The author of children's series Horrible Histories presentsthe first bookinhis new offbeatpopular historyseries for adults Bill Bryson meets Blackadder" With his trademark crisp, wry writing style and dark sense of humor, Terry Deary begins with the Roman Empire, in the first ina new series offering concise, informative histories that delve intomyths and traditions surrounding its subjects and attempts to extract cohesion and possibly even some truth. The Romans have long been held up as one of the first "civilized" societies, and yet in fact they were capable of immense cruelty. Not only...

Adventure story, packed with facts about Vikings. When Emma spies the Viking ships on the horizon, she runs to warn her village but no one will believe her! Not even her monk brother Symeon, until it's too late. Worse, the village has been betrayed by one of its own - Will the siblings be able to stop the Viking invaders form destroying the village? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Fascinating historical fiction. Five strangers meet in the crowds to watch Dick Turpin hang. Each has a fascinating story to tell about the famous highwayman...but which are true and which are lies? Follow Terry Deary into the enthralling history of one man and his legend. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Facing feuds and frauds, robberies and riots and the disasters of dangerous drivers, deadly designers and sleepy signalmen, Victorians risked more than just delays when stepping on a steam train.
Victorian inventors certainly didn't lack steam, but squabbling over who deserved the title of 'The Father of the Locomotive' and busy enjoying their fame and fortune, safety on the rails was not their priority. Brakes were seen as a needless luxury (until a steamer started to slide downhill towards disaster) and boilers had an inconvenient tendency to overheat and explode, and in turn, blow up...

The reign of Elizabeth I - a Golden Age? Try asking her subjects...
Elizabethans did all they could to survive in an age of sin and bling, of beddings and beheadings, galleons and guns. Explorers set sail for new worlds, risking everything to bring back slaves, gold and the priceless potato. Elizabeth lined her coffers while her subjects lived in squalor with hunger, violence and misery as bedfellows.
Shakespeare shone and yet the beggars and thieves, the doxies and bawdy baskets, kinchins and fraters scraped and cheated to survive in the shadows. These were dangerous days. If you...

A hilarious, riddling tale from the international bestselling author of Horrible Histories, Terry Deary. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ Every day, hapless hopefuls travel to dirty and dangerous Tudor London, trying to seek their fortunes. But what and who is waiting for them when they get there? Tricksters and conmen, like young Eleanor's family, who prey on their naivety. Meanwhile, the fearsome King Henry VIII has some rather cruel ideas of justice... for everyone. Terry Deary’s Tudor Tales explore the infamous world of the Tudors...

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ Henri Giffard has devoted all his free time and money to inventing the first steam-driven hot air balloon. He’s determined to make mankind’s first ever-powered flight, and so in 1852 he sets off for Paris with just an urchin girl to help him. Thousands of people gather to watch the flight. Will the machine work when the weather changes – or will Henri’s dream of flying become his downfall? Terry...

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...