Historical and Hilarious (Blackadder - The Whole Damn Dynasty ! - Richard Curtis)

Member Name: wiggglypufff

Product:	Blackadder - The Whole Damn Dynasty ! - Richard Curtis
Date:	27/09/01 (460 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A collective publication of perhaps the best British comedy scripts ever written

Disadvantages: If you disliked the TV series this book will do nothing for you

BlackAdder, The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485-1917 is a superb addition to any book collection. One of the funniest books I have had the pleasure of reading, the humour starts on the dust cover with a quote from the great Edmund Blackadder himself "The greatest work of fiction since vows of fidelity were included in the French marriage service", and the stupid, but much loved, Baldrick whose opinion of the book is simply "Not bad".

The book is a collection of the scripts written by Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, John Lloyd, and Rowan Atkinson, for the Blackadder series'. The first series 'The Black Adder' came to our screens in 1983, followed in '85 by my personal favourite 'Blackadder II'. 1987 saw 'Blackadder the Third' and finally in '89 'Blackadder goes Forth'.

Presented as four main chapters, one for each series, the forewords of chapter one give some background to history before we are actually introduced to Edmund Blackadder in 1485, (the start of series one). We learn a little about the family history, "The first recorded Blackadder was probably a Druid named Edmun. He worked as an overseer on the construction of Stonehenge...", and the first mention of Baldrick is "..a certain fellow known as Bad Reek, on account of the noxious gases that escaped from his every orifice."


- The first chapter "The Black Adder" is set in the Dark Ages. As in each chapter, a full cast listing for the series is included along with the six episode scripts. Small illustrations adorn the pages, and some still shots from the TV screenings are typical representations of Rowan Atkinson's bizarre facial expressions that brought Blackadder to life with such hilarity.

Included at the end of chapter one is a double page spread that is titled "Instruments of Torture in the late Middle Ages". Needless to say, this covers some very ingenious methods o
f torture such as "Pruty's Lathe", a "Machine for carving the buttocks into wafer-thin slices and then using them to wallpaper the victim's cell".

We are also introduced to "Medieval Medicine", with the only cure for disease and illness being a choice of Herbs, Leeches, or Sawing it off!


- "Blackadder II", the second chapter takes basically the same format. We are given some historical background info to fill in the time lapse between this saga, set in Elizabethan times, and the previous one. Again the pages are enhanced visually with illustrations, and there are some screen shots, this time of the key characters of series two.

Each script is ended with the 'Ballad' that featured in the title music of that particular episode screening. As if each episode itself is not funny enough, these witty ditty's add to the humour.


- Chapter three, "Blackadder the Third" is the Regency period. The same style as before...fill in history, full cast listing and scripts. Extras here include "Mrs Miggins's Coffee House Bill of Fare", although I'm sure that I wouldn't fancy any of the dishes offered such as a starter of "Greyish Lumps with Tubes and Veins in (according to season)", or an entree of "Horses Willy du Jour".

You can also read the job descriptions of the Prince Regent, Butler of the Royal Household, and the Underscrogman, which include "Being log-slammed by the rollickers on Shreeve Monday". Needless to say, Baldrick was this Underscrogman.

With reference to Baldrick, his family tree also features at the end of this chapter, and relatives include Tony Blair, David Beckham, and Ronald and Nancy Regan!

There is also a page from "Dr.Johnson's Dictionary" with definitions such as "Lady..A female gentleman", and "Lee..A small word with several 'e
's in it".


- The final chapter, "Blackadder goes Forth", is set in World War I. Placed amongst the scripts and pics, lays Baldrick's school report from "The Fagin School". "AGE: 6.4 (approx)" his ability in most areas was somewhat lacking, but he excelled in "Corporal Punishment". "Good. Baldrick is more enjoyable to beat than many other boys because of the satisfying pigletty squeals he emits. We look forward to seeing more of him next term!".

A full page titled "The Great War: A Graphic Illustration of the Front Line December 1915 and June 1917" is highly funny. This supposedly detailed drawing is just a basic picture showing the boundary line between German and British Forces. The only difference in the two is the location of the HQ building. In 1915, its approx 50 miles from the frontline. In 1917 its moved further away from the frontline by somewhere in the region of 100 miles.

Maybe the most poignant thing in this final chapter is the picture on the last page. A poppy field.


Feeling perhaps a little saddened by the end of the reign of Blackadder, turn the page and before you is a double page spread that will lift your spirits back up. "The Index of Blackadder's Finest Insults". Although hard to choose from a mass of such quality verbal assault, my favourite, I think, would have to be this one. "God made man in his own image, and it would be a sad look out for Christians throughout the globe if God looked anything like you Baldrick".

Due to publication of this book being in 1998, there is of course no reference to the latest one off production, commissioned for the Millennium Dome, 'Blackadder Back and Forth', but don't let that put you off. A classic in British comedy writing, the book is surpassed in humour only by the TV series itself. The casting of Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder and a great
support cast including Tony Robinson (Baldrick) and Rik Mayall (Flashheart), was sheer genius, although to mention all the actors to whom credit should be given would simply mean listing the entire cast.

Should you decide to purchase this book, you can also feel good in the knowledge that you are helping others less fortunate than yourself as the artists' royalties go to Comic Relief.

Currently available from http://www.amazon.co.uk

Paperback - 480 pages new edition (4 November, 1999)
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0140280359
List Price: £10.99
Sale Price: £8.79


(Please note: The use of quotes, I felt, was necessary in order to convey the true humour and quality of the script writing. Therefore text in speech marks is as it appears in the book.)

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