The Worst Jobs in History: Two Thousand Years of Miserable Employment

by Tony Robinson

Book Overview

A no-holds-barred look at the most unenviable jobs of the last two thousand years. As befits the man behind Baldrick, Tony Robinson sets out to investigate life in the underbelly of history. Whether... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0330438573
• ISBN13: 9780330438575
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: MacMillan UK
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Very entertaining history of English life

Regardless if you've seen the BBC television program that this book is based on or not, this is one of the most entertaining books on history I've ever read. Most books about life in England can be pretty dry, especially those about daily life. This one, however, focuses on specific occupations that were integral to English life, but are terribly unpleasant. Even as an avid reader of the English Renaissance period, this book shed new light on English life. It's also a good reference to how some jobs were performed. Highly recommended for anyone who is wants an introduction to English life, and for those looking for a lighter side of history.

What an Entertaining History Lesson!

The Worst Jobs in History is such an entertaining lesson in the history of some of the most difficult and unpleasant jobs in British history. One would normally not ponder such thoughts as what happens to discarded bones from dinner or cigars or who were the people that cleaned the streets for the Lords and Ladies in the Victorian era. The answer to these questions are interesting, educational and thought provoking. It is interesting to know who were the people that performed these jobs and what their living circumstances were in these periods of history in England. It is also a series I caught on the History International Channel with episodes performed by the author Tony Robinson, a historical Dirty Jobs like the series performed by Mike Rowe. I highly recommend this book!

pretty good effort.

well, the book was, as the title suggests, pretty good. though, if you're familiar with the bbc television series of the same name, this book will leave you somewhat wanting. while the book is just as informative, and goes into substantial detail, it tends to lack the humor and charm that tony robinson brought to the television show. that being said, i would still recommend it, because this really is a side of history that you don't hear much about and, that aside, definitely throws some perspective onto your work life.