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Gareth Rubin. The Great Cat Massacre - A History of Britain in 100 Mistakes
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
RELIGION
THE GREAT CAT MASSACRE – SPREADING THE PLAGUE, 1232
THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER… – THE WITCH HUNTS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
THEY’RE STILL HERE! – THE WITCH HUNTS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, 1940
THE LAW
CURIOSITY KILLED THE LAWYER – THE DEATH OF ROBERT TRESILIAN, 1388
THE ACCIDENTAL ABOLITIONIST – LUKE COLLINGWOOD ENDS THE SLAVE TRADE, 1782
BUT DID HE DO IT? – THE DEATH OF LORD CASTLEREAGH, 1822
CLASS WAR BREAKS OUT IN THE COURTS – THE TICHBORNE CLAIMANT, 1862
THE WRONG HAT – FRANZ MULLER STARTS A TREND, 1864
A CASE TOO FAR – CHARLES DILKE EXCLUDES HIMSELF FROM GOVERNMENT, 1885
THE WRONG DISGUISE – DR CRIPPEN HANGS HIMSELF, 1910
AN EXPENSIVE KEY – SINKING THE TITANIC, 1912
THE WRONG PASSPORT – LORD HAW-HAW HANGS HIMSELF, 1946
A SHOT IN THE DARK – LORD LUCAN IS UNLUCKY, 1974
THE WRONG FUGITIVE – JOHN STONEHOUSE GETS CAUGHT, 1974
TREADING ON BRAZILIAN TOES – LETTING RONNIE BIGGS OFF THE HOOK, 1974
THE WRONG MAN – THE SHOOTING OF STEPHEN WALDORF, 1983
AN OFF-HAND COMMENT – JEFFREY ARCHER SENDS HIMSELF TO PRISON, 1990
SLIP OF THE TONGUE – JOHN PATTEN’S MINISTERIAL CAREER GOES UP IN SMOKE, 1993
WARFARE AND CONFLICT
FRIEND OR FOE? – THE BATTLE OF BARNET, 1471
GENEROUS TO A FAULT – WILLIAM THE SILENT PAYS FOR HIS OWN ASSASSINATION, 1582
KEEP ’EM HAPPY – THE ASSAULT ON CÁDIZ, 1625
PREMATURE CELEBRATIONS – ALLOWING BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE TO ESCAPE, 1746
SACKVILLE FREEZES – THE BATTLE OF MINDEN, 1759
OH, IT’S TOO LATE TO READ – FAILING TO QUELL THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1776
THE LUCKY HAT – WASHINGTON RIDES AWAY, 1777
TOO MUCH AIR – FAILING TO DISPOSE OF THE SECRET TREATY, 1780
SCAREDY CATS – THE LAST INVASION OF BRITAIN, 1797
FRANCE’S SECRET WEAPON – WILLIAM ERSKINE, 1811
JUMPING THE GUN – THE WAR OF 1812
LOST LEECHES – NAPOLEON LOSES AT WATERLOO, 1815
HOLDING OUT TOO LONG – GENERAL GORDON DISOBEYS ORDERS, 1885
APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEPTIVE – THE BLACK BOTTLE AFFAIR, 1840
A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATIONS – THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, 1854
ELSEWHERE, AT SEA… – THE CRIMEA ON WATER, 1854
MAKIN’ BACON – THE PIG WAR OF 1855
THE WRONG KIND OF OIL – THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857
SLOW MESSAGE – THE BIRTH OF KAISER WILHELM II, 1859
BLAMING ONE’S TOOLS – THE BATTLE OF ISANDLWANA, 1879
‘I DON’T BELIEVE YOU’ – ZANZIBAR’S SHORT WAR, 1896
THE WRONG ENEMY – THE RUSSIAN FLEET DECLARES WAR ON BRITAIN, 1904
THE INDIAN VISITORS – INFORMING THE ENEMY, 1914
THE RUSSIAN VISITORS – DISINFORMING THE ENEMY, 1914
ENFORCED BRAVERY – LEAVING THE PILOTS TO IT, 1915
DROPPING YOUR COUNTRY IN IT – THE SINKING OF RMS LUSITANIA, 1915
A POOR CHOICE OF LINE – THE ZIMMERMANN TELEGRAM, 1917
THAT SINKING FEELING – THE K-CLASS SUBMARINES, 1917
IGNORING THE TOPOGRAPHY – THE BOMBARDMENT OF FLANDERS
LET’S STICK WITH WHAT WE KNOW – CAVALRY, NOT TANKS, 1922
NOT VETTING YOUR CLEANERS – HIRING MELITA NORWOOD, 1935
SWITCHING TARGETS – THE GERMANS FAIL TO DESTROY THE RAF, 1940
AN OPEN SECRET – THE ENIGMA CODE, 1940
THE WRONG LAUNDRY – THE GERMANS SPILL THE BEANS, 1941
AN UNWELCOME SIGN – HMS TRINIDAD IS DISABLED, 1941
LOOKING THE WRONG WAY – LOSING SINGAPORE, 1942
KEEPING A CODEWORD A BIT TOO SECRET – ALLOWING THE GERMAN FLEET TO ESCAPE, 1942
OUT OF DATE, OUT OF TIME – ALLOWING BURGESS AND MACLEAN TO ESCAPE, 1951
ARGY-BARGY – THE ARGENTINES INVADE THE FALKLANDS TOO EARLY, 1982
THE WRONG NUMBER – THE INVASION OF GRENADA, 1983
THE WORLD’S WORST CODE – THE DOGS OF WAR TRIAL, 2004
CULTURE
A FAKE THAT STUCK – NAMING THE HILLS, 1747
PREMATURE ENDING – KUBLA KHAN GETS SHORTENED, 1797
POOR DRESS SENSE – IMPROVING CRICKET, 1822
WARMING UP – CARLYLE HAS TO REWRITE HIS MAGNUM OPUS, 1843
FAILING TO APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT – QUEEN VICTORIA PUTS HERSELF IN THE LINE OF FIRE, 1882
A THREE-PART TRAGEDY – THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE, 1895
BADLY CHOSEN WORDS – RUDYARD KIPLING GETS FIRED, 1889
THE TOWER FOLLY – CLEARING A SITE FOR WEMBLEY, 1889
MAKING THEMSELVES HOMELESS – EVERTON FC CREATES LIVERPOOL FC, 1892
JOIN THE PARTY – EXTENDING THE MARATHON, 1908
TAKING HIS SECRET TO THE GRAVE – LORD CARNARVON KEEPS TUTANKHAMUN’S TREASURE HIDDEN, 1923
STUNG CONSCIENCE – EVELYN WAUGH ATTEMPTS SUICIDE, 1924
MAKING THE WRONG POINT – ARNOLD BENNETT DIES, 1931
THE WRONG QUEEN – NAMING CUNARD’S LATEST SHIP, 1934
GREAT BRITISH HYPOCRISY – THE CHRISTIE AND EVANS CASE CREATES YES MINISTER, 1950
A NAZI PIECE OF WORK – THE HITLER DIARIES, 1983
FINANCE
MONEY FOR OLD ROPE – THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE, 1720
LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG – REVEALING THE CONTENTS OF THE BUDGET, 1947
BAD MATHS – THE UNNECESSARY AUSTERITY, 1969
THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOLE EVER DUG – BENN’S BLACK HOLE, 1973
SCIENCE
FROZEN OUT – THE DEATH OF FRANCIS BACON, 1626
ANAGRAM GAMES – SWIFT BECOMES AN ASTRONOMER, 1726
THE POET’S FRIEND – DOCTORS EXPOUND THE WONDERS OF OPIUM, THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
HEALING HANDS – BYRON’S DOCTORS KILL HIM, 1824
WELL, IT’S SORT OF MY FAULT – THE FIRST OPERATION PERFORMED WITH ANAESTHETIC, 1846
POOR WORKMANSHIP – THE DEATH OF PRINCE ALBERT, 1861
THE MODERN ICARUS – PERCY PILCHER INVENTS POWERED FLIGHT, 1899
THE WRONG QUEUE – JAMES CHADWICK BECOMES A PHYSICIST, 1907
‘HOW ARE YOU FEELING?’ ‘RUFF’ – THE BROWN DOG RIOTS, 1907
MONKEY BUSINESS – PILTDOWN MAN, 1911
MAKING IT HARD ON HIMSELF – SCOTT OF THE ANTARCTIC DIES, 1912
MOULD MAN – THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN, 1928
SLOWING THINGS DOWN – IGNORING JET ENGINES, 1930
CLEVER KITTY – THE INVENTION OF CAT’S EYES, 1933
THE RESERVES REACH THE SUMMIT – EDMUND HILLARY AND SHERPA TENZING SCALE EVEREST, 1953
NATION-BULIDING
BAD HAIR DAY – HANDING A CHUNK OF FRANCE TO ENGLAND, 1152
MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL – HENRY II CREATES A SAINT, 1170
SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE CASSOCK – THE POPE GIVES IRELAND TO ENGLAND, 1172
AN INSURANCE ISSUE – KING JOHN AND THE CROWN JEWELS, 1216
THE OVER-ENTHUSIASTIC GROOM – ALEXANDER III GOES FOR A RIDE, 1286
FLATTERY GETS YOU EVERYWHERE – HENRY VIII’S POOR CHOICE OF BRIDE, 1539
TO PLAY A QUEEN – THE SUPPLANTING OF ELIZABETH I, 1543
THAT’S WHAT HAMLET WAS TALKING ABOUT – THE SLOW SUICIDE OF ELIZABETH I, 1603
UP IN FLAMES – THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON, 1666
A BAD SHOT – CLIVE OF INDIA FAILS TO KILL HIMSELF, 1744
TOO MUCH EXPLOSIVE – THE FENIANS CONDEMN ONE OF THEIR OWN TO SWING, 1867
PROMISE TO BE GOOD? – RELEASING JOHN DEVOY, 1869
THE COCK CROWS – CHARLES BERESFORD FUMBLES IN THE DARK, 1891
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND – PROMOTING IDI AMIN, 1948
POLITICS
NO MORE FRANGLAIS – CREATING THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER, 1717
IT’S GOING TO FALL DOWN – NUMBER 10 BECOMES THE SEAT OF BRITISH PRIME MINISTERS, 1732
MISSING THE BOAT – THE TRIALS AND TRAVAILS OF JOHN WILKES, 1763
BUT THE POINT WAS TO KEEP THEM OUT – THE GREAT REFORM ACT GENERATES THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, 1832
ROYAL MISDIAGNOSIS – THE BATTLE OF FLORA HASTINGS, 1839
SHOOTING THE WRONG MAN – ROBERT PEEL SURVIVES, 1843
SWORN ENEMIES – CHARLES BRADLAUGH IS BARRED, 1880
THE LOST LETTER – PEEL SAVES DISRAELI, 1846
A VIRILE MAN – LORD PALMERSTON SHOWS HE’S STILL GOT IT, 1863
BAD TIMING – EMILY DAVISON FALLS UNDER THE KING’S HORSE, 1913
A FOND OLD MAN – ASQUITH GETS DISTRACTED, 1915
SUFFRAGETTE PITY – ENFRANCHISING WOMEN ON A WHIM, 1925
RULING HIMSELF OUT AS PRIME MINISTER – HERBERT MORRISON LEAVES THE ROOM, 1945
A FALSE POSITIVE – HAROLD MACMILLAN RESIGNS, 1963
‘THIS IS OFF THE RECORD, ISN’T IT?’ – MICHAEL FOOT’S WIFE STABS HIM IN THE BACK, 1983
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR MIKE – GORDON BROWN AND BIGOTGATE, 2010
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
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