Unruly - David Mitchell

Published by Penguin: UK, 2023.
Audiobook by Penguin Audio, 2023. 
Uploaded to Audible 28-09-2023. 

On the surface, Unruly is a history of England, like other histories that I have read in the past - this one outlining events from the early kings through to Elizabeth I. However, author David Mitchell is more well-known as a comedian than as an author, and Unruly leans heavily into that. 

So, unlike a regular history of the kings and queens of England, this one includes commentary on Brexit, comparisons of historical figures to Mitchell's daughter, ranting tangents on why history is occasionally so bizarre (eg. if the Bayeux Tapestry is not technically a tapestry and yet is the most famous 'tapestry' in the world, why has the definition of tapestry not broadened to include it?!) and a bit of colourful language here and there. I am not a fan of the last of these, but I do generally enjoy David Mitchell's comedic style - which also doesn't include swearing as much as some comedians. He is often quite insightful, and by giving himself a specific field to play in (history) he is able to make some pretty specific comments, such as England's sense of identity being tied up in monarchy.

Another recurring joke I enjoy is Mitchell's comparison of history to an ongoing soap opera: "There are all sorts of times in history when events seem to be going in a certain direction and you're wondering 'will so-and-so manage to do this or will they fail?' You're locked into the plot line. It could go either way and its very exciting... Then they die at a really weird point in the story and we're reminded its not a story, its soap opera. In soap operas people expire mid storyline all the time, because of trouble with agents or scandal in the news." (chapter 8) Sweyn Forkbeard is the first person who is 'fired' in Unruly before his storyline is complete, but Mitchell returns to this metaphor for a number of other prominent historical figures as well.

As a professional comedian, Mitchell also reads his book well, which is to be expected. His slightly sarcastic and exasperated tone fits the feel he is going for, and draws the humour out nicely.

Enjoyable.

Completed 12 February 2024.

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