An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain

by John O'Farrell

Elucidates the bizarre events, ridiculous characters and stupid decisions that have shaped Britain's story since 1945

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

374 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

John O'Farrell is the author of four novels: The Man Who Forgot His Wife, May Contain Nuts, This Is Your Life and The Best a Man Can Get. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages and have been adapted for radio and television. He has also written two best-selling history books: An Utterly Impartial History of Britain and An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain, as well as a political memoir, Things Can Only Get Better and three collections of his column in The Guardian. A former comedy scriptwriter for such productions as Spitting Image, Room 101, Murder Most Horrid and Chicken Run, he is founder of the satirical website NewsBiscuit and can occasionally be spotted on such TV programmes as Grumpy Old Men, Question Time and Have I Got News for You.

Reviews

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, I would never have got through a 'straight' book on the same period so easily, and I did learn quite a lot about (in the main, 'political') history in the UK. O'Farrell's style is breezy and readable, and I was drawn to compare with the well-researched and in depth but dry Andrew Marr book on the same subject/period which I read earlier in the year.

On the other hand, the constant jokes got a bit tedious. Satire is better in small doses - with a ~500pp book such as this where there is a joke every couple of paragraphs, the reader inevitably is going to become a little weary with this due to the fact there's going to be some repetition and plenty of attempted humour which falls a bit flat. To his credit, the author's lefty opinions didn't overwhelm what he had to say as much as I feared it might, but I was left with a sense of some of what he had to say relying on 20/20 hindsight - which I suppose is an accusation that you could level at all many historians.

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I'd mind an irreverent, silly tone in non-fiction. Makes it an easier read, right? And always worth poking fun at history and all the dumb mistakes that we'll never ever make again... or not. But something about O'Farrell's tone just sets my teeth on edge. The book is informative enough, but I couldn't get past the style, and I didn't find it all that funny.

[Kirti Upreti · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A man who is willing to commit suicide has the initiative.” – Boris Spassky on Bobby Fischer, 1972 World Chess Championship

The only way to criticize a government is to criticize all governments – present and past; incumbent and prospective; foreign and domestic; left, right and centre. And if your polemicist propensities aspire to scale the lofty heights of satire then a courageous heart and a crazy mind must go hand in hand.

If John O’Farrell hates you, he not only says it out loud, but he also leaves no stone unturned to expound the degree of his abhorrence. The way he rips apart everyone – meticulously and chronologically, makes me wonder how many adversaries he has made in his lifetime. He portrays an entirely new definition of a twisted mind that only astonishes and further confirms your belief in your own cerebral impulses and where they could lead you.

He is brutal. He is honest. He is bodacious. He is downright crazy. But in the golden era of tomfoolery and balderdash, he wouldn’t have many admirers. Nevertheless, he goes on.

Keep shining on you crazy diamond!

[Anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will get a lot more out of this romp through the last sixty years of British history if you were there at the time (or most of the time!) having said that, it is still sometimes difficult to tell the send-up from the unbelievable truth. Don't bother picking this book up if you were a fan of Margaret Thatcher. On the other hand, admirers of Tony Blair can rest easy.

[Rufus Liverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love this books partially as it’s hilarious and partially because it covers my entire alevel specification. Truly a delight to read although the thatcher chapter is depressing, was no where near as bad as kaiser wilhems childhood in another less interesting book. Again this book is incredibly funny but serious at times too the conclusions are very insightful. Couldn’t recommend this book more !

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this volume more out of hope than expectation - I've had my fingers burned (eyes blinded? morale crushed?) by supposedly amusing socio-historic books far too often before. To be honest, had there been anything else on hand at the time I probably wouldn't have bothered.

And I would have missed an entertaining volume.

Yes, it took me a little while to get used to the style - apart from anything else, the purist in me gets concerned about a little thing called "factual accuracy" when made-up quotations get mixed in with real ones with the apparent abandon of a child in a sweetshop - but, after I'd got around that, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book.

I'm old enough to have lived through most (certainly far, far too many) of the events covered in this book which begins after World War II. It's good to get a new perspective on these events and, particularly, it's good to see a more informed and worldly viewpoint on the events upon which I had only a child's-eye view. Even the more recent chapters, dealing with events through the reign of Queen Maggie and through the Blair years, I found interesting though - and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

It's an easy book to read. It's generally enjoyable. And I learned some stuff too.

Not a bad combination, eh? I'll be holding on to this one.

[russell barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Handily left behind by Dr Robert Manwaring, who couldn't be cracked to take it back to Australia with him, I thought it'd make an ideal 'bridging' novel betwixt The Leopard and whatever we're reading next for Book Club.

Sadly being a make-weight read was probably as good as it got. You have to wade through a lot of sub-sixth form sniggering and punning before you reach the end. And then, having taken the piss for 450-odd pages, the end is slightly disjointed as O'Farrell suddenly goes all preachy about New Labour's (admittedly excellent) record on social policies.

Manners, you'll love it. I'll pop it in the post

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't be bothered to finish this book. It's quite factual/educational but O'Farrell's political views are made a bit too obvious and the random bouts of humour are often ridiculous, but sometimes they are quite funny... pretty much a waste of time and money.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the plus side, this book is a great way of reading English history and certainly, I learned a lot through its lighter tone even about the times I have lived through. It also managed a delicate humorous balance even though it was covering some dark themes and moments. That is not always easy to achieve where many of the events are clearly within living memory and some incidents are still raw.

The book was published in 2009 and has not been updated. However, although the author could not have foreseen the future exactly, you get the impression that nothing that has happened since 2009 would necessarily be a surprise to him. The same political classes and motivations exist - just with new names, slightly fresher faces and superficially different ideas - and that has always been and always will be the case. So, on that note, the author's jingoistic writing towards the end falls largely flat now. It may have seemed an oddly effusive tone on which to end back in 2009 but it now just jars. We have already experienced the "future" of the UK after the end of this book, and have found it to be full of even greater (but equally predictable) ennui than even the extended title suggested.

As for United Kingdom, according to the index, Scotland gets mentioned briefly on 5 of the 350 pages and Wales manages 4. Four of those pages actually coincide as if they are like identical twins although Scotland gets an extra mention because of its football team! So, if you want to learn anything much about those two other nations or their experiences during the rogues' gallery of governments over the course of the book, half of which they have probably not actually voted for, this is not really the book.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent Audible choice, sequential hole-filling modern history.

I know I have gaps in my knowledge of 20th century British history, I've very aware of it. I do like to try and improve on this where I can, and I already admire O'Farrell's writing and comedic style, so this felt like an accessible way to learn some (fairly dry?) political and social history, some within and some outside my own lifetime.

This progressed nicely, decade to decade, a government at a time, with important world and UK events putting the political decisions into context. The author makes his own political positions fairly clear so it does feel biased in one sense, though no party was not scrutinised for their mistakes either.

It was also still very funny, the humour doesn't detract from the content and wasn't puerile. I laughed aloud a few times and did feel more engaged than usual when politics is being discussed. It helped things make sense and connect in my head.

Great starter pack for someone coming to post-war UK politics for the first time. Well read by the author.

[Imogen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book taught me the importance of truth in comedy - in order to find something funny, the audience needs to know the truth/reality behind a joke.

As I was born around page 250 of this book, and the first thing I remember was on page 293 (the death of Diana, Princess of Wales), and all I really know about UK politics pre-Tony Blair is that lots of people didn’t really like Margaret Thatcher and there was a Cold War - most of the humour in this book was lost on me!

I ended up recognising a pattern in each paragraph (1st sentence - true statement about an actual event that happened. 2nd sentence - elaborates on the event with a bit of exaggeration. 3rd and 4th and 5th sentences - hyperbole/sarcasm/obviously untrue statements designed to make the reader laugh).

I now know more than I did, which I think will set me up nicely when I one day read a serious book about twentieth century British history/politics. But I’m clearly not the right target audience for this, and am sure that old people (for lack of a better word) would whip through it and chuckle.

[Stephen McQuiggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at Britain from the Second World War to the financial collapse of Gordon Brown's tenure as PM. With tongue firmly in cheek, brace yourself as the urine is well and truly extracted - you might just learn something when you've stopped laughing. The most interesting section was on the rise of Thatcher - a vile monster, scary even on the page - and how based on luck her ascension was. For all the irony and sarcasm and witty footnotes there is real poignancy here too - the attempts of good people to do good things, the struggles of the working class after the deprivations of the war, the ultimate fate of the miners under Maggie's stiletto heel. A wonderful, wonderful book.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it less than the previous history of Britain. I wonder whether it’s because a lot of the topics are in recent history- particularly with Thatcher onwards in my own lifetime.
I found it rather flippant where I remember the historical events being particularly emotive. Even thinking back over the events I remembered the upset or the fear I felt at the time and found O’Farrell’s humorous approach to these rather insensitive and grating

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some other reviewers said that the jokes and sarcasm can be overbearing. I get that but I think that they really help make some of the drier content on UK politics palatable.

Reading it made me realise how many of the UK’s modern day issues are inherited from terrible past decisions e.g railway privatisation, a lack of council houses/affordable housing, the UK’s general and resurgent xenophobia.

You can zone out reading this for extended lengths of time as it is very fact driven.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly well written and humorous account of British history and politics

This is not an objective book

But the bias is clear and obvious, so as long as you appreciate that is the point of view that this history is being told from then it's easy enough to enjoy the flow and learn from the content.

Well worth the read

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read and interesting to read of a period of history through which I have lived. There were some wonderful turns of phrase and allusions to present day foibles.
I look forward to reading his other book but will have a break and read some other types of literature first

[Andy Holdcroft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull: the unremitting facetious tone grates very early on & the humour is so one note as to be unfunny. Factor in the tedious Blairite view of the Labour Party which is applied with all the subtlety of a Stalinist propaganda vehicle & I defy anyone to finish it

[AintGotTimeToRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introspective look at the absurdist and theatrical British culture. John O'Farrell sweeps the reader through 60 years of British history in the only way a British person could: with an observant eye and a ready, ridiculing wit.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining account of the history of post-war Britain, which skillfully combines a factual read with comedy. Occasionally the humour is a little laboured but it's an enjoyable and well researched book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this history of social and political change in Britain but does make you realise that nothing really changes, the rich get richer and keep it to themselves. Easy to read, suitably cutting about the establishment

[Scott Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As funny as it is informative.

With a great deal of humour this book looks at the recent history of Britain. A laugh out loud account of the events in the post war UK.

[David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite entertaining. Passionately written and original.
A lot funnier than many mainstream comedians and an awful lot better informed.

[Andrew Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and informative

[Bethany Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeez British politics is annoying, but at least this book attempted to make it vaguely understandable and entertaining.

[Ollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and enlightening, but with slightly too much football references!

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A so so satirical book along the lines of tw3.a cynical eyed view of British history.

[Mark Hebden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although funny at times I must confess to not liking this book nearly as much as its prequel regarding British History up until world war II. I suppose there is much more scope to pick and choose your moments for ridicule when observing such a vast period of history. This book concerns the years since the second world war and is a mildly humorous documentation of political and cultural changes in Britain. Though I didn’t expect it to tell me anything I didn’t already know, I did expect plenty of comedy and they were few and far between. Because much of this is in John O’Farrell’s on lifetime he seems to treat the subjects with a reverence that needn’t be there. Also, I think the final chapters regarding the Blair governments are sychophantic in the extreme, to the point where the author begins to sound like an apologist for New Labour, the Iraq war and our close association with America and its brutal global dominance. Anybody disenchanted with the state of affairs is brushed aside with a “wait until China dominate everything, then you’ll want America back”. Whether true or not, that hypothesised future doesn’t absolve us from questioning those who claim to lead us know, militarily, economically and crucially, morally. I think John O’Farrell is one of a growing band of political satirists from the Thatcher years who are slowly succumbing to their rightward leanings as they get older. Perhaps its time for some new voices in the genre, O’Farrell at least sounds tired.

[Chris Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed O'Farrell's last book on the history of Britain (2000 years up to world war 2). There are plenty of stories ripe for his style of humour in that time period, with Kings and Queens doing things they shouldn't. Unfortunately the 60 year period covered in this book is not quite so suitable for this humour. Yes there are a lot of jokes to be made, but the book tries to cram in too many.

The last book could just select the interesting bits of history, but this one attempts to cover nearly every relevant factual event in the last 60 years of British history. In doing this it barely scratches the surface of any one topic while covering some topics that could easily be left out.

This book is good for what it is--light relief. If you need a broad overview of British history then this will do the job. Once your interest in the period has been sparked, pick up an Andrew Marr book instead.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can imagine that some people may not like JO'F but I LOVE his writing, he makes me do that irritating thing where I have to read things out to other people to see if they think it is funny too. This brings up to date where the first book left off ie from WW2 to current date and it was great to be reminded of so many recent historical events told with such an eye for comedy. Read the first one and then try this.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as John's previous "Utterly ..." book, but I guess it's pretty hard to beat the wonderful quirky stories about kings and queens of the past. This one is much more 'political' and not nearly as laugh-out-loud funny - but it is a good, and fun, summary of recent politics in Britain.