Picture a British storyteller who turned history into a riot of gruesome facts and cheeky humor—meet Terry Deary! Born in Sunderland, England, in 1946, Deary transformed children’s non-fiction with his wildly popular Horrible Histories series, selling over 38 million copies in 45 languages. His knack for blending gory details with wit has hooked young readers and earned him the title of Outstanding Children’s Non-Fiction Author of the 20th Century.
From his early days as an actor to his groundbreaking books, Deary’s journey is as colorful as the tales he tells. With a BAFTA-winning TV adaptation and a legacy that’s inspired generations, he’s proof that history doesn’t have to be dull—it can be downright horrible!
The Making of Terry Deary
Terry Deary grew up in the gritty Hendon district of Sunderland, where his father ran a butcher shop and his mother managed a clothing store. Helping in the shop from age three, Deary learned life’s raw realities early. He loathed school, calling it a place of “bullying and abuse” focused on passing exams rather than real learning. After a stint at the electricity board and drama college, he joined Theatre Powys in 1972, acting and writing plays for kids in Welsh villages. This sparked his storytelling passion, leading him to write his first children’s novel, The Custard Kid, after 23 rejections.
Terry Deary’s Unforgettable Stories
Deary’s Horrible Histories, launched in 1993 with titles like The Terrible Tudors and The Awesome Egyptians, revolutionized children’s non-fiction. His style—packed with grim facts, witty asides, and cartoonish illustrations by Martin Brown—makes history irresistible. Take Rotten Romans: it dishes on gladiators and quirky myths, like Romans reading the future with chicken guts. The Vile Victorians exposes grim workhouses and bizarre habits, like eating dove droppings. Beyond Horrible Histories, Deary’s True Stories series dives into real-life tales with the same irreverent flair, while novels like The Silver Hand weave historical fiction with human drama. His secret? “I don’t write history,” he says. “I write about people!”
Deary’s books aren’t just facts—they’re a rebellion against dry education. He picks “hard-hitting” stories, like the British Empire’s erasure of Tasmania’s indigenous people, to challenge sanitized narratives. With over 350 books, from quizzes to stage scripts, his versatility shines, though Horrible Histories remains his crown jewel.
Why Terry Deary Matters
Terry Deary didn’t just write books—he changed how kids see history. Horrible Histories, with its CBBC series and stage shows like Barmy Britain, has inspired millions to dive into the past with glee. Teachers praise its role in sparking curiosity, even if Deary cheekily wishes his books weren’t used in classrooms, fearing they’d lose their fun. His influence earned him an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Sunderland University in 2000 and a spot as the tenth most-borrowed author in British libraries in 2012. Now writing for adults with titles like A History of Britain in Ten Enemies, Deary’s legacy proves history can be a thrilling, messy adventure.
- Birth Date: January 3, 1946, Sunderland, England
- Key Works: Horrible Histories, True Stories, The Silver Hand
- Awards: Outstanding Children’s Non-Fiction Author of the 20th Century, Blue Peter Book Awards
- Fun Fact: Deary is a road runner and has completed the Great North Run 25 times!
Snag a copy of Rotten Romans or The Awesome Egyptians and dive into Terry Deary’s hilariously horrible world of history!