Horrible Histories is a series of illustrated history books published in the United Kingdom by Scholastic, and part of the Horrible Histories franchise. The books are written by Terry Deary, Peter Hepplewhite, and Neil Tonge, and illustrated by Martin Brown, Mike Phillips, Philip Reeve, and Kate Sheppard.
The first titles in the series, The Terrible Tudors and The Awesome Egyptians, were published in June 1993. As of 2011, with more than 60 titles, the series had sold over 25 million copies in over 30 languages. The books have had tie-ins with newspapers such as The Telegraph, as well as audio-book tie-ins distributed with breakfast cereals.
History
Inspiration
Terry Deary's involvement with the Horrible Histories series began with his background in drama college and subsequent work as an actor-teacher with the TIE company in Wales. He transitioned into theater direction and playwriting for children, some of which formed the basis for the later Horrible Histories book series.
The concept for Horrible Histories emerged when Deary's publisher introduced him to the idea. Despite concerns about his historical knowledge, given his already authored 50 children's novels, the publisher offered factual content to complement his humor. Deary recalled, "The publishers originally asked for a joke book with a history theme. They said, 'Put in a few interesting facts to break up the jokes because some of your jokes are very bad.' And when I looked at the facts, I found they were much more interesting than the jokes. So we ended up with a fact book with jokes. We created a new genre."
Development
Blitzed Brits, the fifth book in the series, coincided with the 50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995, unexpectedly reaching bestseller lists. This milestone prompted the creation of Woeful Second World War in September 1999, to provide a more balanced portrayal of WWII by delving into the wartime experiences of France, Poland, Germany, and Russia.
Celebrating the series' 10th anniversary in 2003, Scholastic initiated the Horrible Histories Brainiest Boffin competition. This saw 500 applicants answering questions and creating birthday card designs, culminating in a mock TV quiz show with Deary as the quizmaster.
Mad Millennium, commissioned by Phil Clark in 2007, marked Deary's return to theater after 25 years. This paved the way for adaptations of his works into theatrical productions.
In 2007, the original series underwent reissuing with updated content and a refreshed visual design. Simultaneously, the live-action Horrible Histories television series emerged, leading to several books being reissued as show tie-ins. The theme "20 horrible years" guided the reissuing of numerous books in 2013.
By the early 2010s, Deary acknowledged the natural conclusion of the series. While the publishers didn't officially terminate it, there was a prevailing sense that it was winding down. Deary's involvement diminished, with other entities like the Birmingham Stage Company and CBBC continuing the franchise's legacy through stage plays and a live-action television adaptation since 2009. The Horrible Histories brand extended into video games, toys, magazines, and a game show.
Format
Educational goals
Terry Deary, the creator of the Horrible Histories series, offers a distinct perspective on education. He questions conventional schooling, asserting, "If I had it my way, I wouldn't have schools at all. They don't educate, they just keep kids off the streets. But my books educate because they prepare kids for life ... It's outrageous, why don't we start telling children the truth about history? I hope my books do just that."
Beyond entertainment, Deary's Horrible Histories books aim to deepen historical understanding. This integration of entertainment and education challenges the dichotomy between these two aspects. By adopting a skeptical approach to historical accuracy, the series prompts reflection on the reliability of historical information.
Deary's works also contain implicit political messages. Through parallels between contemporary and historical issues, readers are encouraged to ponder morality and patriotism. Rooted in an anti-imperialist perspective, the series frames history as a struggle between powerful entities and marginalized voices. This approach stimulates discussions about present-day societal challenges in relation to historical contexts. Deary's critique extends to conventional education methods, emphasizing critical thinking over conformity."