Machalul Chaqiqi Chaqiqi من عند نيويورك من عند نيويورك

This book was fun, but it was more useful as history than humour, which was what I was looking for so why am I complaining... Where was I? Oh yes! Now I know the various royal dynasties of my adopted country, as well as what a whig and a tory is (well, of course I knew what the latter was, mores the pity), and that Wat Tyler and Jethro Tull are not merely bands. This is a very good book for what I was looking for - an introduction to English history for those not in the know. It's not actually for foreigners such as myself, but for Brits who couldn't be arsed paying attention in history class in school, which he points out a few times, which I thought was sweet. He also appeals to younger readers to remind their history teachers of various rude but historically factual incidents that did happen down through the ages, with gave me a certain immature thrill. I hope some smartarses took him up it. I also had a giggle when he mentioned Our Island Nation (briefly reviewed elsewhere by me!) in not complimentary terms. I gave it the four stars instead of the five since most of the humour in it is of a predictable, small smile but not laugh out loud kind, but there were a few exceptions. There was a bit about the various holy embroideried slogans warriors used to wear on thier tunics that had me literally crying laughing on the tube, which was embarrassing but undeniably fun. I like this guy, he's sound. I might read more of his stuff.