonly refers to people who engage in spying, espionage or clandestine operations.Spies may also refer to:-Media and entertainment:* Spies * "Spies" , a song* Spies , a 2002 novel by Michael Frayn...
)
- Blitz - (The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, in World War II. While the Blitz hit many towns and cities across the country, it began with the bombing of London for 57 consecutive nights...
)
- Warriors - (Warriors)
- Knights - (Knights)
- Pirates - (Pirates)
- Witches - (Witches)
- Villains - (Villains)
- Trenches - (Trenches)
- The Horrible History of the World - (World History
World History, Global History, or Transnational history is a field of historical study that emerged as a distinct academic field in the 1980s. It examines history from a global perspective.-Overview:World History looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures...
)
Quiz books
Sometimes, as well as the ordinary books, there is a quiz book that comes with it, testing your knowledge of that particular subject. They are:
- The Awesome Ancient Quiz Book - (Ancient Civilizations
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history in the Old World until the Early Middle Ages in Europe and the Qin Dynasty in China....
)
- The Horribly Huge (Massive Millennium) Quiz Book - (Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years...
)
Sticker and Activity Books
See
Horrible Histories (other media)This is some of the other media that the Horrible Histories franchise has streached out to:-Horrible Histories Sticker and Activity Books:...
There are quite a number of 'Horrible Histories Sticker and Activity Books' (officially called Activity, Gift and Novelty Books, from the Horrible Histories main page)
- Horrible Christmas Sticker Book
- Angry Aztecs Sticker Book
- Dark Knights and Dingy Castles Sticker-Activity Book
- Cut-throat Celts Sticker-Activity Book
- Incredible Incas Activity Book
- Gorgeous Georgians Activity Book
- Savage Stone Age Sticker Book
- Measly Middle Ages Activity Book
- Slimy Stuarts Sticker Book
- The Groovy Greeks Activity Book
- The Vicious Vikings Sticker Book
- Vile Victorians Activity Book
- Terrible Tudors Sticker Book
- Rotten Romans Sticker Book
- Awesome Egyptians Activity Book
- Awesome Activity Book
- Savage Sticker Book
- Grisly Quiz Book and Gruesome Games Pack
Other Media
Audio Tapes/CDs
There are also a large collection of Audio tape/CD dramatizations starring Terry Deary released by the BBC, including:
- The Savage Stone Age
- The Groovy Greeks
- The Rotten Romans
- The Vicious Vikings
- The Stormin' Normans
- The Measly Middle Ages
- The Terrible Tudors
- The Vile Victorians
- The Frightful First World War
- The Woeful Second World War
Kellogg's/Telegraph audiobooks
Horrible Histories teamed up with Kellogg's to produce a set of audiobooks for the following books:
- The Rotten Romans
- The Vicious Vikings
- The Measly Middle Ages
- The Vile Victorians
- Incredible Ireland
- The Terrible Tudors
All of the CDs are read by Terry Deary and were available inside some Kellogs cereals.
In addition, the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph gave away four free audiobooks over a two week period in October 2006. They were:
- The Awesome Egyptians
- The Ruthless Romans
- The Frightful First World War
- The Woeful Second World War
Between 8 and 14 September 2007, the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph gave away 7 new Horrible Histories audiobooks, again read by Terry Deary and adapted from his books. They were:
- The Villainous Victorians
- The Savage Stone Age
- The Angry Aztecs
- The Incredible Incas
- The Cut Throat Celts
- The Groovy Greeks
- The Barmy British Empire
Gory Stories
A new fiction-type of Horrible Histories series has recently sprouted, called Gory Stories. The first set of books to be published in July 2008 were:
- Gory Stories - Tower of Terror (Tudors)
- Gory Stories - Tomb of Treasure (Egyptians)
- Gory Stories - Wall of Woe - (Romans)
- Gory Stories - Shadow of the Gallows (Victorians)
- Gory Stories - Raiders and Ruins (Vikings) - March 2009
- Gory Stories - Blackout in the Blitz (World War II) - May 2009
Further titles to be published in 2009 include:
- Gory Stories - The Plague of Pain (Middle Ages)
- Gory Stories - The Trail of Treasure (Pirates)
Blackout in the Blitz is listed on Terry Deary's website as Bombs on Britain[1], but on Amazon.co.uk it is listed as Blackout in the Blitz, along with a cover
Others
These are the books that don't fit into the other categories. They are:
- Dreadful Diary - (An 'on this day' style diary
A diary is a record with discreet entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. Diaries undertaken for institutional purposes play a role in many aspects of human civilization, including government records , business ledgers and military records...
)
- The Mad Millennium
- Poisonous Postcards - (a Card Book)
Book makeover
On 7 May 2007, the original series of the Horrible Histories books began to be republished with a new look and new content. The new books have altered information on the back cover, an index and a more aesthetically-pleasing cover.
Controversy
The book Bloody Scotland drew the ire of the tiny Scottish Separatist Group, who claimed it promoted a "UK centric, anti-Scottish viewpoint of Scottish history", using comments like "Cook the haggis until it looks like a hedgehog after the fifteenth lorry has run over it". They reported the book to the
Commission for Racial EqualityThe Commission for Racial Equality was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality...
, who rejected their claim .
The
National TrustThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
was unhappy with Cruel Kings and Mean Queens
because it made jokes about Prince Charles's ears (the prince is the trust's patron) and Queen Elizabeth II.
According to Terry Deary's homepage "Several of the books have been banned in some places" .
In the Horrible Histories series, there are two books titled The Horrible History of the World
and The Wicked History of the World
; however, they are the same book, only with different headings. To confuse things further, compact and mini editions are planned for release at the end of 2007. The same incident occurred with The Horribly Huge Quiz Book
and Massive Millennium Quiz Book
, and The Mad Millennium
and Mad Millennium Play
. Also, there are two different covers for Horrible Christmas, as well as new paperback, compact and mini editions soon to be published.
Magazines
In late 2003 Terry Deary released the Horrible Histories Magazine Collection and in 2005 some of the titles in the series were released as free audiobooks as part of a promotion with
breakfast cerealA breakfast cereal is a packaged breakfast food. It is eaten cold, usually mixed with milk or water, but sometimes eaten dry. Some cereals, such as oatmeal, may be served hot as porridge. Some companies promote their products for the health benefits from eating oat-based and high-fiber cereals....
. Originally planned to be 60, the series was continued with an additional 20. Here is a list of the 80 Issues of the magazine in the order in which they are received:
- 1. The Gory Glory of Rome - (Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The term is used to describe the Roman state during and after the time of the first emperor,...
)
- 2. The Terrible Tudors: Horrible Henry - (Tudor
The House of Tudor was a prominent European royal house that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch Henry Tudor, descended paternally from the rulers of the Welsh principality of Deheubarth, and maternally from a legitimised branch of the English royal...
King Henry VIII)
- 3. The Awesome Egyptians: Mummy Mania - (Ancient Egyptian Mummies)
- 4. The Vile Victorians: Cruel Britannia - (Victorian
Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India of the British Raj from 1 May 1876, until her death...
BritanniaBritannia was the term used by the Romans to refer to the Roman province covering much of the island of Great Britain. The area beyond the Antonine Wall belonging to the Picts in the north was known as Caledonia. The name itself derives from Pretannia, Diodorus's rendering of the indigenous name...
)
- 5. The Measly Middle Ages - (Middle Ages
The Middle Ages of European history is a period of European history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus...
)
- 6. The Slimy Stuarts: Bombs & Broomsticks - (Stuart
The House of Stuart, also known as the House of Stewart, is an important European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century. Their direct ancestors had held the title High Steward of Scotland since the...
and Guy FawkesGuy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of Roman Catholic restorationists from England who planned the Gunpowder Plot of 1605...
)
- 7. The Groovy Greeks: Hits 'n' Myths - (Greek Mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
)
- 8. The Frightful First World War - (World War I)
- 9. The Angry Aztecs - (Aztecs)
- 10. The Bizarre Tsars - (Russian Tsars)
- 11. The Vicious Vikings - (Vikings)
- 12. The Terrible Tudors: Misery Mary - (Tudor
The House of Tudor was a prominent European royal house that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch Henry Tudor, descended paternally from the rulers of the Welsh principality of Deheubarth, and maternally from a legitimised branch of the English royal...
Queen MaryMary I , was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived...
)
- 13. The Savage Stone Age - (Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which humans widely used stone for toolmaking.Stone tools were made from a variety of different sorts of stone. For example, flint and chert were shaped for use as cutting tools and weapons, while basalt and sandstone were used for ground...
)
- 14. Rotten Romans on the Rampage - (The end of the Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, c...
)
- 15. The Awesome Egyptians: Fabulous Pharaohs - (Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and...
ian Pharaohs
- 16. The Gorgeous Georgians: Heroes & Villains - (Georgian Policemen and Criminals)
- 17. The Vile Victorians: Crime & Punishment - (Victorian
Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India of the British Raj from 1 May 1876, until her death...
Crime and PunishmentCrime is the breach of one or more rules or laws for which some governing authority, via mechanisms such as police power, may ultimately prescribe a conviction...
)
- 18. The Wicked Wild West - (Wild West)
- 19. The Frightfully Fabulous French - (France
France , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
)
- 20. The Slimy Stuarts: Burning Boils - (Stuart
The House of Stuart, also known as the House of Stewart, is an important European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century. Their direct ancestors had held the title High Steward of Scotland since the...
Diseases)
- 21. The Woeful Second World War - (World War 2
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
)
- 22. The Terrible Tudors: Bad Bess - (Tudor
The House of Tudor was a prominent European royal house that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch Henry Tudor, descended paternally from the rulers of the Welsh principality of Deheubarth, and maternally from a legitimised branch of the English royal...
and Elizabethan Queen Elizabeth the First)
- 23. The Extraordinary Explorers - (Explorers
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling a terrain for the purpose of discovery, e.g. of unknown people, including space , for oil, gas, coal, ores, caves, water, , or information.Although exploration has existed as long as human beings, its peak is seen as being during the Age of Discovery...
)
- 24. The Trendy 20s & The Dirty 30s - (Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, that emphasizes the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
in 1920s and Great DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in 1930s)
- 25. America & its Scurvy Settlers - (America in 1600s and American Indians
Native Americans in the United States is the phrase that describes indigenous peoples from North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii. They comprise a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of...
)
- 26. The Incredible Incas - (Incas)
- 27. The Smashing Saxons - (Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Old Germanic tribes. Their modern-day descendants in Lower Saxony and Westphalia and other German states are considered ethnic Germans ; those in the eastern Netherlands are considered to be ethnic Dutch; those in north...
)
- 28. Rotten Romans in Britain - (The Roman conquest of Britain
By AD 43, the time of the main Roman invasion of Britain, Great Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire...
and Roman BritainRoman Britain was those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia...
)
- 29. The Vile Victorians: Foul Factories - (The Victorian
Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India of the British Raj from 1 May 1876, until her death...
Industrial RevolutionThe British Agricultural Revolution describes a period of development in Britain between the 17th century and the end of the 19th century, which saw a massive increase in agricultural productivity and net output. This in turn supported unprecedented population growth, freeing up a significant...
)
- 30. The Groovy Greeks: Alexander the Not-So-Great - (Greek
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon, popularly known as Alexander the Great , was an Ancient Greek king of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history...
)
- 31. The Slimy Stuarts: Charlie's Gets the Chop - (Stuart
The House of Stuart, also known as the House of Stewart, is an important European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century. Their direct ancestors had held the title High Steward of Scotland since the...
Charles ICharles I, , the second son of James VI of Scotland and I of England, was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Charles famously engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England...
)
- 32. The Marauding Mongols - (Mongols
The name Mongol specifies one or several ethnic groups, now mainly located in Mongolia, China, and Russia.-Definition:...
and MongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It borders Russia to the north and the People's Republic of China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only 24 miles from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator,...
)
- 33. Rowdy Revolutions: France - (French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based...
)
- 34. The Awful Ancients - (Ancient Civilizations
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history in the Old World until the Early Middle Ages in Europe and the Qin Dynasty in China....
)
- 35. The Sizzling Spanish - (Spanish
Spanish or Castilian is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that originated in northern Spain and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile, evolving into the principal language of government and trade in the Iberian peninsula...
)
- 36. The Beastly Barbarians - (Barbarians)
- 37. The Stormin' Normans - (Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. They descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
)
- 38. Ruthless Richard & the Useless Yorks - (The Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars between supporters of the rival houses of Lancaster and York, for the throne of England. They are generally accepted to have been fought in several spasmodic episodes between 1455 and 1487...
)
- 39. The Blitzed Brits - (Britain's Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, in World War II. While the Blitz hit many towns and cities across the country, it began with the bombing of London for 57 consecutive nights...
in the Second World War)
- 40. Rowdy Revolutions: America - (American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
)
- 41. The Silly Chilly Cold War - (Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II , primarily between the USSR and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, including the United States...
)
- 42. The Cut-Throat Celts - (Celts)
- 43. The Ingenious Italians - (Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
)
- 44. Nasty Knights & Crazy Crusaders - (Knights and Crusaders)
- 45. The Gorgeous Georgians vs. Nasty Napoleon - (Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's French Empire and changing sets of European allies by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionized European armies and played...
)
- 46. The Slicing Samurai - (Japanese Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
)
- 47. The 'Orrible Ottomans - (Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
)
- 48. Plundering Pirates - (Pirates)
- 49. Rowdy Revolutions: Russia - (Russian Communist Revolution
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for the series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. In the first revolution of February 1917 the Czar was deposed and replaced by a Provisional government...
)
- 50. The Jumbled Germans - (Germany)
- 51. The Amazing Africans - (Africa)
- 52. The Incredible Indians - (India)
- 53. Revolting Rebellions: Europe - (European Revolutions
The Age of Revolution was a time period experiencing a change of power: from absolutism to a more free, democratic government. The Age of Revolution is a term used to denote the period from approximately 1775 to 1848, a time in which a number of significant revolutionary movements occurred on both...
for RepublicA republic is a form of government in which the head of state is not a monarch and the people have an impact on its government. The word 'republic' is derived from the Latin phrase res publica which can be translated as "a public affair".Both modern and ancient republics vary widely in their...
)
- 54. The Cheeky Chinese - (Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and, by most modern definitions, the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92 percent of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98 percent of the population of the Republic of China , 75 percent of the...
)
- 55. America's Very Uncivil War - (US Civil War)
- 56. The Terrific Pacific - (Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Those islands lying south of the tropic of Cancer are traditionally grouped into three divisions: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.-Oceania:...
)
- 57. The Irate Irish - (Ireland)
- 58. Revolting Rebellions: South America - (South America)
- 59. Cruel Colonials - (British Colonies)
- 60. The Awesome Aussies - (Australian Colonists
The history of Australia from 1788–1850 covers the early colonies period of Australia's history, from the first British settlement and penal colony at Port Jackson in 1788 to the establishment of other colonies and the spread of settlers....
and AboriginesIndigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands, and these peoples' descendants. Indigenous Australians are distinguished as either Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders, who currently together make up about 2.6% of Australia's...
)
- 61. The Scary Scots: Woad Warriors - (Scots
The Scots people and an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.An ethnic group, historically they emerged from an amalgamation of Picts, Gaels and Brythons....
and PictsThe Picts were a confederation of tribes living in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from before the Roman conquest of Britain until the 10th century. They lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers, and spoke the extinct Pictish language, thought to have been related to...
)
- 62. Even More Rotten Romans - (Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The term is used to describe the Roman state during and after the time of the first emperor,...
and Emperors)
- 63. Awful England - (Pre-Norman England
Prehistoric Britain is the period between the arrival of the first humans in Great Britain and the start of recorded British history. The period prior to occupation by the genus Homo is part of the Geology of the British Isles...
)
- 64. The Super South Africans -(South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
)
- 65. The Shifty 50s - (The 50s
The 50s decade ran from January 1, 50, to December 31, 59. It was the sixth decade in the Anno Domini/Common Era, if the nine-year period from 1 AD to 9 AD is considered as a "decade".-Events and trends:...
).
- 66. Even More Extraordinary Explorers - (Explorers
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling a terrain for the purpose of discovery, e.g. of unknown people, including space , for oil, gas, coal, ores, caves, water, , or information.Although exploration has existed as long as human beings, its peak is seen as being during the Age of Discovery...
and The Age of DiscoveryThe Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration, was a period in history starting in the 15th century and continuing into the 17th century, during which Europeans and its descendants intensively explored and mapped the world...
)
- 67. The Amazing Americans - (Late 19th and early 20th century United States
The history of the United States covers Reconstruction and the rise of industrialization in the United States. This period of rapid change in society and in the workforce involved numerous labor unions and strikes....
)
- 68. The Terrifying Trojans - (Trojans
Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War, as described in the Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer...
and City of Troy)
- 69. The Crazy Caribbean -(European Explorers
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration, was a period in history starting in the 15th century and continuing into the 17th century, during which Europeans and its descendants intensively explored and mapped the world...
, Colonists and Native CaribbeansThe Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts...
)
- 70. Even More Vile Victorians - (Victorian Era
The Victorian era of the United Kingdom was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from June 1837 until her death on the 22nd of January 1901. The reign was a long period of prosperity for the British people, as profits gained from the overseas British Empire, as well as from industrial improvements...
)
- 71. The Wild Welsh - (Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
)
- 72. The Shocking 60s - (The 60s
The 60s decade ran from January 1, 60, to December 31, 69. It was the seventh decade in the Anno Domini/Common Era, if the nine-year period from 1 AD to 9 AD is considered as a "decade".-Events and trends:*Rebellion in Roman Britain led by Boudica...
)
- 73. The Scary Scots: Tartan Terrors - (Pre-Act of Union
The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England to put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706, following negotiation between commissioners representing the parliaments of the...
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
)
- 74. The Busy Byzantines - (Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople, and ruled by Emperors in direct and de jure succession to the ancient Roman Emperors...
)
- 75. The Elegant Edwardians - (Edwardian Era)
- 76. Potty Portugal - (Portugal)
- 77. The Awesome North American Indians - (North American Indians and Indian Wars
Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between the colonial or federal government and the native people of North America....
)
- 78. The Polar Brrrs - (The North
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the Earth's surface...
and South PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
s)
- 79. Awful England Again - (British Famous People)
- 80. Rotten Round-Up - (The Largest, Biggest and the Best)
Each issue came with small cards depicting historic people, places, events and customs as well as a collection of timelines. The first 60 issues came with timelines each showing an era of human history, while the later 20 had timelines showing the history of themes such as fashion, art and science.
There have also been three 'special' magazines in the series.
They are:
- S1. Horrible Christmas - (Christmas
Christmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
)
- S2. Cruel Crimes and Painful Punishments - (Crimes and Punishments)
- S3. Cruel Kings and Mean Queens - (English Monarchs
This is the English monarchs' family tree, including kings of England from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth I.See also: British monarchs' family tree - Other family trees - List of monarchs in the British Isles - Direct descent from William I to Elizabeth II...
)
The collection will not be relaunched in the UK in September 2009 Due To Low Trial Sales .
Poland
This is a sub-series of Horrible Histories books describing various aspects of Polish history and society (written by Małgorzata Fabianowska and Małgorzata Nesteruk, illustrated by Jędrzej Łaniecki)
- Ci Sprytni Słowianie (The Clever Slavs) - (Slavs)
- Pokrętni Piastowie (Piast Dynasty) - (Piast Dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first Polish historical Royal dynasty that ruled Poland from its beginnings starting with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historically undisputed Piast ruler is Mieszko I from 10th century...
)
- Dynamiczna Dynastia Jagiellonów (Dynamic Jagiellon Dynasty) - (Jagiellon Dynasty
The Jagiellons were a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
)
- Sakramencki Sarmatyzm (Bloody Samatism) - (Sarmatism
Sarmatism, also Sarmatianism, embodied the dominant lifestyle, culture and ideology of the szlachta in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th century to the 19th century...
)
- Atrakcyjni królowie Elekcyjni (Sovereign Election Appeal) - (Polish Elections and Polish Elective Monarchy)
- Zagmatwane zabory - (Invasive Embroilment) (Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The partitions were carried out by Prussia, Russia and Habsburg Austria dividing up the Commonwealth lands...
)
- Nieznośna niepodległość (Vexing Independence) - (History of Poland (1918-1939))
These books have not yet been published in English.
Spin-offs
There have been several spin-offs written in a similar style to Horrible Histories:
- America's Funny But True History (Written by Elizabeth Levy)
- Boring Bible
Boring Bible is one of the numerous spin-offs of the Horrible Histories franchise. The books by christian writer and cartoonist Andy Robb [] are intended to help kids understand who God is and how he has operated throughout history in both the Old and New Testament eras.Six of the books cover...
the successful series of twelve books written and illustrated by Andy Robb http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=andy+robb&x=0&y=0
- Coping With
The Coping With series of books is a series of books aimed at 11-16 year olds, written by Peter Corey and published by Scholastic Hippo. The first book, Coping with Parents, was released in 1989, and the series continued until the last book, Coping with Cash, in 2000. The books take a humorous look...
(written by Peter CoreyPeter Corey is the author of the Coping With... children's book series. The series targets youngsters using humour. He is also the author of books of non-humorous nature...
, Illustrated by Martin BrownMartin Brown is an Australian artist who was born in Melbourne and now lives in Dorset, England. He illustrates most of the Horrible Histories books....
and Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is an illustrator for children. He was born in London, England. He illustrates the Award-Winning books Horrible Geography by Anita Ganeri and Horrible Histories by Terry Deary He resides in North Devon with his wife and three beautiful children, Ben, Hannah & Olivia....
)
- Dead Famous (written and illustrated by a variety of authors and illustrators)
- Foul Football
Foul Football is one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories. The series is written by Michael Coleman and explains everything you need to know about football .-Book Titles:Here is a list of all the books in the Foul Football series:...
- Horrible Geography
Horrible Geography is a series of books which is a spin-off of the Horrible Histories series written by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Mike Phillips, and published in the UK by Scholastic...
(written by Anita GaneriAnita Ganeri is the author of the Award-winning book Horrible Geography. She is currently residing at West Yorkshire, England with her family. She was born in Calcutta India and her family immigrated to Europe. She attended primary and secondary school in England. Anita has spent many years working...
illustrated by Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is an illustrator for children. He was born in London, England. He illustrates the Award-Winning books Horrible Geography by Anita Ganeri and Horrible Histories by Terry Deary He resides in North Devon with his wife and three beautiful children, Ben, Hannah & Olivia....
)
- Horrible Science
Horrible Science is a spin-off series of books of Horrible Histories written by Nick Arnold , illustrated by Tony de Saulles and published in the UK and India by Scholastic...
(written by Nick ArnoldNick Arnold is the author of the award winning series, Horrible Science and Wild Lives. Arnold's first published works appeared as a result of a project he was working on at the University of North London, when he was trying to teach young children. A positive review was written about him, and he...
and illustrated by Tony de SaullesTony De Saulles is a British author and illustrator currently residing at Gloucestershire, England with his family. He is a former book designer and then he became an illustrator for children's books. He illustrates the Award winning series Horrible Science by Nick Arnold.-Awards:* 2004 Aventis Prize...
)
- Horribly Famous
Similar to the Dead Famous series, Horribly Famous is a series of books containing biographies of notable people who are now dead. These books are written by a range of authors and the books are, in some cases ghost-written under the same name as the one person featured in a Dead Famous book...
(written and illustrated by a variety of authors and illustrators).
- Killer Puzzles
Killer Puzzles is one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories and a new twist on the Murderous Maths puzzles books including Suduku and Kakuro. They make the readers try to maths and logic puzzles. According to , to make the challenges worthwhile, each book has its own theme and if you solve...
(written by Kjartan PoskittKjartan Poskitt is an author and TV presenter who is best known for writing the Murderous Maths children's series of books...
)
- The Knowledge
The Knowledge, one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories, is a UK book series for children, written by many different writers. It provides factual information on many subjects and originates from the Scholastic publishing company...
(written and illustrated by a variety of authors and illustrators).
- Murderous Maths
Murderous Maths is a series of British educational books by author Kjartan Poskitt. Most are illustrated by Philip Reeve, who has illustrated many similar series , in addition to writing his own series of children's novels. The Murderous Maths books are published and available in over 25 other...
(written by Kjartan PoskittKjartan Poskitt is an author and TV presenter who is best known for writing the Murderous Maths children's series of books...
and illustrated by a variety of artists, the most common being Philip ReevePhilip Reeve is a British author and illustrator. He presently lives on Dartmoor with his wife Sarah and their son Samuel.-Biography:...
)
- Smelly Old History
Smelly Old History is one of the many spin-offs of the well-known series Horrible Histories . Like Horrible Histories, it focuses on various point in history. The series was written by Mary J...
(written by Mary J. Dobson)
- The Spark Files
The Spark Files is one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories. It focuses on scientific experiments being portrayed through a humorous story, or a fictional tale.The list of the series is:#Space Race -...
(written by Terry Deary)
- Terry Deary's Tales
Terry Deary's Tales are one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories. They recall fictional stories and myths from various ancient civilizations...
(written by Terry Deary)
- Time Detectives
Time Detectives is a spin-off of the Horrible series, quite similar to The Spark Files, though focusing on historical aspects, not scientific. The purpose of the series is to explore historical mysteries in a new, exciting manner.Terry Deary, the author, has also recently announced that he will be...
(written by Terry Deary)
- Top Ten
Top Ten is one of the many spin-offs of Horrible Histories. Each book is made up of ten short stories made with a common theme, author or background...
(written by various, including Terry Deary)
- Truly Terrible Tales
Truly Terrible Tales is one of the countless spin-offs of Terry Deary's Horrible Histories. This children's book series tells the true stories of the many sects of life including explorers, scientists and writers.The series includes:*Explorers...
(written by Terry Deary)
- Twisted Tales
The same as Top Ten , this spin-off of Horrible Histories takes a look at many twisted tales and crazy stories that we never thought could really be true. This series contains quite similar titles to books in the Top Ten book series and just like it, also range in authors and illustrators...
- Wild Lives
Wild Lives is a spin-off of Horrible Histories and written by Nick Arnold, author of Horrible Science. It takes you on journeys with various animals in a journal-type format.Here is a list of the books in this series:...
- a diary about encounters with various animals such as lions and sharks in a journal-type format
External links