Why read Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know?

Book cover of Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know: The Extraordinary Exploits of the British and European Aristocracy

Book description

The alarming history of the British, and European, aristocracy - from Argyll to Wellington and from Byron to Tolstoy, stories of madness, murder, misery, greed and profligacy.

From Regency playhouses, to which young noblemen would go simply in order to insult someone to provoke a duel that might further their…

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Lord Byron

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Why read it?

1 author picked Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

John S. Croucher

Author

I loved this book as I was fascinated by its stories of the entertaining lives of British and other European aristocrats, highlighting their madness and providing tales of murder, misery, greed, and profligacy.

Even though I am a historian, I was unaware of just how eccentric these hellraisers were and their participation in blood sports, duels, and high-stakes gambling. It is a book that I will probably read a second time as I found the first instance so enjoyable.

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2023.