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Notorious: History’s Villains and Why They Matter
History loves a villain.
Across the entire span of human civilisation, certain people and groups have been identified as being responsible for the ills of the world, and have remained hated for it. In his continuing desire to separate out the facts from the fiction of history, Otto English looks at how these legacies were constructed and who told us that they were evil.
From how Bloody Mary became the figurehead of uppity women and how Judas's betrayal became a template for religious tensions for centuries to what the Peasants Revolt and the Illuminati shows us about power struggles throughout the ages, English exposes the agendas behind the 'truths' we've been told to believe. And in looking at how xenophobia was weaponised during the 'Spanish' Flu, he reveals how our past sometimes bleeds into the present day.
Fascinating and fearless, Notorious will re-examine some of the history's biggest villains and change the way you see the world forever.
Across the entire span of human civilisation, certain people and groups have been identified as being responsible for the ills of the world, and have remained hated for it. In his continuing desire to separate out the facts from the fiction of history, Otto English looks at how these legacies were constructed and who told us that they were evil.
From how Bloody Mary became the figurehead of uppity women and how Judas's betrayal became a template for religious tensions for centuries to what the Peasants Revolt and the Illuminati shows us about power struggles throughout the ages, English exposes the agendas behind the 'truths' we've been told to believe. And in looking at how xenophobia was weaponised during the 'Spanish' Flu, he reveals how our past sometimes bleeds into the present day.
Fascinating and fearless, Notorious will re-examine some of the history's biggest villains and change the way you see the world forever.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2025
34 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 10, 2025
A good account but I noticed a lot of spelling/grammar errors? I am by no means the grammar police but it seems like this wasn’t fully proof read? Great book though.
June 8, 2025
Otto English brings his peerless eye for a good story, and customary wit, to this highly entertaining delve into humanity’s greatest baddies. However, there’s a lot more going on here than just a run down of history’s worst scumbags. English employs a broad cast of murderers, gangsters, traitors, and tyrants to explore our relationship with those we cast in the role of villain. Some we get right, others not so much, but, ultimately, it becomes clear that the line between hero and villain is rarely a straight one, and always drawn by the beholder.
August 18, 2025
As usual plenty to think about in Otto English’s third book. I couldn’t tackle it all in one gulp but that doesn’t mean it was boring. Had to let it marinate in my brain and switch to something safe to get to sleep.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews