I have always been fascinated with various myths, folklore, legends, and history. And I’ve always liked sharp humor and witty punchlines. Considering I have read all the Slavic fairy tales and historical books, I thought that presenting the rich and extensive history of that region through the eyes of a baker is the natural thing to do. So I tried to retell the rich folklore of the Slavic realm as an absurd baking journey through magic, empire-building, and baking the perfect loaf. It does add spice and flavor to the otherwise violent history of the region. Folklore and history should be fun and entertaining to read, not dry and academically challenging.
This is the last of the 4 books that Stephen Fry wrote about the Greek myths, and probably the best of the series. I devoured the book!
If you love history (folktale) and humor, look no further than this book; it has plenty of both! It is also the one that gave me the inspiration to write my take on history and folktales from an absurd and funny perspective.
I absolutely loved this book: being well familiar with the classic tale of The Odyssey, reading modern versions of the story, and having seen at least 3 different movies, I have to say this is the best version! I can only wish that somebody makes it into a movie!
WHEN GODS TURN VENGEFUL, ONLY THE BRAVE CAN DEFY FATE AND FIND THEIR WAY HOME
Discover Stephen Fry's epic re-telling of the Odyssey for the 21st century
'Relatable and full of humour ' GUARDIAN
'Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales' OBSERVER
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After the fall of Troy, wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca, sails for home and his steadfast queen Penelope.
However, the angry gods curse him to wander the seas for ten long years. Tormented by giants and monsters, tempted by witches and goddesses, Odysseus battles to draw ever closer to home.
Fantastic blend of the old and worn-off topic of vampires and history.
It breeds fresh air into the already crowded literary topic of the undead, with humor, satire, and deep knowledge of the history of the region. What drew me to the book is the fact that it takes place in my country of birth: Bulgaria. Being born and raised there, I truly appreciate the masterful capture of the culture and history of the country, blended with the topic of the undead.
Highly recommend to readers who love vampire stories and appreciate historical fiction.
Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters addressed ominously to 'My dear and unfortunate successor'. Her discovery plunges her into a world she never dreamed of - a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright - a hunt for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of…
Amazing imagination of blending the vampire theme with history!
This book kept me reading late at night (or early morning). I really appreciated the incredibly original idea of introducing vampires within the historical retelling of the failed Napoleonic campaign against Russia in 1812.
While the historical record of Russian irregular units disrupting the French logistical train is true, the idea of composing those units of vampires is brilliant. It explains the unusual violence and savagery as well as their inclination to operate at night (pun intended).
Excellent storytelling, and the author did not blunt the history by introducing the vampire angle; it made the story more entertaining and personal.
The voordalak—a creature of legend, the tales of which have terrified Russian children for generations. But for Captain Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov—a child of more enlightened times—it is a legend that has long been forgotten. Besides, in the autumn of 1812, he faces a more tangible enemy: the Grande Armée of Napoleon Bonaparte.
City after city has fallen to the advancing French, and it now seems that only a miracle will keep them from Moscow itself. In desperation, Aleksei and his comrades enlist the help of the Oprichniki—a group of twelve mercenaries from the furthest reaches of Christian Europe, who claim…
The funniest history book about English history, starting at the year 1066 AD and going forward.
Hilarious collection of kings, battles, and absurd and comic humor. The satirical stew of good kings, bad kings, mistakes, and what-ifs made reading English history an entertaining and enjoyable thing.
Great for long trips and/or boring commutes. It has the appropriate historical references but also holds hidden jokes, which add to the pleasure of the read.
"Canute began by being a Bad King on the advice of his Courtiers, who informed him (owing to a misunderstanding of the Rule Britannia) that the King of England was entitled to sit on the sea without getting wet." 1066 And All That is a book that has itself become part of our history. The authors made the claim that "All the History you can remember is in the Book" and, for most of us, they were probably right. But it is their own unique interpretation of events that has made the book a classic; an uproarious satire on textbook…
A dark academia mystery thriller set in contemporary St Andrews, with snappy dialogue and a strong sense of place.
When Ellie Meikle moves to the picturesque seaside town of St Andrews to study for her PhD in Ancient History, she soon feels as if she has made a mistake. She…
Last but not least, this book is a fantastic and entertaining read.
It may be classified as fantasy, but it's full of history from biblical times to contemporary England, so I’m putting this book in the “hilarious history” section.
The idea of an angel and demon working together is as absurd as it gets; the humor is sharp and sarcastic; and the book is full of quirky takes and punchlines on history and folklore.
THE BOOK BEHIND THE AMAZON PRIME/BBC SERIES STARRING DAVID TENNANT, MICHAEL SHEEN, JON HAMM AND BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
'Ridiculously inventive and gloriously funny' Guardian
What if, for once, the predictions are right, and the Apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?
It's a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, now find themselves in. They've been living amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.
This is the ultimate, unhinged, absurd and intensely carbohydrated Journey through Ukraine’s flour-dusted myths and oven gods, baking folklore, and bread princes. Here, baking was not merely a domestic chore; it was a brutal, magical, and often highly aggressive bid for survival and absolute market dominance.
In this flour-dusted epic, we peel back the sanitized layers of history to reveal the true, unyielding artisans of the steppe. This is not just a collection of fairy tales; this is a meticulous, satirical, and slightly unhinged journey through Ukraine’s deepest folklore, exploring the violent, perfectly laminated, and golden-crusted history of the Kyivan Rus baking empire.
Millions watch on live stream as Brit battlemage Daxx and his teammates, Asian-American twin-blade sword-dancer Qrysta and heavily-armored Aussie Orc warrior Grell, triumph in the World Championship of Sword and Sorcery.
The next thing he knows, Daxx is in the middle of a wilderness he’s never seen before. And he’s…
