Fake Heroes by Otto English
£18.99
Hardback
Wellbeck
25 May 2023
Ten False Icons and How they Altered the Course of History
Was Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?
Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?
Is Henry V actually England's greatest king?
And why does JFK's legend continue to grow?
Having exposed some of the greatest lies ever told in Fake History, journalist Otto English turns his attention to some of history's biggest (and most beloved) figures.
Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?
Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.
Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.