Best known for his Horrible Histories series, Deary has sold over 25 million books in over 40 languages but was described by David Starkey as a “parasite”. This Sunderland born butcher’s son is the tenth most borrowed author in British libraries yet views historians as “seedy and devious”. Schools, he has commented, have “no relevance in the 21st century” and libraries, themselves, “have been around too long”. A road runner in his spare time, in October 2013 Deary told Radio 4’s Saturday Live: “I didn’t set out to do anything. I was commissioned. I am a hack”.
Two stories to keep beside you
Ian Towning
This creepy, permatanned ‘queen’ of the antiques trade claims to have blue blood on his mother’s side. Aside from appearing on the ‘mahogany skinned’ David Dickinson’s Real Deal television programme, Ian Towning once attempted to launch a pen for left-handed writers. He is often spotted promenading the Kings Road – from where he operates a […]
David Hallberg
The first ever American invited to be a premier dancer in Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, David Hallberg was born in Rapid City, South Dakota and “found inspiration through the films of Fred Astaire”. The Roll Call – WILDCARDS
Readers have their say
1 comment
A self-seeking self-publicist. Not impressed by his attitude problems. All said to sell more books.