UNRULY: A HISTORY OF ENGLANDS KINGS AND QUEENS (PB)

Starting with King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist), David Mitchell tells the story of England's royals up to the reign of Elizabeth I (spoiler: she dies). It's a tale of narcissists, inadequate self-control, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and at least one total Cnut, as the population evolved from having their crops nicked by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a divinely anointed monarch.