Secret Britain by Justin Pollard

Secret Britain by Justin Pollard

Some of our most intriguing history is missing. Perhaps there has been a conspiracy, a cover-up? Or maybe some stories have been lost, forgotten or were just too embarrassing to talk about at the time? But now they are back, revealed in all their glory: secret passages, events, societies, loves, identities and even dark secrets of the grave.

After much sleuthing, Justin Pollard takes us into undisclosed historical waters to discover why the city of Burlington isn't on the map; how 'Agent Pickle' saved the lost treasure of Bonnie Prince Charlie; what Sir Thomas Overbury knew in 1613 that got him murdered with a poisoned enema and how Virginia Woolf sweet-talked her way aboard HMS Dreadnought dressed as Abyssinian Prince.

Secret Britain also reveals the tragic love story behind the Rolls Royce mascot; how agent Garbo managed to get an MBE and an Iron Cross; the sinister properties of the Hand of Glory; the lost smuggling ship Peggy; the Mystery Runner of Nos Galan; the extraordinary history of the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan; London's only Nazi war memorial and the secrets of the WWII Monopoly board.

An endlessly fascinating book, and dull would he or she be who didn't find it hard to put down, once picked up. . The really clever part is the tone, which is never facetious, always respectful to the subject matter, even when there is a faintly detectable Jeevesian smile to the prose. It is hard not to say: "Oh, just one more, then." * Guardian *
Amusingly and energetically told...his best. Pollard has the QI knack of knowing what's funny or interesting * Spectator *
The parts of our past they didn't teach in school * Express *
'Ideal for history buffs and fact lovers' * Scottish Sunday Post *
Gems you won't have heard about at school * Daily Mail Scotland *
I sometimes wish that my school history lessons had given a bit less time to important things such as the repeal of the Corn Laws and a bit more to the sort of by-the-way history told here . . . amusing * Sunday Telegraph *

Justin Pollard read archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge. He is an historical writer and consultant in film and TV. His credits include the films Elizabeth and Atonement and the BBC TV Drama The Tudors, as well as more than twenty-five documentary series such as Channel 4's Time Team. He is a writer and researcher for QI and the author of seven books including The Interesting Bits and Charge!

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848541993
ISBN 10	1848541996
Title	Secret Britain
Author	Justin Pollard
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	John Murray Press
Year published	2010-11-11
Number of pages	336
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.