David Mitchell: Unruly

Think you know the Kings and Queens of England? Think again.

In Unruly, David Mitchell explores how early England’s monarchs, while acting as feared rulers firmly guiding their subjects’ destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky sods who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear to us today in their portraits.

Taking us right back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn’t exist), David tells the founding story of post-Roman England right up to the reign of Elizabeth I (as the monarchy began to lose its power). It’s a tale of narcissists, inadequate self-control, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and at least one total Cnut, as the English evolved from having their crops nicked with menaces by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a divinely anointed King.

How this happened, who it happened to and why the hell it matters in twenty-first-century Britain are all questions David answers with brilliance, wit and the full erudition of a man who once studied history – and is damned if he’ll let it off the hook for the mess it’s made of everything.

A serious book by a very funny man, Unruly is for anyone who has ever wondered how we got here – and who is to blame.

David Mitchell has won BAFTAs for Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look. He is a frequent participant on British TV panel shows, being a team captain on Would I Lie to You?, as well as a guest on many others. His previous books include Dishonesty is the Second-Best Policy and Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse.

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to see and meet the man himself ‘live’ in Chester!

Every ticket includes a signed hardback copy of David Mitchell’s new book Unruly (RRP £25). Books will be available to collect at the event. There will be a Meet & Greet opportunity after the show.