1066 and All That
1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings and 2 Genuine Dates is a satirical book authored by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman, first serialized in Punch magazine before publication in book form in 1930.[1][2] The work parodies the didactic style of British school history textbooks, recounting events from the Roman invasion of Britain through to the early twentieth century in a concise, whimsical narrative that deliberately distorts facts for comic effect.[3][4] It evaluates historical developments and figures through binary judgments such as "A Good Thing" or "A Bad Thing," mocking the teleological Whig interpretation of history that portrays progress as inevitable advancement toward the present.[5][4] Illustrated by John Reynolds, the book features memorable mischaracterizations—like Nero playing the violin or the Magna Carta as the "Magna Charter"—to highlight the selective, often erroneous recall of historical education.[6] Despite its inaccuracies, it achieved enduring popularity as a staple of English humor, with subsequent editions and adaptations underscoring its influence on popular perceptions of national history.[7][3]