Entitled: A Critical History of the British Aristocracy

by Chris Bryant

A polemical history of the British ruling class and how they ended up owning our nation.

The full, shocking story of the British aristocracy, from Anglo-Saxon times until the present day.
Exploring the extraordinary and sometimes pernicious social and political dominance enjoyed by the British aristocracy over centuries, Entitled seeks to explain how a tiny number of noble families rose to such a position in the first place and reveals the often nefarious means they have employed to maintain their wealth, power and prestige. It examines the greed, ambition, jealousy and rivalry which drove local barons to compete with one another and aristocratic families to guard their inheritance with phenomenal determination. In telling their history, it introduces a cast of extraordinary fierce warriors, rakish dandies, political dilettantes, charming eccentrics, arrogant snobs and criminals who got away with murder.

Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Entitled tells a riveting story of arrogance, corruption and greed, the defining characteristic of the British ruling class.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook, Biography, British Literature

448 pages, Hardcover

Published September 7, 2017

About the author

Christopher John Bryant is a British politician and former Anglican priest who served in government as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009 and Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia from 2009 to 2010, and in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Culture Secretary and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. He was privately educated at Cheltenham College before studying English at Mansfield College, Oxford. After graduating with a further degree in theology, he worked as a Church of England priest as well as having roles at the BBC and Common Purpose.

Reviews

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book in a book shop while in London and it sparked my interest enough to read it. The author has done a lot of research and it shows in all the detail - however at times it is overwhelming and feels like lists of aristocrats and their negative deeds, rather than any narrative being put on the “story’. The later chapters are an easier read. A diagram of the kings of England (and their relationship to their predecessor) would have been useful, esp for the lesser known pre-Tudors monarchs.

[Matthew Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Bryant books the detail and interest come in the later chapters. Bryant as in his first volume on Parliament gets bogged down with too much detail and until the 1600s the book feels like a chore however beyond that it becomes accessible and important text on the aristocracy

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A densely written book that might prove a bit daunting for some readers, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a survey of the British aristocracy from before the Norman Conquest, full of anecdotes to show what thorough sh*ts they all are. Written, of course, from a somewhat hostile point of view.

[Willow Rankin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in my local library - and the tag line (A "critical" history of the British Aristocracy) had me sold. However, this book is everything I hate about history.
The introduction included 4 key themes about the aristocracy which I expected to explore and and review of key historical figures.
However, in the first chapter which started with the very beginnings of the aristocracy (10th Century) I got a list of wars, events, land changing hands, deaths, births and marriages - reading endless facts like these is entirely boring.
So I skipped a few chapters as who wants to read lists of facts in a paragraph of text with very little intriguing narrative to make you want to keep going? And so I arrived at the Victorian Age - considering how this era drastically change the British Isles (and her empire) with everything from advent of the industrial revolution right through to the first world war. This affected every factet of society and not just the aristocracy. However, considering the great changes (due to as the author points out lack of diversity in income), not much is said on the matter that adds to a critical review.
My other issue, comes from the very end, the author includes a comment that most people today would not even know who the aristocracy are - and this book does nothing to update that thinking or knowledge. I went in knowing less about todays aristocracy than I did beforehand.
Overall, this book is boring and dull - did I learn something, yes, however, the experience was not enjoyable and I felt missold, due to the lack of any critical reviews.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted so much to read about the subject.

I wanted so much to like it.

But it crap. Bryant is one of those failed novelists that could only be published as "non-fiction". I had to read how the weather was like four centuries ago. Or what the given person was thinking. Bryant has such an unsophisticated mind he assumes 15th century British aristocracy thinks like a character in a historic TV drama written by an American screenwriter and directed by a South African.

And there is also the way of putting things:

> He clearly thought of himself as the apotheosis of nobility. Others begged to differ.

What lead Bryant to say so? Who were the others? What made the others think differently? Who cares! The story goes on.

[isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

could have done from less listing of all the examples of the aristocracy being shitty people, and perhaps a bit more fun idk

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A polemical history of the British ruling class and how they ended up owning our nation.

The full, shocking story of the British aristocracy, from Anglo-Saxon times until the present day.
Exploring the extraordinary and sometimes pernicious social and political dominance enjoyed by the British aristocracy over centuries, Entitled seeks to explain how a tiny number of noble families rose to such a position in the first place and reveals the often nefarious means they have employed to maintain their wealth, power and prestige. It examines the greed, ambition, jealousy and rivalry which drove local barons to compete with one another and aristocratic families to guard their inheritance with phenomenal determination. In telling their history, it introduces a cast of extraordinary characters: fierce warriors, rakish dandies, political dilettantes, charming eccentrics, arrogant snobs and criminals who got away with murder.

Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Entitled tells a riveting story of arrogance, corruption and greed, the defining characteristic of the British ruling class.

[Nicky Rossiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise buy that I was not too sure about.
The big problem with books like this is the myriad of names, titles and alternate titles plus the multiple properties they own. They can boggle the mind in trying to keep in mind who is who.
Having said that the information provided on the fortunes, misfortunes, lifestyles and stupidity of many of the subjects is intriguing. The money they spent, lost or wasted is incredible in light of how their tenants etc had to live.
The privilege enjoyed even to the extent of getting away with actual murder will infuriate as will the greed of so many of the rich people profiled.
The sad thing is that many of them still enjoy their entitlements and ordinary people support and vote for them.

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this were the only book about the British Aristocracy it would be unfair but compared to many other book it gives an antidote to the over complementary propaganda that is put out. Go around a NT house or a Private Stately home and listen to the volunteers and you will see what I mean.

[Soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not particularly comprehensive but thoroughly enjoyable and full of barely suppressed rage

[Gary Jones]

Chris Bryant - Entitled...

A detailed and revealing look at the British Aristocracy and how they obtained and maintain their incredible and excessive wealth.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I expected a bit more from this book than it actually delivered. It was a bit dry in parts and a couple of chapters were interesting, but nothing really enlightening on the subject.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid history of the main misdeeds that created the Britosh aristocracy. Maybe a little over heavy on medieval manors for my liking.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many, many lists of the elite. Needed more stories.

[Iliyan Angelov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dropped after 3.5h in the audiobook.
You can tell a lot of work went in writing the book, but it felt like listening to a copy of the yellow pages.

A lot of names get tossed around quickly without finite focus.
4 stars for the effort.