A Short History of the World in 50 lies by Natasha Tidd, part 1: The Ancient World

A Short History of the World in 50 lies by Natasha Tidd.

I bought this for two quid in Glossop last September, (and have still not forgiven my best friend from preventing me from entering charity shops – the bastard!).

It does what it says on the tin “reveals an alternative perspective on history as we know it through fifty of the greatest lies ever told.”

It takes talent to write short coherent and lively squibs on stuff people may have only a passing knowledge of (or none at all). Tidd has the necessary talent, and there are nice illustrations by Patrick Knowles.

There are five sections – The Ancient World, The Middle Ages, The Early Modern Age, The Nineteenth Century and the Twentieth Century (the last one is Chernobyl, 1986).

I am reading one lie per day, and making notes (mostly to remind myself of things to look up)

I will “blog” (mostly scrape my notes) once per section.

PS Tidd has another coming out this year – A Short History of the World in 50 Murders.

The Ancient World.

Darius had to fake a coup

The Greek Themistocles managed to fake out/entice Xerxes into a naval trap (a “lie” in the sense of military deception)

Chronically in debt, Julius Casear starts a war for the plunder. It works, but he has to spin it as for the greater glory of Rome, and so a PR operation is born… Gallic Wars

Cicero wants power, allies with Octavian (aged 18) trashes Mark Anthony repeatedly (the Philippics). But Octavian and Mark Anthony form alliance, Cicero loses his head.

Arminius of a Germanic tribe, raised (hostage) by the Romans, and trusted by Varus. Leads them into a forest ambush, the Romans wiped out and Octavian smacks his head against the wall in frustration.

Court reporter Procopius writes standard hagiographies of Justinian and Theodora. Two volumes – a third “true” volume turns up in Vatican archives 100s of years later!

To read – The 1792  epistolary novel Marcus Flaminius, by Cornelia Knight