A review of the book 'The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments' written by Adrian Bliss.
Equal parts fascinating and hilarious, The Greatest Nobodies of History is a surreal love letter to life’s forgotten heroes, featuring hitherto undocumented accounts from Ancient Greece to the front lines of the Great Emu War.
All that follows really happened, and some of it could even be true …
Order links of the book 'The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments' below:
Amazon India:
Paperback
Hardcover
Kindle
Audible
Amazon USA:
Hardcover
Kindle
Audible
Flipkart:
Paperback
And please don't forget to checkout Historylogy.com for latest book reviews and tidbits from the pages of history.
Please feel free to our social media ID's for latest updates. Links below:
https://www.facebook.com/historylogy/
https://twitter.com/historylogy
https://www.instagram.com/historylogy/
Affiliate Earnings Disclaimer:
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
Coming up: A review of the book 'The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments' written by Adrian Bliss.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the author or publisher.
Little bit about the author:
Adrian Bliss is a creator, writer, and performer from London best known for his comedy sketches, which explore everything from history to natural science to religion. Bliss’s work has earned him nearly twenty million followers across social media and has been featured on CNN, in The Times, and in Vogue. Adrian Bliss was named one of the New Faces of Comedy at Just For Laughs, and his one-man play Inside Everyone sold out its debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival prior to opening.
Let me read a brief description of the book:
QUOTE
History belongs to the heroes. But to get the full story, sometimes you have to ask the side characters.
The lives of Leonardo da Vinci, Henry VIII, and Queen Victoria fill bookshelves and fascinate scholars all over the world. But little attention is given to the ferret who posed for the Renaissance master, the servant who oversaw the Tudor’s toilet time, or the famous horse who thrilled the miserable old monarch.
These supporting cast members have been waiting in the wings for too long, and Adrian Bliss thinks it’s high time they join their glory-hogging contemporaries in the spotlight. Fortunately—thanks to some recently discovered ancient complaint letters, court transcripts, and memoirs in bottles ─ now they can.
Equal parts fascinating and hilarious, The Greatest Nobodies of History is a surreal love letter to life’s forgotten heroes, featuring hitherto undocumented accounts from Ancient Greece to the front lines of the Great Emu War.
All that follows really happened, and some of it could even be true …
UNQUOTE
In the “Author’s Note” section of the book, Adrian has mentioned a quote apparently by Julius Caesar’s barber:
QUOTE
‘Everyone remembers the heroes, but it is the nobodies who make history.’
UNQUOTE
And on the same page, the author has said that the book contains (mostly) true stories of ten extraordinary side characters from humanity’s biggest moments.
This book shines a spotlight on the “nobodies” who, while not always in the limelight, contributed to the tapestry of history in meaningful ways.
Bliss organises the book into chapters that each focus on a different historical event or period, highlighting a minor character associated with it. For example, he explores the contributions of figures such as a lesser-known aide to a famous general or an unsung scientist whose work paved the way for breakthroughs in their field. Each chapter is a mix of narrative storytelling, historical context, and light humour, making it both informative and entertaining.
One of the strengths of the book is Bliss’s ability to weave engaging narratives that bring these minor characters to life. He draws on well-researched historical data while employing a conversational tone that feels approachable. This makes the book suitable for both history buffs and casual readers looking for something light yet substantive.
In "The Greatest Nobodies of History: Minor Characters from Major Moments," Adrian Bliss delivers a delightful exploration of the unsung heroes of history. By giving voice to those who have been overlooked, he enriches our understanding of historical events and encourages readers to appreciate the complexity of the past. This book is a refreshing take on history that celebrates the idea that everyone has a story worth telling, making it a recommended read for anyone curious about the lesser-known players who helped shape our world.
Normally, reading history can be a (bit) depressing as it is often about bloody wars, scheming power hungry characters backstabbing each other, etc… It’s not very often that you come across a book that is laced with humour in such a generous quantity and for that alone, I give this book 4.25/5.
Apart from Hardcover and Paperback formats, the book is also available in Kindle and Audible formats. I have given the respective buy links in the show notes. Please check them out for the latest prices.
Last but not the least, thank you for spending your valuable time listening to this book review. Really grateful. Please don't forget to subscribe to the Historylogy podcast on your favourite podcasting app and also feel free to leave a review. Also, please check historylogy.com for all previous episodes. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you. Take care and bye!