As a History student, I was sceptical of a playwright turned political journalist’s discussion of ‘fake history’; it is a difficult task to face an audience and tell them that the stories they have been fed since childhood are false. However, Otto English (born Andrew Scott) extinguished this apprehension within the first five minutes of speaking. It was clear from the outset that English has an envied talent for conducting an engaging conversation on potentially dull and monotonous topics – a skill which many academics do not possess. His ability to weave in analysis of pertinent historical phenomena, such as the whitewashing of conscription protests and criticisms of ‘great man’ history, alongside entertaining accounts of a bank robber and his use of lemon juice, as well as Boris Johnson’s lies about Churchill’s cleaning lady, was impressive to see. In essence, English completely captivated the full room.
To mention one of several examples, everyone was grinning when he used the phrase ‘Dad’s Armyfication’ in relation to the memory of the World Wars, and in the same breath, playfully pointed out Harry Styles’ memorable role in the 2017 film Dunkirk to highlight how these events are told to us in popular media. With not a single empty seat in the University’s Drama Studio, English provided an informative, and thought-provoking discussion which undoubtedly left people questioning their own assumptions about popular mistruths of history. Furthermore, English wasn’t shy in admitting his own short fallings on certain topics. For example, when asked about the situation in Ukraine and the potential positive use of lies by Zelensky, English didn’t hesitate to declare his lack of knowledge on the subject. Stating that his opinion would be ill informed was admirable, showcasing a self-awareness which others should consider to employ more.
English then went on to explore the rise of false information on Twitter and Facebook, a spectacle known all too well to anyone with an internet connection in the last few years. Social platforms which are full of hostile users, constantly ready to deliver an onslaught of criticisms at the click of a button, despite their own limited comprehension. A perfect example of the modern threat of fake history.
To conclude, through an anecdote of a heartbreakingly lost friendship fragmented by Brexit, English made a powerful statement about the veritably dangerous risks that both fake history and information can pose; silencing the room into reflection.
Overall, by the end of a night of cautionary tales concerning how we remember slaveowners, alongside consistent jabs at the divisive lies promoted by the Conservative Party, Otto English successfully sold both himself, as a self-proclaimed “professional irritant”, as well as his new book, Fake History: Ten Great Lies and How They Shaped the World.