An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain: or Sixty Years of Making the Same Stupid Mistakes as Always - Couverture rigide

Six inspiring decades that shaped the Britain of today:

1950: Post-war Britain racked by rationing and clothing coupons; nobody has blue-sky idea of not bothering with all those hats.

1963: John Profumo has affair with call girl, ruining his ministerial career, bringing down government and ushering in era of distrust and cynicism. But fails to let on whether the sex was worth it.

1970s: Strikes leave vermin-infested rubbish piled up in Leicester Square. Rats forced to watch second-rate mime artists and jugglers.

1981: IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands elected as Member of Parliament, but neglects to write back to constituent about unjust parking ticket.

1992: Britain signs up to European Superstate. Voting in Eurovision Song Contest proves all petty rivalries now a thing of the past.

2008: Capitalism finally implodes; British socialists at last celebrate nationalization of the banks, only to find there's no money in them.

John O'Farrell studied history at Desborough Comprehensive, where he got a B in his O level. He later continued his research by watching lots of programmes about the Nazis on the UK History Channel. Apart from that he has published three novels, a memoir and three collections of his popular Guardian column. A former comedy scriptwriter for such shows as Spitting Image and Smith and Jones, he is the founder of the satirical website NewsBiscuit and can occasionally be spotted on such TV programmes as Grumpy Old Men, Newsnight Review and Have I Got News For You.