Wacky humor and cartoon-style illustrations chronicle the disgusting but-true details about foul-fighting, gruesome kings and queens, and the fifty most vicious villains of all time. Included are the horrible hunters from prehistory; the savage cities, terrible tombs, and rotten Rome of the Ancient World; beastly barbarians, nasty knights, and terrifying torture of the Middle Ages; the evil explorers and rowdy rebellions of the New World; and the cruel criminals and wicked wars of more modern times. A British to Ameri can glossary is provided. mjw

Originally published as Horrible Histories by Scholastic Great Britain, in 2003.

THE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF THE WORLD presents the foul but fascinating story of humans from brain-nibbling Neanderthals to terrified teenage soldiers in the twentieth century. Readers can discover why Alexander the Great banned beards, what smelly sport was played by samurai warriors and who tried to bump off her enemies with a cake made with poisoned bath-water. It's all you ever need to know about the wicked world - all the gore and more!