More Lessons from History: Uncovering the colourful characters of the past

Welcome to more tongue-in-cheek tales about eccentricity and endeavour from the obscurest parts of history that teach us things we never knew about the present.

This time we learn about the Lille perfume bombing, the Auschwitz volunteer, the ‘Oops’ missile, the longest war (and the shortest), the bird that didn’t sing and, of course, kilts, among many others.

Alex Deane began tweeting quirky tales as a distraction from the monotony of lockdown. Now with over 4 million views online, the #deanehistory stories are a social media sensation.

Once again, he has scoured the archives for overlooked figures and events that nonetheless made an impact, and within these pages, they are brought hilariously and often poignantly back to life.

‘Fabulously entertaining, Alex Deane’s wry, witty stories take hidden gems from our shared history and polish them until they shine. A must-read.’ - Iain Dale

‘Ribald, riotous and sometimes surreal, Alex Deane’s dispatches from the forgotten corners of history bring heroes and villains roaring vividly and often poignantly back to life.’ - Gavin Esler