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As befits the man behind Baldrick, Tony Robinson uncovers life in the underbelly of history in The Worst Jobs in History. Whether it’s swilling out the crotch of a knight’s soiled armour after the Battle of Agincourt or acting as ‘Groom of the Stool’, going to places where none of Henry VIII’s six wives would dare to venture, he investigates the vilest jobs imaginable to get to the bottom (sometimes literally) of the story.
From the Roman invasion to the reign of Queen Victoria, Tony delves into the worst jobs from each era of history. During the Gunpowder Plot, he discovers the role of the Saltpetre Man who collected human waste because its nitrate content could be turned into gunpowder. He also reveals what it was like to risk your neck in the rigging of Nelson’s navy and examines the impact of the Industrial Revolution, which created a whole cornucopia of lousy new jobs.
Packed with disgusting yet fascinating professions, The Worst Jobs in History really gets into the grime of how life was for ordinary people, and provides a vivid alternative (and fairly disgusting) history of Britain.
About the author
Sir Tony Robinson is most famous for playing the role of Baldrick in Blackadder but he made his first professional appearance at the age of thirteen in the original stage version of Oliver! and went on to appear with the Chichester Festival Theatre, the RSC and the National Theatre. He wrote and starred in Maid Marian And Her Merry Men, and presented Time Team for twenty years. He has made numerous factual series, including The Worst Jobs In History and Tony Robinson's Time Walks. He is a multi award-winning children's television writer and has authored many children's books including the history series Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders. He has also written several books for adults including his autobiography, No Cunning Plan.
Summary
As befits the man behind Baldrick, Tony Robinson has uncovered life in the underbelly of history in The Worst Jobs in History. Whether it's swilling out the crotch of a knight's soiled armour after the battle of Agincourt, risking his neck in the rigging of HMS Victory, or as 'Groom of the Stool' going to places where none of Henry VIII's six wives would venture, Tony endures the worst jobs imaginable to get to the bottom (sometimes literally) of the story.
From the Roman invasion to the reign of Queen Victoria, Tony has met the challenge of seeking out the worst jobs of each era. The Gunpowder Plot drew Tony to the role of the Saltpetre Man who collected human waste because its nitrate content could be turned into gunpowder. In the same vein, he has revealed some of the worst jobs behind the building of the great medieval cathedrals. With Tony we discover the dire conditions of Nelson's Victory, where the most common form of retirement was being sewn into a hammock with a couple of cannon balls and dropped over the side. Then there's the impact of the Industrial Revolution, a source of wealth and power for the few, but a cornucopia of lousy jobs for the many.
Packed with disgusting yet fascinating professions, The Worst Jobs in History really gets into the grime of how life was for ordinary people, and provides a vivid alternative (and fairly disgusting) history of Britain.
Foreword
A no-holds-barred look at the most unenviable jobs of the last 2,000 years in British history.
