Horribly Famous
Encyclopedia
Horribly Famous is a series of books containing biographies of notable people who are now dead. These books are written by a range of authors and the books are, in some cases ghost-written under the same name as the one person featured in a Dead Famous book. As a spin-off series, Horrible Histories aims to offer an enchanting humour and style of writing that appeals to children so they can be educated and entertained. Whilst previously Horribly Famous and Dead Famous were separate, during the redesigning of the book covers, Dead Famous books became republished using the new Horribly Famous cover design, effectively rendering the Dead Famous series obsolete. Many of the titles were also shortened, such as "Leonardo Da Vinci and His Super-brain" to Da Vinci and His Super-brain.
Both series are published by the same company - Scholastic
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Everybody knows that Spartacus was a great gladiator and enjoyed giving the Romans the-run around. But in this book readers will discover all the fascinating facts that they didn't know, such as how Spartacus fought for the Romans as well as against them, and once camped his army of rebel slaves inside a volcano. Everything you ever wanted to know about the man with the Free Slave Army.
Everyone's heard of Mary, Queen of Scotts. She is horribly famous for having terrible taste in husbands, rotting away in Liz I's prison and, totally losing her head - on the chopping block. But not everyone knows that Mary was a six-foot stunner who had a charmed childhood, and got kidnapped by a murderous lord. Even though she's dead, Mary's still full of surprises.
Everybody knows that Elizabeth I was called the Virgin Queen, that she had lots of admirers and refused to marry and that her army beat the Spanish Armada. But in this book readers can discover all the fascinating facts they didn't know... how Liz liked to lock up her ladies for getting married and how her reputation was nearly ruined when her boyfriend's wife was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. Everything you could ever want to know about the woman with the big red wig.
Everybody knows that Oliver Cromwell gave King Charles I the chop and clobbered the Cavaliers with his Roundheads, but in this book readers will discover all the fascinating facts that they didn't know, such as how Oliver cancelled Christmas and banned swearing, and that he was actually hanged and beheaded - after he had already died! Everything you ever wanted to know about the man with the warts.
Everybody knows that Albert Einstein was the smartest scientist in the universe and that he also had some very bad hair days. But now you can find out everything you didn't know, including how Albert was actually expelled from school, and how he was spied on by the Nazis and the FBI!
Discover everything they didn't know and never imagined, such as how Cleopatra married both her brothers and had her younger sister killed. Even though she's dead, Cleo's still full of surprises!
Even though they're dead, the great inventors in this book are still full of surprises. Everybody thinks that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and that John Logie Baird's TV took the world by storm. But Edison didn't invent the first light bulb (although he invented a thousand other things) and Baird's TV was actually useless.
You've probably heard of William Shakespeare... Now you can get the inside story with William's secret diary, find out the news of the day in the Shakespearean Sun and prepare to be amazed as the curtain is raised on Shakespeare's most dramatic acts.
Famously tutored by Aristotle, Alexander ruthlessly established himself as Macedonian king in the 300s BC, setting about continuing his father's wars against the Persian Empire (for their attacks on Greek City states 150 years before.) Astride his horse Bucephalus, he embarked on his great eastern campaigns in which he conquered most of the known world, as far as India, taking Greek language and culture with him. He never returned, dying of a fever in Babylon at the age of 32.
Yes, even though he's dead, Leonardo's still full of surprises. Now you can get the inside story with Leonardo's lost notebook, flick through the pages of the Milan Messenger and discover dozens of the dazzling inventions the great man dreamed up in his amazing super-brain.
Who thought piracy was all treasure maps and apple barrel plots? Six of history's most notorious high-sea hijackers are exposed in all their buccaneering badness including Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd and Anne Bonny. There's marooning and mutineering galore!
You've probably heard of Roald Dahl. He's dead famous for writing loads of brilliant books for children, telling terrifying tales of the unexpected, and creating a fantastic chocolate factory. But did you know that Roald was a fighter pilot and a spy in the Second World War, loved playing outrageous practical jokes, and nearly lost his nose... twice?
Not only did Darwin come up with the theory of evolution, but he also wrote a book about his pet worms! And Isaac Newton wasn't all that keen on science - sometimes it got on his nerves! Find out everything they ever wanted to know, and more, about their favourite seriously super scientists.
Everybody knows Victoria married a chap called Albert and wore black clothes - all the time. But did you know that Victoria went on her holidays in disguise, and was best pals with her rude Scottish servant? Everything you ever wanted to know about the woman with the enormous empire!
Everyone's heard of Henry VIII. He's the one who had a bit of a weight problem and married six unlucky ladies. Inside readers can find out everything they don't already know about Henry and everything that makes him Horribly Famous, including the wife he accused of witchcraft, his closest friends who got the chop, and how he bricked up his bedroom door in fear for his life.
You've probably heard of Winston Churchill... He's the one who raised his fingers in a V sign and smoked a massive cigar. Inside: Get to know the man behind the cigar in Winston's secret diary! Re-live events of the century in The Winston Weekly! Read how Winston led Britain to victory in the Second World War!
Tutankhamun is given the Horribly Famous treatment. Here you'll find the whole story of King Tut's life and death, plus his awesome afterlife. It's an exciting story of treasure and tombs, grave robbers and gold.
Sir Francis Drake is horribly famous for being the fearless explorer who sailed around the world, and the dashing sea hero who defeated the Spanish Armada. But have you heard that he was actually a bit of a pirate and once got shot without even realizing it?
Julius Caesar is horribly famous for conquering loads of countries and back-stabbing his chums. But have you heard that he was once captured by pirates and invaded his own town? Discover the inside story with JC's secret diary, read up on scandals in The Republican News and discover why his friends became quite so foul.
Both series are published by the same company - Scholastic
Scholastic Press
Scholastic is a global book publishing company known for publishing educational materials for schools, teachers, and parents, and selling and distributing them by mail order and via book clubs and book fairs. It also has the exclusive United States' publishing rights to the Harry Potter book...
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Titles in progress
These are the books originally in the Dead Famous series :- Albert Einstein and his Inflatable Universe (2001) - Dr Mike Goldsmith (Albert EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
) - Al Capone and his Gang (1999) - Alan MacDonald (Al CaponeAl CaponeAlphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
) - Alexander the Great and his Claim to Fame (2005) - Phil Robins (Alexander the Great)
- Boudica and her Barmy Army (2005) - Valerie Wilding (BoudicaBoudicaBoudica , also known as Boadicea and known in Welsh as "Buddug" was queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire....
) - Churchill and his Woeful Wars (2004) - Alan MacDonald (Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
) - Cleopatra and Her Asp (2000) - Margaret Simpson (Cleopatra)
- Darwin and other Seriously Super Scientists (2009) - Mike Goldsmith (DarwinCharles DarwinCharles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
) - Elvis and his Pelvis (2001) - Michael Cox (Elvis)
- Horatio Nelson and His Victory (2003) - Philip Reeve (Horatio Nelson)
- Inventors and their Bright Ideas (2002) - Dr Mike Goldsmith (Inventors)
- Isaac Newton and his Apple (1999) - Kjartan Poskitt (Isaac NewtonIsaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
) - Joan of Arc and Her Marching Orders (2002) - Phil Robins (Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
) - Leonardo Da Vinci and his Super-brain (2003) - Michael Cox (Leonardo Da VinciLeonardo da VinciLeonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
) - Mary Queen of Scots and her Hapless Husbands (2001) - Margaret Simpson (Mary, Queen of Scots)
- Oliver Cromwell and His Warts (2000) - Alan MacDonald (Oliver CromwellOliver CromwellOliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
) - Queen Victoria and her Amusements (2002) - Alan MacDonald (Queen Victoria)
- Roald Dahl and his Chocolate Factory (2002) - Andrew Donkin (Roald DahlRoald DahlRoald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
) - Scientists and their Mind-blowing Experiments (2003) - Dr Mike Goldsmith (Scientists)
- Spartacus and his Glorious Gladiators (2004) - Toby Brown (SpartacusSpartacusSpartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
) - William Shakespeare and his Dramatic Acts (2004) - Andrew Donkin (William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
) - Writers and their Tall Tales (2005) - Tracey Turner (Authors)
Original Horribly Famous Series
These are the original books in the Horribly Famous series http://www5.scholastic.co.uk/zone/book_horribly-famous.htm :- Albert Einstein and his Inflatable Universe
- Alexander the Great and his Claim to Fame
- Cleopatra and her Angry Asp
- Cromwell and his Not-So Civil War
- Da Vinci and his Super-brain
- Darwin and other Seriously Super Scientists
- Elizabeth I and her Conquests (2006) - Margaret Simpson (Elizabeth I)
- Elizabeth I and her Terrible Temper
- Henry VIII and his Chopping Block (2006) - Alan MacDonald (Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
) - Henry VIII and his Wicked Wives
- Inventors and Their Bright Ideas
- Julius Caesar and his Foul Friends (2006) - Toby Brown (Julius CaesarJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
) - Mary Queen of Scots and her Hopeless Husbands
- Pirates and their Caribbean Capers (2007) - Michael Cox (Pirates)
- Queen Victoria and her Enormous Empire
- Roald Dahl and His Chocolate Factory
- Shakespeare and his Dramatic Acts
- Sir Francis Drake and His Daring Deeds (2008) - Andrew Donkin (Sir Francis DrakeFrancis DrakeSir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
) - Spartacus and his Glorious Gladiators
- Tutankhamun and His Tombful of Treasure (2007) - Michael Cox (TutankhamunTutankhamunTutankhamun , Egyptian , ; approx. 1341 BC – 1323 BC) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty , during the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom...
) - William Shakespeare and his Dramatic Acts
- Winston Churchill and his Woeful Wars
Descriptions of the books
- Spartacus and his Glorious Gladiators
Everybody knows that Spartacus was a great gladiator and enjoyed giving the Romans the-run around. But in this book readers will discover all the fascinating facts that they didn't know, such as how Spartacus fought for the Romans as well as against them, and once camped his army of rebel slaves inside a volcano. Everything you ever wanted to know about the man with the Free Slave Army.
- Mary Queen of Scots and her Hopeless Husbands
Everyone's heard of Mary, Queen of Scotts. She is horribly famous for having terrible taste in husbands, rotting away in Liz I's prison and, totally losing her head - on the chopping block. But not everyone knows that Mary was a six-foot stunner who had a charmed childhood, and got kidnapped by a murderous lord. Even though she's dead, Mary's still full of surprises.
- Elizabeth I and her Terrible Temper
Everybody knows that Elizabeth I was called the Virgin Queen, that she had lots of admirers and refused to marry and that her army beat the Spanish Armada. But in this book readers can discover all the fascinating facts they didn't know... how Liz liked to lock up her ladies for getting married and how her reputation was nearly ruined when her boyfriend's wife was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. Everything you could ever want to know about the woman with the big red wig.
- Oliver Cromwell and his Not-So Civil War
Everybody knows that Oliver Cromwell gave King Charles I the chop and clobbered the Cavaliers with his Roundheads, but in this book readers will discover all the fascinating facts that they didn't know, such as how Oliver cancelled Christmas and banned swearing, and that he was actually hanged and beheaded - after he had already died! Everything you ever wanted to know about the man with the warts.
- Albert Einstein and his Inflatable Universe
Everybody knows that Albert Einstein was the smartest scientist in the universe and that he also had some very bad hair days. But now you can find out everything you didn't know, including how Albert was actually expelled from school, and how he was spied on by the Nazis and the FBI!
- Cleopatra and her Angry Asp
Discover everything they didn't know and never imagined, such as how Cleopatra married both her brothers and had her younger sister killed. Even though she's dead, Cleo's still full of surprises!
- Inventors and Their Bright Ideas
Even though they're dead, the great inventors in this book are still full of surprises. Everybody thinks that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and that John Logie Baird's TV took the world by storm. But Edison didn't invent the first light bulb (although he invented a thousand other things) and Baird's TV was actually useless.
- William Shakespeare and his Dramatic Acts
You've probably heard of William Shakespeare... Now you can get the inside story with William's secret diary, find out the news of the day in the Shakespearean Sun and prepare to be amazed as the curtain is raised on Shakespeare's most dramatic acts.
- Alexander the Great and his Claim to Fame
Famously tutored by Aristotle, Alexander ruthlessly established himself as Macedonian king in the 300s BC, setting about continuing his father's wars against the Persian Empire (for their attacks on Greek City states 150 years before.) Astride his horse Bucephalus, he embarked on his great eastern campaigns in which he conquered most of the known world, as far as India, taking Greek language and culture with him. He never returned, dying of a fever in Babylon at the age of 32.
- Da Vinci and his Super-brain
Yes, even though he's dead, Leonardo's still full of surprises. Now you can get the inside story with Leonardo's lost notebook, flick through the pages of the Milan Messenger and discover dozens of the dazzling inventions the great man dreamed up in his amazing super-brain.
- Pirates and their Caribbean Capers
Who thought piracy was all treasure maps and apple barrel plots? Six of history's most notorious high-sea hijackers are exposed in all their buccaneering badness including Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd and Anne Bonny. There's marooning and mutineering galore!
- Roald Dahl and His Chocolate Factory
You've probably heard of Roald Dahl. He's dead famous for writing loads of brilliant books for children, telling terrifying tales of the unexpected, and creating a fantastic chocolate factory. But did you know that Roald was a fighter pilot and a spy in the Second World War, loved playing outrageous practical jokes, and nearly lost his nose... twice?
- Darwin and other Seriously Super Scientists
Not only did Darwin come up with the theory of evolution, but he also wrote a book about his pet worms! And Isaac Newton wasn't all that keen on science - sometimes it got on his nerves! Find out everything they ever wanted to know, and more, about their favourite seriously super scientists.
- Queen Victoria and her Enormous Empire
Everybody knows Victoria married a chap called Albert and wore black clothes - all the time. But did you know that Victoria went on her holidays in disguise, and was best pals with her rude Scottish servant? Everything you ever wanted to know about the woman with the enormous empire!
- Henry VIII and his Wicked Wives
Everyone's heard of Henry VIII. He's the one who had a bit of a weight problem and married six unlucky ladies. Inside readers can find out everything they don't already know about Henry and everything that makes him Horribly Famous, including the wife he accused of witchcraft, his closest friends who got the chop, and how he bricked up his bedroom door in fear for his life.
- Winston Churchill and his Woeful Wars
You've probably heard of Winston Churchill... He's the one who raised his fingers in a V sign and smoked a massive cigar. Inside: Get to know the man behind the cigar in Winston's secret diary! Re-live events of the century in The Winston Weekly! Read how Winston led Britain to victory in the Second World War!
- Tutankhamun and His Tombful of Treasure
Tutankhamun is given the Horribly Famous treatment. Here you'll find the whole story of King Tut's life and death, plus his awesome afterlife. It's an exciting story of treasure and tombs, grave robbers and gold.
- Sir Frances Drake and His Daring Deeds
Sir Francis Drake is horribly famous for being the fearless explorer who sailed around the world, and the dashing sea hero who defeated the Spanish Armada. But have you heard that he was actually a bit of a pirate and once got shot without even realizing it?
- Julius Caesar and his Foul Friends
Julius Caesar is horribly famous for conquering loads of countries and back-stabbing his chums. But have you heard that he was once captured by pirates and invaded his own town? Discover the inside story with JC's secret diary, read up on scandals in The Republican News and discover why his friends became quite so foul.
Dead/Horribly Famous
Originally, Scholastic had arbitrarily separated Dead Famous books from Horribly Famous books. Now, it appears that Scholastic is slowly reprinting all of the books in both categories under the Horribly Famous category (phasing out the Dead Famous category).See also
- Dead Famous
- Horrible HistoriesHorrible HistoriesHorrible Histories is a series of illustrated history books published in the United Kingdom by Scholastic. They are designed to engage children in history by concentrating on the unusual, gory, or unpleasant. The series has proved exceptionally successful in commercial terms...
- Horrible Books and Magazines USA