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The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled
 
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The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled (Hardcover)

~ Will Cuppy (Author), William Steig (Illustrator)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ever wonder what Nero did before he began fiddling about in Rome, or wanted the bare facts about Lady Godiva? Maybe you've found the story of Lucrezia Borgia a bitter pill to swallow, or wanted the straight skinny on corpulent King Henry the Eighth, but you haven't the stomach for stuffy history books. Now these and twenty-two more of history's most famous personages are brought brilliantly to life, in this collection of unfailingly accurate yet undeniably hilarious biographies. You'll laugh while you learn about the very real people behind the legendary names, including why Montezuma was so vengeful, and why Catherine was so Great. You'll even finally lay to rest the rumor that Charlemagne was called "Chuck" by his friends.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Barnes & Noble (April 30, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 088029809X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0880298094
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,897 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
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 (12)
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 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it, December 22, 2004
By Elly (Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
This book is so incredibly funny. It is about all sorts of historical figures. Cuppy is an amazing writer. He writes about all the things that they did and makes them seem rather dumb. To truely appreciate this book to it's full value there has to a understanding of what my friend and I call dry humor others might say sarcastic, blunt, intelligent. Whatever you call it, but if that is you and you don't have to love history but read this book it is wonderful.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fond Memory Returned, April 6, 2006
By Cassandra "Cassie" (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews
My high school history teacher (who was no fool and knew his stuff better than some professors I met in college) gave me this book. His copy was the original thing-- almost falling apart from being loved by so many students. It managed to spark an interest in history in me, because quite frankly I have no patience for the "golden sheen" that so many people try to put on historical figures. Who on earth cares about someone who's so perfect you could never talk to them, anyway? Let's face it, the so-called "greats" were people with flaws and quirks just like we are! Bravo to Will Cuppy for having the guts and the skill to portray them in a way that makes us laugh and makes us question a little beyond the almost impenetrable veil of History.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical figures revisited, March 22, 2006
By Spencer Smith (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Cuppy was an incredibly gifted humorist, and he brings his flare to history in this masterpiece. Before ever writing a line, he would exhaustively research every reference he could get his hands on, then condense all that information into short, pithy, incisive statements. The focus is on letting the reader get to know the major figures of world history as people, not historical constructs or animated statues as they often come across in the average history book. The result is a lot of fun information in a concise, ironic format (and be sure to read the footnotes too). Some brief excerpts from the chapter on Nero, for example:

"Nero was the son of Agrippina the Younger and Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, combining the worst features of each. His father was fond of running down little children with his chariot and gouging out people's eyes, and there were rumors I'd rather not mention. Agrippina was a sister of Caligula. You don't get over a thing like that...

"In some respects Nero was ahead of his time. He boiled his drinking water to remove the impurities and cooled it with unsanitary ice to put them back again. He renamed the month of April after himself, calling it Neroneus, but the idea never caught on because April is not Neroneus and there is no use pretending that it is. During his reign of fourteen years, the outlying provinces are said to have prospered. They were farther away."

This book was a serendipitous find years ago, and I reread it every now and then to keep it fresh in mind. Of Cuppy's handful of published works, this is the best.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody
I always enjoy Will Cuppy, who I discovered about 30 years ago. My original copy of this book fell apart from so much reading and sharing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by B. Duafala

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny Read for History Buffs
This book is a comical look at famous characters in history. Cuppy discusses each one's downfalls and general stupidity. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. T. Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
I bought this book in 1954 for twenty-five cents. Best quarter I ever spent! I still have the book, and reread it now and then. It is still funny, after all these years. Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. J. Sullivan

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Figures Hilariously Humbled Says It All.
Will Cuppy had a gentle way of poking fun at legendary historical figures that made them appear unexpectedly human.And his research was impeccable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Wonsil

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wish It Had More Historical Figures In It
When I was in college, on vacation, I ran into a new paperback of "Decline." I loved it. It was the first book I ever read where I looked forward to reading the footnotes... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rise and Ascent of Will Cuppy!
Something for everyone from streetwise to suede patched elbows.
Whodathunk? Pithy LOL footnotes? Read more
Published 15 months ago by Gavin Glynn

5.0 out of 5 stars Wacky!
This is the first book about which I've felt compelled to write a review, which means that I loved it! Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mack

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't know much about History
It is the funniest History lesson one can ever hope to get. I wish I had Cuppy as my high school teacher. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Vijay B. Kumar

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hobo Philosopher
This book is historically accurate, funny, satirical, informative, entertaining - in a single word "wonderful". It has been an inspiration to me. Read more
Published on September 14, 2007 by Richard E. Noble

5.0 out of 5 stars An oldie but a goodie
I have an original copy of the 1963 printing of Will Cuppy's The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody. Cuppy was a hilliarious writer. Read more
Published on April 2, 2007 by John R. Brehmer

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