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Unleash your wild side with this amazing Animal Sticker Activity Wallet. Jam-packed with over 100 stickers, a paw-some p... MoreAnimals
Think history is boring? Think again. It is disgusting, bloodthirsty, gory, silly and downright nasty and the Horrible Histories books will prove it. This series of non-fiction books teaches history “with the nasty bits left in”. No fact is too foul, no battle too vicious and no blunder too ludicrous for these books and that is exactly why children love them. And they’re not the only ones: teachers, parents and librarians are fans too and as a result they have expanded to a hugely successful, BAFTA award-winning TV series on CBBC not to mention to games, stage shows, activity books and more.
The author, Terry Deary, has written more than 60 Horrible History books since 1993 and describes the series as “a new genre” – fact books with jokes. The funny and gruesome facts mean children learn about history without even realising it. The mix of comic strips, illustrations, quizzes, recipes and more make them easy to dip in and out of which is probably why they are highly recommended for usually reluctant readers.
Children enjoy Horrible Histories from aged 7 upwards, although younger readers will need a strong stomach as none of the grisly details are spared. The books do link back to topics covered in school in Key Stages 2 and 3, but they will delight any child (or adult) with a silly sense of humour and a love of the revolting and bloodthirsty.
With so many books, and practically every period in history covered, it can be hard to figure out where to start, so check out our list of the full series below. We love the classics Terrifying Tudors or Vile Victorians or spark an interest in ancient history with Groovy Greeks or Angry Aztecs. Horrible Histories can bring holidays and days out to life and are guaranteed to keep giggling kids glued to their book.
Love this series? Check out our list of the Best Non-Fiction Series for 7 and 8 year olds
All the Horrible Histories books in order:
Book 1: Measly Middle Ages (1990)
Book 2: Terrible Tudors (1993)
Book 3: Awesome Egyptians (1994)
Book 4: Rotten Romans (1994)
Book 5: Vicious Vikings (1994)
Book 6: Vile Victorians (1994)
Book 7: Groovy Greeks (1995)
Book 8: Slimy Stuarts (1996)
Book 9: Angry Aztecs (1997)
Book 10: Awful Egyptians (1997)
Book 11: Cut-Throat Celts (1997)
Book 12: Frightful First World War (1998)
Book 13: Gorgeous Georgians (1998)
Book 14: Terrifying Tudors (1998)
Book 15: Savage Stone Age (1999)
Book 16: Woeful Second World War (1999)
Book 17: Horrible Christmas (2000)
Book 18: Incredible Incas (2000)
Book 19: Smashing Saxons (2000)
Book 20: Stormin’ Normans (2001)
Book 21: Barmy British Empire (2002)
Book 22: Ruthless Romans (2003)
Book 23: Villainous Victorians (2004)
Book 24: Horrible History of the World (2003)
Book 25: Blitz (2010)
Book 26: Horrible History of Britain and Ireland (2012)
Book 27: Deadly Days in History (2013)
For even more Horrible Histories fun, check out:
Horrible Histories Specials
Horrible Histories Gruesome Guides
Horrible Histories Sticker Activity Books
Horrible Histories Collections
Horrible Histories Handbooks
Horrible Histories Gory Stories
Horrible Histories, the Movie: Rotten Romans
And more on the "Other Titles" tab
Travel back into the measly Middle Ages, where the world was full of wild women, mad monks, naughty knights and cr... MoreMeasly Middle Ages
Refreshed, renewed, reloaded! Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Terrible Tud... MoreTerrible Tudors
Step back to an awesomely ancient time with the Awesome Egyptians. Discover which king had the worst blackheads, w... MoreThe Awesome Egyptians
A new series of Horrible Histories sticker activity books, crammed with quick quizzes, foul facts and putrid pictu... MoreRotten Romans
They may have looked all prim and proper, but the Victorians were a jolly naughty bunch who could be vicious and v... MoreVile Victorians
Refreshed, renewed, reloaded! Readers can discover all the foul facts about the SLIMY STUARTS, including ... MoreSlimy Stuarts
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Angry Aztecs, including why the Aztecs liked to eat scum, when t... MoreThe Angry Aztecs
Step back to an awfully ancient time when pharaohs were phoul, servants suffered and everyone believed in an awesome aft... MoreAwful Egyptians
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Cut-throat Celts, including why weird Celt warriors fought with no clo... MoreHorrible Histories: Cut-Throat Celts
History with twice the nasty bits ...in a brilliant new edition! The Frightful First World War tells readers all the hor... MoreHorrible Histories Collections: Frightful First World War & Woeful Second World War
Learn all about the Gorgeous Georgians with all the nasty bits left in. You probably thought that Georgians just spent t... MoreGorgeous Georgians (Horrible Histories)
Refreshed, renewed, reloaded! All the foul facts about the TERRIFYING TUDORS are ready to uncover, in... MoreTerrifying Tudors
Readers can discover all the facts about the SAVAGE STONE AGE such as what they used instead of toilet paper, why ... MoreSavage Stone Age
If you ever hear old folk moaning on about the world today, just remind them how woeful things were in the Second World ... MoreHorrible Histories: Woeful Second World War
This work features all the festive facts you ever wanted to find out but were too stuffed full of mince pies to ask. Fin... MoreHorrible Christmas
Learn all about the incredible Incas, with all the nasty bits left in. Find out the horrible truth, like how a buc... MoreThe Incredible Incas
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the SMASHING SAXONS, including who got cow pats as Christmas presents, why... MoreHorrible Histories: Smashing Saxons
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Stormin' Normans, including why Norman knights slept with a doll... MoreStormin' Normans
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Barmy British Empire, including how a war started when a Brit wa... MoreBarmy British Empire
Refreshed, renewed, reloaded! Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Ruthless Romans, including: ... MoreRuthless Romans
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Villainous Victorians, including why burglars were scared of bog... MoreVillainous Victorians
The Horrible History of the World presents the foul but fascinating story of humans from brain-nibbling ... MoreHorrible History of the World
"Horrible Histories" fans can discover if they could have survived the Blitz in this latest colour companion. From the p... MoreBlitz
Another lavish production for Xmas - this time the Wicked History of Britain in full colour. Re-using material fro... MoreHorrible History of Britain and Ireland
Deadly Days in History is the most horrible Horrible Histories book yet. Terry Deary and Martin Brown take you on ... MoreDeadly Days in History
In THE BEASTLY BEST BITS Terry Deary and Martin Brown take you on a guided tour through the history of the world using t... MoreHorrible Histories: Beastly Best Bits
The Big Fat Christmas Book is full of festive things that go bump in the night - the perfect read on a cold winter... MoreBig Fat Christmas Book
Fifty foul people from history - personally selected by His Dearyness for their beastly behaviour. Split into ten sectio... MoreWho's Horrible in History
From the bestselling team behind Horrible Histories - a hilarious and equally gory spin-off series delvi... MoreHenry VIII's Secret Diary
A stunning edition of this gory city guide with all the gruesome bits left in! Horrible Histories:... MoreGruesome Guide to York
HORRIBLE HISTORIES GRUESOME GUIDES: STRATFORD-UPON-AVON takes readers on a gore-tastic tour of the stree... MoreGruesome Guide to Stratford-upon-Avon
Refreshed, renewed, reloaded! All the most horrible facts about the Groovy Greeks ready for readers to... MoreGroovy Greeks
A stunning edition of this gory city guide with all the gruesome bits left in! Horrible Histories:... MoreGruesome Guide to Oxford
HORRIBLE HISTORIES GRUESOME GUIDES: DUBLIN takes his readers on a gore-tastic tour of the streets of Dublin, expos... MoreGruesome Guides: Dublin
From the bestselling team behind Horrible Histories! It’s time to delve into the totally true (so... MoreQueen Victoria's Secret Diary
All aboard! Discover all the foul facts behind the story of trains and railways across the world with history's... MoreRight On Track (newspaper edition)
From the bestselling team behind Horrible Histories! It's time to delve into the totally true (so... MoreQueen Boudica's Secret Diary
Discover all the foul facts about the Gorgeous Georgians with history’s most horrible headlines. The master ... MoreGorgeous Georgians (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the history of the mythological land with history's most horrible headlines: Gre... MoreGroovy Greeks (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the history of swashbuckling buccaneers with history's most horrible h... MorePirates (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the history of the big smoke with history's most horrible headlines: L... MoreGruesome Guides: London (newspaper edition)
From Tintagel Castle in Cornwall to Skibo Castle in the Scottish highlands, Horrible Histories: Crackin' Castles c... MoreCrackin' Castles
Discover all the foul facts about the history of the Scottish capital with history's most horrible headlines: Edin... MoreGruesome Guide to Edinburgh (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the Savage Stone Age with history's most horrible headlines. All... MoreSavage Stone Age (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the Slimy Stuarts with history's most horrible headlines. All th... MoreSlimy Stuarts (newspaper edition)
From the bestselling team behind Horrible Histories! It's time to delve into the totally true (so... MoreWilliam the Conqueror's Secret Diary
Discover all the foul facts about the history of air travel with history's most horrible headlines: in-f... MoreUp in the Air
Discover all the foul facts about the Ruthless Romans with history's most horrible headlines. All ... MoreRuthless Romans (newspaper edition)
Boo! Discover all the frightful stories behind iconic ghost tales and legends from around the world with... MoreGhosts
Discover all the foul facts about the Awesome Egyptians with history's most horrible headlines. Al... MoreAwesome Egyptians (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the Stormin' Normans with history's most horrible headlines. All... MoreStormin' Normans (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the history of the Bard's hometown with history's most horrible headli... MoreGruesome Guide to Stratford-upon-Avon (newspaper edition)
“★★★★★ Horrible Histories is back - and better than ever. Marking 30 years... MoreThe Worst in the World
Put the pedal to the metal! Discover all the foul facts behind the story of cars and automobiles across ... MoreOn the Road
Discover all the cut-throat facts about the Terrible Tudors with history’s most horrible headlines: Tudo... MoreTerrible Tudors
Discover all the cut-throat facts about the Incredible Incas with history’s most horrible headlines: Inc... MoreIncredible Incas (newspaper edition)
The blood-curdling history of Britain and Ireland from Terry Deary! The master of making history ... MoreHorrible History of Britain and Ireland (newspaper edition)
Discover all the blood-curdling stories with: The Horrible History of the World. The master of ma... MoreHorrible History of the World (newspaper edition)
Keep your hands inside the boat at all times! Discover all the terrifying tales about the number one riv... MoreTerrible Thames
Keep your hands inside the boat at all times! Discover all the terrifying tales about the number one riv... MoreTerrible Thames ebook
Discover all the foul facts with history's most horrible headlines: Victorian edition. The master... MoreVillainous Victorians
Discover all the cut-throat facts about the Angry Aztecs with history’s most horrible headlines: Aztec e... MoreAngry Aztecs
Discover all the foul facts about the Smashing Saxons with history's most horrible headlines. All ... MoreSmashing Saxons (newspaper edition)
The blood-curdling history of Britain and Ireland from Terry Deary! The master of making history ... MoreHorrible History of Britain and Ireland (newspaper edition) ebook
Unleash your wild side with this amazing Animal Sticker Activity Wallet. Jam-packed with over 100 stickers, a paw-some p... MoreAnimals
Discover all the foul facts about one of the oldest universities in the world’s hometown with history’s ... MoreOxford (Newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about fifty gruesome great houses with history’s most horrible headlines: Gr... MoreGruesome Great Houses
Top 50 Kings and Queens is packed full of foul facts and loathsome lists all about our ruthless rulers. Filled wit... MoreTop 50 Kings and Queens
Discover all the foul facts about the city whose name probably translates to 'muddy-pool' with history's... MoreLiverpool
Discover all the foul facts about the capital city of the land of the red dragon with history’s most hor... MoreHH Cardiff (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the city with Roman and Viking roots with history's most horrible head... MoreYork (newspaper edition)
The Truly Terrible History of the Toilet is full of horrible facts about the loo. Read all about how the an... MoreThe Truly Terrible History of the Toilet-Flush with Facts
HORRIBLE HISTORIES GRUESOME GUIDES: DUBLIN takes his readers on a gore-tastic tour of the streets of Dub... MoreDublin
Discover all the foul facts about the gruesome green city of Scotland with history's most horrible headl... MoreGlasgow (newspaper edition)
Discover all the foul facts about the Roman city made of stone with history’s most horrible headlines: B... MoreBath (newspaper edition)
A year. 365 days. What's the worst that could happen? Well, quite a lot, as it goes. On This Horrible Day i... MoreOn This Horrible Day in History
Terrible Traitors is a horrible compendium of the worst traitors in history. Were they really all bad? You d... MoreTerrible Traitors
Discover all the foul facts about fifty gruesome great houses in this addition to the Horrible Histories... MoreGruesome Great Houses
Horrible Histories finally turns its attention to the most popular sport on Earth, football. Read all about ... MoreFootball
From early Roman Londinium to the blasting by the Blitz, Terry Deary presents the nasty bits of London's glorious - and ... MoreLoathsome London
Cruel Crime and Painful Punishment is crammed full of 7,000 yearsof law-makers and law-breakers with a rogue's gallery o... MoreHorrible Histories: Cruel Crime and Painful Punishment
Discover all the foul facts behind the story of Britain and Ireland's seafaring heritage. From the early exp... MoreAll at Sea
It's history with the nasty bits left in! Want to know: Whose pickled skin became a sought-after souvenir? ... MoreGruesome Guides: Edinburgh
As always another great horrible histories book. This was all about traitors throughout history and was very interesting because it combined stories f...
My daughter received the entire Horrible Histories collection and chose London to read first. She must have enjoyed it as couldn’t stop sharing the fa...
I really loved this book! I have read most others in the Horrible Histories series but this is my favourite. It has lots of disgusting facts that make...

