Books by Terry Deary

Book SynopsisPopular history writer Terry Deary takes us on a light-hearted and often humorous romp through the centuries with Mr & Mrs Peasant, recounting foul and dastardly deeds committed by the underclasses, as well as the punishments meted out by those on the right side' of the law. Discover tales of arsonists and axe-wielders, grave robbers and garroters, poisoners and prostitutes. Delve into the dark histories of beggars, swindlers, forgers, sheep rustlers and a whole host of other felons from the lower ranks of society who have veered off the straight and narrow. There are stories of highwaymen and hooligans, violent gangs, clashing clans and the witch trials that shocked a nation. Learn too about the impoverished workers who raised a riot opposing crippling taxes and draconian laws, as well as the strikers and machine-smashers who thumped out their grievances against new technologies that threatened their livelihoods. Britain has never been short of those who have been prepared to flout the law of the land for the common good, or for their own despicable purposes. The upper classes have lorded and hoarded their wealth for centuries of British history, often to the disadvantage of the impoverished. Frustration in the face of this has resulted in revolt. Read all about it here! This entertaining book is packed full of revolting acts and acts of revolt, revealing how ordinary folk - from nasty Normans to present-day lawbreakers - have left an extraordinary trail of criminality behind them. The often gruesome penalties exacted in retribution reveal a great deal about some of the most fascinating eras of British history.

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Book SynopsisDANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE is the first in a new adult series by Terry Deary, the author of the hugely bestselling Horrible Histories, popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and sharp wit, and among adults for engaging children (and themselves) with history.The Romans have long been held up as one of the first 'civilised' societies, and yet in fact they were capable of immense cruelty. Not only that, but they made the killing of humans into a sport. The spoiled emperors were the perpetrators (and sometimes the victims) of some imaginative murders. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE will include some of the violent ways to visit the Elysian Fields (i.e. death) including: animal attack in the Coliseum; being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock - 370 deserters in 214 AD alone (or if the emperor didn't like your poetry); by volcanic eruption from Vesuvius; by kicking (Nero's fatal quarrel with the Empress Poppea); from poison mushrooms (Claudius); by great fires; torturous tarring; flogging to death; boiling lead (the invention of 'kind' Emperor Constantine); or being skinned alive by invading barbarians. DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE looks at the back-story leading up to the victims' deaths, and in doing so gives the general reader a concise history of a frequently misunderstood era.

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Book SynopsisThe Victorians risked more than just delays when boarding a steam train . . .Victorian inventors certainly didn't lack steam, but while they squabbled over who deserved the title of 'The Father of the Locomotive' and enjoyed their fame and fortune, safety on the rails was not their priority. Brakes were seen as a needless luxury and boilers had an inconvenient tendency to overheat and explode, and in turn, blow up anyone in reach.Often recognised as having revolutionised travel and industrial Britain, Victorian railways were perilous. Disease, accidents and disasters accounted for thousands of deaths and many more injuries. While history has focused on the triumph of engineers, the victims of the Victorian railways had names, lives and families and they deserve to be remembered . . .Trade ReviewOriginal, informative and quirky, the stories in this book linger in the memory. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *'an intriguing alternative history' -- B Lesle McDowell * SUNDAY HERALD *

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Think that Ancient Egypt is just a load of old obelisks?Don't bet your afterlife on it.Ancient Egypt should be deader than most of our yesterdays. After all it was at its height 5,000 years ago. Yet we still marvel at its mummies and ponder over its pyramids. It's easy to forget these people once lived and laughed, loved and breathed ... though not for very long.These were dangerous days for princes and peasants alike. In Ancient Egypt - a world of wars and woes, poverty and plagues - life was short. Forty was a good age to reach. A pharaoh who was eaten by a hippo ended up as dead as a ditch-digger stung by a scorpion. Unwrap the bandages and you'll find that the Egyptians' bizarre adventures in life were every bit as fascinating as the monuments they left to their deaths.

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Book SynopsisCastile, Spain, 1099. Cristina is just a frightened servant girl, until she becomes a crucial player in fighting back the Berber invasion. Will she have the courage to support the great knight, El Cid, in his final battle?

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Book SynopsisLearn all about the Gorgeous Georgians with all the nasty bits left in. You probably thought that Georgians just spent their time prancing about in powdered wigs and pantaloons. Find out the horrible truth, like their sneaky schemes for hiding personal hygiene problems and about the schoolchildren who went to war with their teachers! Includes a grisly quiz to test your knowledge. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling team behind Horrible Histories! It's time todelve into the totally true (sort of) and incredibly intriguingpages of Queen Victoria's Secret Diary. Horrible Histories' SecretDiaries of the most extraordinary (and Horrible) characters ofall time will blow your mind.

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Book SynopsisAll the foul facts about the VILE VICTORIANS are ready to uncover, including the murderers who wouldn't hang, when the first public loo was flushed and how stag hunting took place in Paddington Station.

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Book SynopsisDiscover all the frightful stories behind iconic ghost tales fromaround the world. From the ancient evils of Egypt, cutthroat Celticsacrifices, Anne Boleyn and other restless royals as well asghost busters and spook rumblers, combined with tons of HorribleHalloween facts, it's all in Horrible Histories: Ghosts.

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Book Synopsis* b/w, or one-colour books based on narratives within the Horribles from 2010. *Each would feature comic-strips punctuated by 'rest-stops' for annotated diagrams, foul facts, did you knows, etc *HH would focus on key dates or events in an era's calendar - Caesar's assassination, Spartacus's victory, Great Fire of Rome, opening of the Colosseum, etc. each have their own graphic tale. 'Fact files' then give contextual and comparative material - Great fires, Evil Emperor ends, What happened next?, Who's who?, Wild weapons etc *makes the reader feel they are getting a Bluffers' Guide to the period. If they read just 10 tales they will get an overview of a topic without having to plough through fat volumes of history. *HS could cover themed narratives such as Big Bang, life cycle of a butterfly, scientific discoveries *HG could cover themed narratives such as how a volcano explodes, diary of an animal to explor

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Book SynopsisReaders can discover all the foul facts about the RUTHLESS ROMANS,including which emperor enjoyed eating camel's heels, who werethe terrible twins who founded Rome and which evil emperors mademurder a sport. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hitwith yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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Book SynopsisAfter fifteen fearsome years on the page, Horrible Histories are coming to the small screen - with all the nasty bits intact - of course.ant to know: - A genuine jester's joke? - Why chickens had their bottoms shaved? - What ten-year-old treacle was used for? Join Rattus Rattus and the gang for the funniest, fastest, nastiest and daftest ride through history you're ever likely to see...

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Book SynopsisExplores all about Tudor torture. This book explains why Henry VIII thought he'd married a horse. It describes which shocking swear words the Tudors used.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Horrible Histories comes the fourth volume in Terry Deary's gritty and humorous history series for adults.

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Book SynopsisThe long and complicated story of the Tudors is told as never before - without being long or complicated! Ten comic-strip capers deliver the dreadful details from that terrible and tyrannical era. Readers are taken on a blood soaked tour that begins with a Bosworth battle and ends with Liz the last, taking in such horrible highlights as Henry the hate-th and Mary, Queen of chops. History has never been so speedy

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Book SynopsisHORRIBLE HISTORIES: OXFORD takes readers on a gore-tastictour of the streets of Oxford, exposing all of its mostscurrilous secrets. With the frightful map touristscan plot their path to the past. Burning bishops, blood-soaked streetsand student scraps, it's a trip no Horrible Histories fan willwant to miss!

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Book SynopsisA stunning new city guide with all the gruesome bits left in!HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Cardiff takes readers on a gore-tastic tour ofthe streets of Cardiff, exposing all of its most scurrilous secrets. From the attempted murder of Saint David to how the leek becamethe symbol of Wales - it's a trip no Horrible Histories fanwill want to miss!

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Book SynopsisLearn all about the Gorgeous Georgians, like their sneaky schemes for hiding personal hygiene problems and the schoolchildren who went to war with their teachers! With a bold, accessible new look, illustrated throughout and revised by the author, these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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Book SynopsisA stunning new city guide with all the gruesome bits left in! HORRIBLEHISTORIES: Glasgow takes readers on a gruesome tour of Glasgow,exposing all of its most scurrilous secrets. From the Glaswegianghouls who haunt the subways to how Glasgow geezer John LogieBaird invented the TV - it's a trip no Horrible Histories fan willwant to miss!

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