Discover Sir Ranulph Twistelton-Wykham-Fiennes's personal expedition to trace his extraordinary family through history. From Charlemagne - himself a direct ancestor of the author - to the count who very nearly persuaded William the Conqueror to retreat at Hastings, many members of this unique clan have lived close to the nerve centre of the ruler of their day. They number in their ranks a murderer, a wife poisoner, a poacher, England's greatest female traveller of the 17th century, and an extortionist Lord High Treasurer, teen cousins who eloped, a noble lord hanged for manslaughter, another hanged for adultery with the King's wife, and many who, as admirals or major-generals, won famous battles. The Fiennes' behind Cromwell provided the castle in which the Parliamentarians made their first secret moves, the same building in which twenty-one successive generations of the family have lived for 600 unbroken years . . . And that is just a taster. Ranulph Fiennes tells the story of his unconventional, exceptional family, and reveals the ingredients for the man described by the Guinness Book of Records as 'the world's greatest living explorer'.
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
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Review
'A whirlwind romp through the annals of time, peopled with the good, the bad and downright mad among the Fiennes clan.' (Sunday Telegraph)
'Fascinating...it is some family tree' (Adrian Chiles, The One Show)
Praise for MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW (-)
'Fascinating...it is some family tree' (Adrian Chiles, The One Show)
Praise for MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW (-)
'If you ever struggle to drag yourself out of bed on a winter's morning, pick up a copy of Ranulph Fiennes' autobiography. It's an inspiration.'
(Mail on Sunday)'Rip-roaringly readable'
(Guardian)'Even readers with a broadly low tolerance for macho heroism will find themselves gripped . . . compelling'
(Time Out)'This is the memoir of a supreme sportsman, an uber-earthling who could show the Martians a thing or two about what the best of us can achieve'
(Financial Times Magazine)'"Ran' epitomises British phlegm, and he puts all other glory-seekers to shame. His dry wit, self deprecation and steely determination never to feel a scrap of self-pity are in the very best tradition of British travel writing. Long may he continue tomake us glad that we are not him, while we stand in awe.'
(Country Life)'It's exhausting just reading about his exploits, so it is a perfect bedtime book. It's delightful to plump up one's duck-down pillows while vicariously enduring Fiennes's successive plunges into the deadly waters of the Artcic, and his festering crotch-rot.'
(Helena Drysdale, New Statesman Books of the Year)'It is lively and vivid, and often exciting as we anticipate each plunge into deadly Arctic waters. There are some wonderful throwaway lines . . . So, not an alien species after all but - as they say - a national treasure.'
(Spectator)About the Author
Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first man to reach both poles by surface travel and the first to cross the Antarctic Continent unsupported. Fiennes has led over 30 expeditions including the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth. In 1993 Her Majesty the Queen awarded Fiennes the Order of the British Empire (OBE) because, on the way to breaking records, he has raised over £10 million for charity.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Simon Smith
Format:Hardcover
A big challenge to wrap up one thousand years of family history with the history of England whilst producing something readable and entertaining for the lay reader. The result is too dry and lacking in personal anecdote to be a success. Often the relevance of the Fiennes family is little more than a footnote.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Parm
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition
To be honest i had no idea what to expect when i downloaded this title, I really don't normally touch this sort of book, But i Like Fiennes, i have read his fiction novels so i know he can write, and the man himself is an enigma.
So why read this? Well a book that shows a view of a single family history going back to the Norman invasion, and how that family intertwines with the history of this great nation and played at times a pivotal role in its evolution, it was too much to pass up. I'm sure there is an element of 6 degree of separation going on at times given the incestuous nature of the aristo's in times of yore, but even that does not account for just how many great people or important events were touched by this family, or how interesting it all is seeing it tied together.
It could put you off doing your own family history, or it could kindle a need to know who you are where you came from, what role did your family have? I very much doubt many will have this outcome, but even the odd shining star is fun and even without, its amazing finding out.
I recommend this to any reader, Ranulph has a very humorous wit that pervades the book and is not averse to poking fun at himself or his family or the royalty of Great Britain, i really enjoyed this read, something very different from what i normally read.
So why read this? Well a book that shows a view of a single family history going back to the Norman invasion, and how that family intertwines with the history of this great nation and played at times a pivotal role in its evolution, it was too much to pass up. I'm sure there is an element of 6 degree of separation going on at times given the incestuous nature of the aristo's in times of yore, but even that does not account for just how many great people or important events were touched by this family, or how interesting it all is seeing it tied together.
It could put you off doing your own family history, or it could kindle a need to know who you are where you came from, what role did your family have? I very much doubt many will have this outcome, but even the odd shining star is fun and even without, its amazing finding out.
I recommend this to any reader, Ranulph has a very humorous wit that pervades the book and is not averse to poking fun at himself or his family or the royalty of Great Britain, i really enjoyed this read, something very different from what i normally read.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By L. A. Clarke
Format:Hardcover
This was without doubt the best book I have ever read gripping, exciting, full of facinating facts. What a family.
You can pick the book up, and put it down at anytime without losing the thread of things. Sorry Iv come to the end of it.
I can not recommend this enough.
You can pick the book up, and put it down at anytime without losing the thread of things. Sorry Iv come to the end of it.
I can not recommend this enough.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Someone else's Family tree? History lesson? No thanks.
I rarely write reviews, but feel compelled to try help other readers in their decision to purchase this book, as perhaps the reviews on here a little biased. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ranulph Fiennes book
What a fantastic read and Ranulph is one fabulous man. I enjoyed book from first to the very last page.
Published 1 month ago by June Munday
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
At first I got a bit confused as to who was who but you can work it out from the family tree. A very funny book in parts and you can understand why he is such an adventurer
Published 3 months ago by Nana B
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man's a legend
If i'm still going as strong as this man when i'm his age i'll be a happy chap, infact if i'm even still alive at his age i'll be a happy man ! Read more
Published 3 months ago by JollyGreenGiant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating and easy to read
This book is a great read, I take years to read any book usually, but might get this finished in six months! Believe me that's good going for me! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars
My hubbies book
Well he has just finished it he enjoyed it I think .....found parts interesting ....and saw a different side to the author
Published 5 months ago by dot avery
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
An excellent book and a great birthday gift for the man who has everything !! Add it to your Christmas gift list
Published 11 months ago by Trina Elizabeth Anne Duncan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad Dogs & Englishmen: An Expedition Round My Family
A remarkable work, most readable, covering almost a thousand years of british history. Personally I enjoyed very much the "Founder's Kin" chapter, dedicated to his ancestor Bp. Read more
Published 12 months ago by ANDRES F. CAVIGLIA
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining look at British history
From the title and cover blurb I thought this was going to be a look at some of the more eccentric members of the author's family - but it wasn't. Read more
Published 15 months ago by B J Burton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
I received this book as a Christmas present from my sister and brother in law. Not only is Sir Ranulph Fiennes a fascinating guy in his own right I now discover he is but one... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2011 by Lorimer Watson
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