Curing Hiccups with Small Fires: A Delightful Miscellany of Great British Eccentrics

by Karl Shaw

'The English aristocrat John 'Mad Jack' Mytton died a bloated, paralysed and penniless debtor in prison. His premature demise was partly due to injuries sustained while setting fire to his own night-shirt to try to cure hiccups. Just before the horribly burned Mytton slumped into unconsciousness he said, "Well, the hiccups is gone, by God."'

An 18th-century French scholar attributed the British talent for eccentricity to a 'mixture of fogs, beef and beer...aggravated by the tedium of the English Sunday'. Whatever the reason, the British Isles do seem to have thrown up more than their fair share of magnificent oddballs, the finest of which are profiled in this fast, funny celebration of over 200 aristocrats, inventors, artists and the just plain weird...

* Dr Samuel Johnson is said to have shaved off all of his bodily hair, just to see how long it would take to grow back

* Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, once related an experience he had at Westminster: 'I had a horrid nightmare. I dreamed I was making a speech in the House of Lords, and woke up to find I actually was.'

* Percy Bysshe Shelley once tied a cat to a kite in a thunder storm to see if it would be electrocuted

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Humor, Biography

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2009

About the author

Karl Shaw writes humour and popular non-fiction titles including the New York Timss bestsellers Royal Babylon and 5 People Who Died During Sex. His most recent is the acclaimed historic true crime thriller The Killing of Lord George: A Tale of Murder and Deceit in Edwardian England.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Christmas present and provided a few hours of solid entertainment. It is a compendium of anecdotes about British eccentrics of 17th to 20th centuries, with a particular focus on politicians and scientific pioneers of the 19th who seem to have been an especially peculiar bunch. Unsurprisingly, some 95% of them are male. Whilst men who behave weirdly have long been allowed their eccentricities, women who do the same are generally institutionalised. The author also acknowledges a class difference: if you’re aristocratic you’re eccentric; if you’re poor you’re just mentally ill. Serious social points aside, I found the book incredibly funny and repeatedly read anecdotes aloud to whoever in the house happened to be listening. An example, concerning a Victorian Poet Laureate:

When it was pointed out to him that his poems were full of basic grammatical errors, Austin replied, “I dare not alter these things. They come to me from above.” Austin complained to Lord Young that he was always broke, but added, “I manage to keep the wolf from the door.”

“How?” Young enquired, “By reading your poems to him?”

Sick burn. Other highlights include Charles Babbage’s long-running feud with organ grinders, William Gladstone’s extraordinary dull conversation, and Aleister Crowley’s judgement that L. Ron Hubbard was ‘an idiot’. Although some of the characters featured appear to merely be tiresome bigots, the majority are amusing nonsense-mongers. An ideal book for the Christmas holidays.

[H. Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but I found it just rather sad rather than funny which I think was its intention.

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny - because these are all genuine, real life, eccentrics.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very title of this book offers some insight into what is encased within its pages. ‘Curing Hiccups with Small Fires’ manages to deliver an informative, yet undeniably humorous collection of entries, detailing some of Britain’s most notable eccentrics.
The book is arranged in an approachable manner, with details of each eccentric taking only a small portion of the entire compilation (which is particularly welcome considering that this makes way to cram in even more amusing individuals!)
In regards to the style in which this non-fiction book is written, the text takes on an enjoyable informal tone, whilst also managing to successfully deliver the glut of information (which the writer has managed to make exceptionally entertaining) in a short space.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to anyone who has a mind that’s thirsty for amusing knowledge. This is not your typical non-fiction book, and would appeal to those who have enjoyed works by authors such as Albert Jack, or series such as ‘The Darwin Awards’.

[Chasquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tonic, a proof positive that it is not just foreigners who are mad but quite a few British people were too. Most of the anecdotal portraits herein are of people long dead and unable to sue for libel., however Shane Macgowan, alleged to have eaten an entire Beach Boys album (cassette, vinyl, CD or MP3?) for some reason, is still very much with us and I look forward to reading A Drink With Shane Macgowan with even more brio than before. If you are looking for 'the truth,' you might as well read TheMailOnline but if you seek New Year Thrills, look no further, just do not read it on a bus, tram or ferry because your laughter may cause offence to other passengers. Remember; It takes a lot to laugh but it takes a train to cry........apparently.
I would have awarded it five stars but it was too sketchy for that.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

one word- FABULOUS! ...I love eccentric and unusual people I have several books on the eccentrics in Europe and America. All of these are great books and this one is going on my shelf right net to them. One never knows when one might need to look up a disgruntled royal with an odd fetish for clothes, animals or even kitchen utensils. This is one of the greatest book on such subjects.

[Ashiqin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do like this book,it is interesting,it's just that I don't care.I skipped a few chapters just to get to the more interesting stuff and I don't even feel guilty.Some chapters are super good and interesting but there are a lot of things that I just don't give a damn about in this book and I just want to throw it at the wall.The ratio is not even.If I can give this book half of a star,I would.

[Brittanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compendium of weirdies mostly from England that was really funny and well written. I've enjoyed the other "list" books from Shaw and this was no exception. He has great humour in his writing and it kept me interested cover to cover.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various oddbods from different periods in British history and from all walks of life. Some of the tales are shoot soup from your nostrils kind of funny and others are kind of meh. Worthwhile distraction.

[Claire]

A fascinating and fun compilation of some of the oddest characters in British history, this is an enjoyable read which leaves you slightly amazed at the levels of eccentricity some people display!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lot of fun to read. As the UK is my adopted country I find it really fun to read about little bits of history that you wouldn't normally find out about.

[Daria]

Not my cup of tea, to read how white rich straight men twiddling about their mildly amuzing lives are being called "eccentrics". Just Meh.

[Dancingsocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite interesting