The Gorgeous Georgians

Horrible Histories #17

by Terry Deary

In a world where the boys wore make-up and highwaymen ruled the roads, Terry Deary has uncovered some of the horrible truths about the Gorgeous Georgians in this riotous addition to the Horrible Histories range.

In this, another howling success for the series, famous villains like Rob Roy, Dick Turpin and Blackbeard, who all became folk heroes over time, are given the once-over by the sharp-penned Deary as he tells the truth about their lives of crime, leaving little doubt as to what they were really up to when they were on the run.

From poor hygiene and terrible food to a country overrun with body snatchers and thief-takers, the poor old Georgians didn't stand much of a chance in a country run by unsuitable politicians and less than stable monarchs, and Gorgeous Georgians wastes no time in taking a stab at this seedy side of Georgian life. --Susan Harrison

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Historical, Comedy, Humor, British Literature

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 1998

About the author

A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.

A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.

The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.

Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).

He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another find from the mothers house. One of my favourite horrible history books from childhood. I love this time period and still wish I had some Marie Antionette style wigs to lounge around the house in. I did pretend to be Dick Turpin once. I had a highwayman mask and everything (I think I was channeling Adam Ant). I have to say I don't really know much about the various Kings of this period though. I get them all mixed up easily.

Too many Georges.

[Andragel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Terry Deary but this just wasn't it. I was dying to read this - the title seems so enticing, but it was all a big bore. The Georgians don't seem remotely gorgeous, only pretentious, peculiar and unremarkable, compared to the Horrible History on Victorians. Such a shame, I know there was plenty of potential for this particular era...

[The Artisan Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/12/19
A usual can't go wrong with a Horrible Histories book :)

1/12/19
I got an entire box of Horrible Histories books from my sister and mother last Christmas!! Slowly going through them now :)

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[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where the boys wore make-up and highwaymen ruled the roads, Terry Deary has uncovered some of the horrible truths about the Gorgeous Georgians in this riotous addition to the Horrible Histories range. Famous villains like Rob Roy, Dick Turpin and Blackbeard, who all became folk heroes over time, are given the once-over by the sharp-penned Deary as he tells the truth about their lives of crime, leaving little doubt as to what they were really up to when they were on the run.

It wasn't just all highway men but you had the bonkers king George 3rd and the dress habits of lady's and gentlemen and how best to cover up there bad hygiene and diseases! Im back to form with my horrible histories journey! The writing style seemed to have changed a little but i didn't mind that as it's fast paced and full of information and it's still kept it's signature comedic writing that even with me at 21 still makes me giggle at the puns. I still haven't found a time in history that I'd like to live in as i wouldn't of made it to 1 let alone getting to my 5th birthday. But that being said georgian Britain is still a time I'd like to visit by time travel but wouldn't like to live there i don't thing i could stand the smell but it does make me smile and feel proud as a brit to know that england hasn't been invaded since the Georgian time. But with all that being said it's an amazing read full of facts and laughs that I've come to love with all horrible history books so i can 100% reccomend this like the rest of the books in the series.

4/5 Stars on GoodReads 🌟🌟🌟🌟

95/100 GingerPoints 🔥🔥🔥

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is certainly refreshing to read about the nasty parts of the Georgian era due to the way it has been romanticised by the media, most often the Regency period (no thanks to Bridgerton) and the Highwaymen (no thanks to Mathew Baynton)

It is a very interesting period to learn about for so many reasons. So much happened under the rule of the four Georges, and they were interesting people themselves.

I love how easy it is to read these books due to them being aimed at kids, meaning that they are full of jokes, drawings, and are written in large fonts. However, you can still learn so much from them and never feel patronised.

I suppose my only nitpick is that it isn't entirely accurate as certain misconceptions are written here alongside things that have been proven wrong after the book's release. However, it is great that the author has done his best to mention where there is uncertainty as well as clearing up many old misconceptions.

[Kadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted a fun quick read after reading a harrowing dystopian trilogy and this did the trick.

I used to love these books as a child and it was great diving back into this series of history made gruesome. Will definitely try and get to others in the series at some point.

[Amanda Artist Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Maddening funny," as my friend Aarja once said! I would like to see a Georgian wig, myself, but wear it...? No thank you.

[Sophie Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, gorgeous gyals

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe my least favourite of these books

[Anneliese Bandrabur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny

[Chloe Reads Books]

As always, not giving these a numbered rating. I did find this one interesting, and I found there was a lot I didn't know about the Georgians, but it wasn't the most engaging at times!

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never been particularly interested in the Georgians for some reason, but I did get some enjoyment out of the book anyway purely because it’s a Horrible Histories book and that’s kind of to be expected.

My only criticisms would really be the same criticisms that I level at every Horrible Histories book. It’s kind of annoying to have to keep flicking backwards and forwards to see what the answers are to the little quizzes, and sometimes the humour gets in the way of the information itself. It’s a shame when that happens because it finally got me interested in a historical period that’s always passed me by. But at least I feel like I’ve learned something, which I suppose is the point. Go figure.

[Guguk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pas mulai baca, baru nyadar kalo era Georgians itu maksudnya masa-masa rajanya bernama George ｡ﾟ( ﾟ^∀^ﾟ)ﾟ｡//akukoktelmi

Mulai dari gaya make-up para bangsawan cewek (^..^) yang super heboh, sampai kemajuan 'teknologi' sepanjang era ini~ Menarik! (≧◡≦)

Oiya...tadinya aku (pas buka-cepat-liat-liat-doang) ngerasa terganggu dengan gambar tikus besar yang bertebaran di edisi baru ini, "Ih, ini gambar gede-gede, mana ga penting gini~"
Tapi lama-lama menghibur juga XD

[Zuzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a delightful kids’ history book - a Horrible Histories title. Proof that learning history can be fun!

Two YouTube links for people who never heard of the Horrible Histories British TV programme. I picked two compilations of bits on Georgian era. It's so much fun.
Gorgeous Georgians | Learn about the Georgians | Horrible Histories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbgOk...
The Four King Georges | Learn about British Monarchs | Horrible Histories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPqB7...

I read this book during the Jane Austen July Readathon, so I’m connecting it back to Austen. I really didn’t expect to learn anything new from a children’s book, but I was wrong. When I reread Emma I noticed a curious passage about baked apples. Miss Bates raves about Donwell Abbey apples gifted to the Bateses by Mr Knightley, talking about how they can be made into delicious baked apples.

Emma, Vol. II Chapter 9
"...Then the baked apples came home, Mrs. Wallis sent them by her boy; they are extremely civil and obliging to us, the Wallises, always—I have heard some people say that Mrs. Wallis can be uncivil and give a very rude answer, but we have never known any thing but the greatest attention from them. And it cannot be for the value of our custom now, for what is our consumption of bread, you know?
...
And when I brought out the baked apples from the closet, and hoped our friends would be so very obliging as to take some, ‘Oh!’ said he directly, ‘there is nothing in the way of fruit half so good, and these are the finest-looking home-baked apples I ever saw in my life.’ That, you know, was so very.... And I am sure, by his manner, it was no compliment. Indeed they are very delightful apples, and Mrs. Wallis does them full justice—only we do not have them baked more than twice, and Mr. Woodhouse made us promise to have them done three times—but Miss Woodhouse will be so good as not to mention it. The apples themselves are the very finest sort for baking, beyond a doubt; all from Donwell—some of Mr. Knightley’s most liberal supply. ..."

Initially I thought that Mrs Wallis was one of the neighbours who occassionally gifted food to the Bateses, but the coincidence of the gift being baked apples, too, struck me as odd. It didn't seem right. I meant to look into it, but as I read on I forgot all about it. Until...

...I was reading The Gorgeous Georgians and this passage made everything clear:
"... a lot of people cooked over open fires and didn't have ovens. They could roast meat or boil puddings but they couldn't bake a cake. So a cook would mix a cake and take it to the local baker to bake in the oven. ..."

So Miss Bates (or perhaps the one servant the Bateses had) prepared the apples to be baked and sent them to the baker’s - that is, to the Wallises - who baked them in their oven and sent them back.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gorgeous Georgians is about the history and how it was to live, and die, back with the georgians. They took you back to all of the fashion, education, deaths, pirates and many other things and showed you how difficult it was to live in that era. At the beginning they first go to fashion. They show you from their wigs to their shoes to how they died because their corset was too tight. The next part of their life they talked to you about was their food! They showed you some recipes they actually used and how good the food could be to how disgusting it could be. It also showed how some people died from eating too much or even what they ate in the food that caused them to die. Later, they talked about the different classes and how each one was different and how they were hard to live in. They gave real examples of families back then and also connected it to modern day. The book also talked about many important figures back then and their leaders. Many examples were given about how the people liked or disliked them, and their choice of words was great because it was not too hard to understand. In the book The Highwayman, Blackbeard and many other people were described and you got a lot of insight as to how they lived and their motivations. They used many illustrations to help us picture it and also put some comedic relief in there to so it is not so serious.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was long but it was easy enough to understand to the point where it was not too easy. My favorite part was the fashion section because they had many different descriptive words and many illustrations that not only helped me understand it and picture it but make it more fun and comedic for me to read. It was not a boring book because sometimes they would have some trivia and they actually made it fun. I would definitely recommend this book to someone if they want to learn something new and have fun with it!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many other parents, adults or school teachers out there, I find Terry Deary's efforts to make history appealing and entertaining for children to be commendable.

I believe this book to be one of Deary's better ones. It proved to be very informative and had a lot of interesting facts to say about a period which I knew relatively little about. I didn't know that vaccination was an invention from the Georgian period for example, something which is taken for granted nowadays but was revolutionary achievement in that time and has saved countless lives all around the world.

This is just one fact from many hundreds to be found in this book. That is why it is a great book for students, children and adults alike.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

And with that, my journey through the Horrible Histories list has come to an end. And quite a fitting end tomorrow really, that I ended up with one of my favourite periods of history.

It kind of goes without saying at this point that I wish history was better taught in schools because there is so much that we could learn about rather than sticking to the same old boring topics that every student in the country has studied. I would much rather learn about people like George III and the societies that they created.

But until the national curriculum is changed at least there are horrible histories out there in the world.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This period gets romanticised a lot - from exciting tales about pirates and highway men, to regency romances. Not forgetting the over the top fashions. So it’s good to provide younger readers (and adults!) with a warts and all look at the Georgians. Admittedly the animal cruelty is difficult to read about but it belongs in this book, as do the tribulations of children, women and the poor in general. All horrible stuff.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm thoroughly enjoying rereading these Horrible Histories books that I haven’t read in over a decade! There is plenty of information included that you might not find in more 'traditional' history books.

The cartoons are brilliant and still make me giggle even after all these years and Terry Deary's writing is still as engaging as it was all those years ago.

Even if you're an adult historian you will still enjoy reading these, whether reading them for the first time or rediscovering them!

[Oliwia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Gorgeous Georgians" is a delightful addition to the Horrible Histories series, offering a humorous and insightful look at the quirks of the Georgian era. From the eccentricities of King George III to the extravagant fashion trends of the time, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into one of history's most colorful periods. As I delved into its pages, I found myself thoroughly entertained and, surprisingly, reminded of the charm and scandal of the Bridgerton series.

2/10

[Andrew Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable yet again as par for the course with these books. I expected more of a focus on the monarchy at the time, but learning all about the everyman’s world is very interesting. Everything is written with a lightness of touch and zips along pleasingly. I’d thoroughly recommend any of the Horrible Histories books to anyone wanting a short general overview of that period in time.

[lilyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this 100%. the storytelling is great and i now know about england's history than how many books are on my tbr XD

i did find history boring so terry deary has made it way more interesting. the illustrations are hilarious too!

although this wasn't was exciting as most of his works, it was a fun read.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore reading horrible histories. It’s just so child friendly as it includes lots of pictures!! I love that . Read this book. After I read this book I knew more than I did the day before. And that’s amazing.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro interesante y con datos de esa época de la historia de Inglaterra; pero creo que como el anterior no me interesó tanto porque no tengo referente al leerlo en Latinoamérica.

Tal vez para un niño inglés que lo lee le parece más interesante

[Ryan Gillam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get that this is a book for children, but some of the information is wildly inaccurate.

I only read this book because I think I read almost every single one of them when I was a kid. Of course, back then there was no Wikipedia to double-check facts.

[WIZE FOoL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of books are a fun way of learning about history. They don't take things too seriously and have a lot of fun jokes and random quizzes to get you through the book. It is a light overview of the era in question but a great way to get kids into history or even reading.
Enjoy

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun and interesting! I know it’s a book for children, but I bought it on a whim as a souvenir, along with one other, and devoured it on the plane. I wish I could have the whole collection! I truly felt like I learned quite a bit from this (unsure whether that’s a good thing or not)

[Amy Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the facts were not as interesting as some of the ones in his other books, maybe this is just because I don't have as much interest in this particular era or because I already know quite a lot about it.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My eldest son NEVER tires of these books...

[Moez Lamti · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we get closer to Victorian times, our contemporary miseries crystallize, so to speak.