Product Description

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 will also reveal 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.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45402 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Review

'Ideal for history buffs and fact lovers

--Sunday Post

Nobody's secrets are safe with Justin Pollard - and it makes for a fascinating read! --Terry Jones

Review

'Ideal for history buffs and fact lovers’

(Sunday Post )

About the Author

Justin Pollard read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge. He is a historical writer/consultant in film and TV. His credits include Elizabeth and Atonement as well as over twenty-five documentary series such as Time Team and The Tudors for Channel Four. He is a researcher for QI and the author of five books including The Interesting Bits and Charge!

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Customer Reviews

What a secretive little lot we are...
If you like dipping into a book in bite-sized pieces and you like quirky, well-researched and entertaining historical nuggets then this new work by historical expert Justin Pollard (QI, Atonement, Elizabeth, Time Team) might just be for you.

Like a cross between a literary 'Little Britain' and 'Bleak House', you'll find yourself puzzling over strange conundra that foxed the Brits of yesteryear and will find yourself wondering how many of our modern-day secrets and mysteries lie buried, waiting to be exposed...

How well do you really know your history?
This is a book for all history fans or for those who think they know everything but clearly do not! Secret Britain is a book to dip in and out of for fun and a bit of education. Conspiracy theories and cover ups come to life and the truth can be found in these pages. Justin Pollard the author makes it clear though in these little passages of history that maybe there is more evidence out there to bring another theory to the table.

Some of the secrets revealed you will know and remember from folklore and history lessons; Lionel 'Buster' Crabbe's disappearance, the story of the 'The Spirit of Ecstasy' on the front of Rolls-Royce cars, John the Painter to name a few. There were many which were interesting and provoked me to read more about a subject; 'The Bisley Boy' and Elizabeth I and the London Ghost Train part of the London Necropolis and National Mausoleum Company.

Justin Pollard splits the book into different 'secrets', secret identities, secret loves, secret tricks and secret truths. A wonderful book to delight all history fans and those who love to pick up a book to dip into and find yourself wanting to know more.

Brilliant for History Buffs!
I have really enjoyed dipping in and out of this book over the last few weeks, reading fascinating bits and bobs of Britain's history - one or two of which were things I already knew of - but the majority of which were totally new!
Written by one of the authors/researchers for QI, the facts contained within are relaible and totally intriguing. I have to say, it has sourced me a great many potential questions for future quiz nights!!!

A great gift for trivia buffs of all ages. I shall be ordering one for my friend's son, who absorbs all sorts of facts.