Reel History : The World According to the Movies

Since the invention of cinema, movie-makers have raided the history books in order to film some of the greatest stories ever told. But which movies get it right and which get it very wrong? If you've ever left the cinema wondering whether caveman really did clash with dinosaurs, or whether the Spartan army actually deployed battle rhinos, then help is at hand. From the good: __Twelve Years a Slave__, the bad: __Braveheart__,to the ugly: __One Million Years BC__, historian Alex von Tunzelmann has watched, and graded, the classics of the silver screen in order to prise fact from fiction. __Reel History__ is a witty and illuminating romp through the world according to the movies, which will appeal to film fanatics and history buffs alike. 'Reel History is a hoot! Alex von Tunzelmann writes with a blend of playful wit and delicious snark' Greg Jenner From ancient Egypt to the Tudors to the Nazis, the film industry has often defined how we think of the past. But how much of what you see on the screen is true? And does it really matter if filmmakers just make it all up? Picking her way through Hollywood's version of events, acclaimed historian Alex von Tunzelmann sorts the fact from the fiction. Along the way, we meet all our favourite historical characters, on screen and in real life: from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I, from Spartacus to Abraham Lincoln, and from Attila the Hun to Nelson Mandela. Based on the long-running column in the Guardian, Reel History takes a comic look at the history of the world as told through the movies - the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly. "From ancient Egypt to the Tudors to the Nazis, the film industry has often defined how we think of the past. But how much of what you see on the screen is true? And does it really matter if filmmakers just make it all up? Picking her way through Hollywood's version of events, acclaimed historian Alex von Tunzelmann sorts the fact from the fiction. Along the way, we meet all our favorite historical characters, on screen and in real life: from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I, from Spartacus to Abraham Lincoln, and from Attila the Hun to Nelson Mandela. Based on the long-running column in the Guardian, Reel History takes a comic look at the history of the world as told through the movies?the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly" -- From Amazon.com Since the invention of cinema, movie-makers have raided the history books in order to film some of the greatest stories ever told. But which movies get it right and which get it very wrong? If you've ever left the cinema wondering whether caveman really did clash with dinosaurs, or whether the Spartan army actually deployed battle rhinos, then help is at hand. From the good: Twelve Years a Slave , the bad: Braveheart , to the ugly: One Million Years BC , historian Alex von Tunzelmann has watched, and graded, the classics of the silver screen in order to prise fact from fiction. Reel History is a witty and illuminating romp through the world according to the movies, which will appeal to film fanatics and history buffs alike. From ancient Egypt to the Tudors to the Nazis, the film industry has often defined how we think of the past. But how much of what you see on the screen is true? Picking her way through Hollywood's version of events, an acclaimed historian sorts fact from fiction. Based on the long-running column in the Guardian , Reel History takes a comic look at the history of the world as told through the movies—the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly. Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication Page -- Contents -- Introduction -- 1. The Ancient World -- 2. Middle Ages Spread -- 3. Renaissance Men (and Women) -- 4. Darkness and Enlightenment -- 5. The Empires Strike Back -- 6. Oh, What Lovely Wars -- 7. Modern Times -- 8. Living in the Now -- Index -- Acknowledgements -- About the Author A fun and illuminating look at cinema's mistreatment of history, based on the Guardian newspaper column 'Reel History' by acclaimed historian Alex von Tunzelmann.