Otto English writes this book to expose what he considers to be an understanding of History that is incorrect. He is also having a go at Boris and his fans, which is quite clear throughout. In Otto's mind we are all believing historical facts that are not facts at all, his mission is to seek out the true situation behind such History.
Obviously some of us with an interest in History will have discovered the truth is never found at first sight, this is even more obvious where a war situation is concerned. Propaganda, good and bad, is always to the fore during a war. People's experience, and evidence on the ground added to an individuals knowledge of the war and the situation in which they find themselves concerned means people are not fooled as often as Otto appears to believe.
However, that said it is a book worth reading.
Churchill is naturally the first under review, Flat earth follows, Columbus and all that, War propaganda, the Royals, Curry and other foodstuffs, the Conquistadors and Abraham Lincoln are among the subjects interrogated. Obviously Churchill is the starting point. The target of this book other than Boris are the tabloid readers, and hacks, who perpetuate the idea of Winston as the 'Greatest Prime Minister.' Various people have written about Churchill, including himself of course. After the war he collected material from the conflict and produced his History of the 'Second World War,' in which he comes over as the great leader, the wise strategist, and the man who won the war. Lord Alanbrooke of course, who had been Chief of the Imperial General Staff and the man who actually won the war, was not impressed to be mentioned only thrice! Still, it made money and built Winston's fame, and thatw as what mattered. Boris Johnson, the fantasist who is now Prime Minister because of the nations sin, also wrote a book about Churchill, poor at that by all accounts. Roy Jenkins scribbled a fast moving one reviewed on these pages, and no doubt many more will appear. English makes every attempt to break into the tabloid fantasy of Churchill and offer the unwritten (in his mind) side of things. From my memory the 'unwritten' did not require writing as most people during the war well understood Churchill, 'Warmonger' was the general impression I heard, but Otto is writing for the tabloid reader of today, few of whom have read much other than their 'Daily Express' over the last 70 years and are happy with an image that does not demand they think, nor lose their nationalistic fantasy.
Each chapter does swerve away from the main subject thereby allowing a wide variety of stories, usually relevant, to appear. These are often humerous, always interesting, but not all are surprising to me. Most people with a History interest will have glanced at such tales before, however, it is good to see so many put in one place. I enjoyed a great many of them.
However, there are failures.
The writier, born and educated at an Essex public school and now living in gentrified south east London, reveals all the arrogance and self importance of such a background. Otto, as seen on his Twitter account, does not like opposition, nor does he like to think he might be wrong. Wrong however he is. His lack of understanding of the Christian Church is obvious, he reflects the ignorance of the Guardian reader here. His Essex knowledge of Scotland, one I am well aware off, is as limited as might be expected. To Otto nationalism is dangerous, full of terrors and to be avoided. Such an attitude can only be found in an Englishman living in England. His writing re Charles Stuart falls down here also, prevaded as it is with English imperialism throughout. Charles of course is considered a joke by most Scots.
Far too much time is taken up by his diatribe on Adolf Hitler not being an artist. Pages are wasted on Otto's dislike of Adolf. We have all seen his paintings, nice but not deep, and why so much is written here I fail to understand, a page or two only was required. Abraham Lincoln also is offered as a man at variance with the public image, and we are left wondering if Otto really cares about this or if he is just attacking people because they are hero's to some? Indeed a chapter is included concerning Ghenghis Khan as if he was the subject of much discussion in the world today! When did you last discuss Khan and his empire? No, not me either. Much has been written about him but rarely is he mentioned outside of those studying that particular era.
This is however, a good book, well worth a read. The 'Daily Mail' reader, who will not read it, is the target of these pages. And I suspect many of Otto's fans will enjoy this book as they too are ignorant of the tales enclosed. History is not well taught in schools it appears, however, it is a wide ranging subject which causes many arguements (just ask in Europe 'Who started the Great War?' and see what I mean). The EU has schools for the children of those working there, no History however, is taught unless by your own countrymen! I bet Scots History was not taught there!
It is worth reading, the stories entertain, the facts are usually good (but historians everywhere will pick fault as they do) and a good book for adolescent schoolkids as it is an easy read and I suspect will hold their attention.
Otto English, real name Andrew Scott, is a journalist who has written for many papers. However, he is also one of those middle class Liberals who does not get out and about much, and is limited in his experiences by mixing with his own Ken. Such men as you know fail to comprehend things those who have to work for a living have known for years. Otto's views on life are repeated by his friends and upheld by his Twitter fans, yet they fail to see the world as it is all too often in my view. I suggest for his next book he travels the nation. Partly this is because I like such travel books, it is always interesting to see peoples views of what is actually there in the UK and not what they already believe, but also he will meet a wider range of views, some which will surprise him, some shock him, but he will produce another book worth reading.
