Photo of Terry Deary

Terry Deary

Terry Deary was born in Sunderland in 1946 and currently lives in County Durham. Terry is a former actor, theatre-director and Drama teacher. He spends his time writing and directing for his television production company, managing his website, terry-deary.com, and touring his Horrible Histories exhibition. Terry is the author of 116 books in the UK and over 250 more worldwide, mainly for children and teenagers, including the popular non-fiction series Horrible Histories. Horrible Histories were launched in 1993 and are now sold in 28 languages from Russia to Brazil, Scandinavia to China.

In 2003, Horrible Histories celebrates its 10th Anniversary!

In 1996 Terry was the best selling British children’s author with 5 of his books in the top ten best-sellers of the year (Waterstones Book Shop tables). In August 1997 he was still leading the way with thirteen titles in the top forty. (Bookseller listings). In 1999, The Daily Telegraph recorded that he outsold Enid Blyton by four to one and a Libraries survey made him the most-borrowed author of non-fiction in Britain – adult and children’s books. Terry currently holds 8 out of the 10 slots for ‘Most Borrowed Children’s Non-Fiction’ authors in the Public Lending Rights annual survey covering July 1998-June 1999. In November 1999 Books for Keeps magazine readers voted him “The outstanding children’s non-fiction author of the 20th Century”.

Terry’s district council have awarded Terry an “oscar” as one of their top citizens and Sunderland University have awarded Terry an Honorary Doctorate in Education (HonDEd) which was awarded in July 2000.

In early 1998, the Top Ten series was launched with two titles written by Terry, Top Ten Shakespeare Stories and Top Ten Greek Legends.

Terry’s latest additions to the Horrible Histories series are the Horrible Histories Special: France and Cruel Crimes and Painful Punishment. And if Horrible Histories wasn’t keeping him busy enough Terry has also contributed a range of titles to the True Stories series including True Mystery Stories and True Horror Stories.

The Horrible Histories exhibition is up and running in museums around Britain until 2003. He has also just set up a television production company and is negotiating to make a series of audio tapes and writing radio scripts for BBC World Service.

“If you haven’t come across ‘Horrible Histories’ before you’ve missed a true publishing phenomenon – Terry Deary seems to have invented a whole new genre with his series of books looking at history in an entirely different way.” Books Magazine, July 96

“I do not like reading very much and my Mum is pleased that I have found some books I like so much that I read them without being asked!” Fan letter from 10-year-old boy

For more information why not visit www.terry-deary.com or join his fan club?

Books by Terry Deary

  • 10 Best Greek Legends Ever!

    10 Best Greek Legends Ever!

  • 10 Best Shakespeare Stories Ever!

    10 Best Shakespeare Stories Ever!

  • 2010

    2010

  • 2011

    2011

  • 2012

    2012

  • 2015

    2015

  • All at Sea

    All at Sea

  • Angry Aztecs

    Angry Aztecs

  • Angry Aztecs

    Angry Aztecs

  • Angry Aztecs

    Angry Aztecs

  • Angry Aztecs (Classic Edition)

    Angry Aztecs (Classic Edition)

  • Awesome Egyptians

    Awesome Egyptians

  • Awesome Egyptians (Classic Edition)

    Awesome Egyptians (Classic Edition)

  • Awesome Egyptians (newspaper edition)

    Awesome Egyptians (newspaper edition)

  • Awful Egyptians

    Awful Egyptians

  • Awful Egyptians

    Awful Egyptians

  • Awful Egyptians

    Awful Egyptians

  • Awful Egyptians

    Awful Egyptians

  • Awful Egyptians

    Awful Egyptians

  • Awful Egyptians (Classic Edition)

    Awful Egyptians (Classic Edition)

  • Barmy British Empire

    Barmy British Empire

  • Barmy British Empire (Classic Edition)

    Barmy British Empire (Classic Edition)

  • Beastly Best Bits

    Beastly Best Bits

  • Big Fat Christmas Book

    Big Fat Christmas Book

  • Blackout in the Blitz

    Blackout in the Blitz

  • Blitz

    Blitz

  • Blitzed Brits

    Blitzed Brits

  • Blitzed Brits

    Blitzed Brits

  • Blitzed Brits

    Blitzed Brits

  • Blitzed Brits (Classic Edition)

    Blitzed Brits (Classic Edition)

  • Burglary for Beginners

    Burglary for Beginners

  • Crackin' Castles

    Crackin' Castles

  • Crackin' Castles

    Crackin' Castles

  • Cruel Crime

    Cruel Crime

  • Cruel Kings and Mean Queens

    Cruel Kings and Mean Queens

  • Cut-throat Celts

    Cut-throat Celts

  • Cut-throat Celts

    Cut-throat Celts

  • Cut-throat Celts

    Cut-throat Celts

  • Cut-Throat Celts (Classic Edition)

    Cut-Throat Celts (Classic Edition)

  • Dark Knights and Dingy Castles

    Dark Knights and Dingy Castles

  • Dark Knights and Dingy Castles (Classic Edition)

    Dark Knights and Dingy Castles (Classic Edition)

  • Dark Knights and Dingy Castles Sticker-Activity Book

    Dark Knights and Dingy Castles Sticker-Activity Book

  • Deadly Days in History

    Deadly Days in History

  • Egypt - A High-Speed History

    Egypt - A High-Speed History

  • Even More Terrible Tudors

    Even More Terrible Tudors

  • Frightful First World War

    Frightful First World War

  • Frightful First World War

    Frightful First World War

  • Frightful First World War

    Frightful First World War

  • Frightful First World War

    Frightful First World War

  • Frightful First World War (Classic Edition)

    Frightful First World War (Classic Edition)

  • Frightfully Funny Quiz Book

    Frightfully Funny Quiz Book

  • Ghosts

    Ghosts

  • Gorgeous Georgians

    Gorgeous Georgians

  • Gorgeous Georgians

    Gorgeous Georgians

  • Gorgeous Georgians

    Gorgeous Georgians

  • Gorgeous Georgians (Classic Edition)

    Gorgeous Georgians (Classic Edition)

  • Gorgeous Georgians (newspaper edition)

    Gorgeous Georgians (newspaper edition)

  • Groovy Greeks

    Groovy Greeks

  • Groovy Greeks

    Groovy Greeks

  • Groovy Greeks

    Groovy Greeks

  • Groovy Greeks (Classic Edition)

    Groovy Greeks (Classic Edition)

  • Groovy Greeks (newspaper edition)

    Groovy Greeks (newspaper edition)

  • Henry VIII's Secret Diary

    Henry VIII's Secret Diary

  • Horrible Christmas

    Horrible Christmas

  • Horrible Christmas

    Horrible Christmas

  • Horrible Christmas

    Horrible Christmas

  • Horrible Handbook

    Horrible Handbook

  • Horrible Handbook

    Horrible Handbook

  • Horrible Histories Annual 2009

    Horrible Histories Annual 2009

  • Horrible Histories Annual 2014

    Horrible Histories Annual 2014

  • Horrible Histories Annual 2016

    Horrible Histories Annual 2016

  • Horrible Histories Dreadful Diary

    Horrible Histories Dreadful Diary

  • Horrible Histories: The Vicious Vikings

    Horrible Histories: The Vicious Vikings

  • Horrible History of Britain and Ireland

    Horrible History of Britain and Ireland

  • Horrible History of the World (newspaper edition)

    Horrible History of the World (newspaper edition)

  • Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

    Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

  • Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

    Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

  • Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

    Horribly Hilarious Joke Book

  • Incredible Incas (Classic Edition)

    Incredible Incas (Classic Edition)

  • Knights

    Knights

  • Knights: A High-Speed History

    Knights: A High-Speed History

  • Loathsome Letter-Writing Pack

    Loathsome Letter-Writing Pack

  • Measly Middle Ages

    Measly Middle Ages

  • Measly Middle Ages

    Measly Middle Ages

  • Measly Middle Ages (Classic Edition)

    Measly Middle Ages (Classic Edition)

  • Measly Middle Ages (New Edition)

    Measly Middle Ages (New Edition)

  • Measly Middle Ages (newspaper edition)

    Measly Middle Ages (newspaper edition)

  • On the Road

    On the Road

  • Pirates

    Pirates

  • Potty Politics

    Potty Politics

  • Queen Boudica's Secret Diary

    Queen Boudica's Secret Diary

  • Queen Victoria's Secret Diary

    Queen Victoria's Secret Diary

  • Raiders and Ruins

    Raiders and Ruins

  • Right On Track (newspaper edition)

    Right On Track (newspaper edition)

  • Robbery for Rascals

    Robbery for Rascals

  • Rome: A High-Speed History

    Rome: A High-Speed History

  • Rotten Romans

    Rotten Romans

  • Rotten Romans

    Rotten Romans

  • Rotten Romans

    Rotten Romans

  • Rotten Romans

    Rotten Romans

  • Rotten Romans

    Rotten Romans

  • Rotten Romans (Classic Edition)

    Rotten Romans (Classic Edition)

  • Rotten Romans, The

    Rotten Romans, The

  • Rotten Rulers

    Rotten Rulers

  • Rotten Rulers (Classic Edition)

    Rotten Rulers (Classic Edition)

  • Rowdy Revolutions (Classic Edition)

    Rowdy Revolutions (Classic Edition)

  • Ruthless Romans

    Ruthless Romans

  • Ruthless Romans

    Ruthless Romans

  • Ruthless Romans (Classic Edition)

    Ruthless Romans (Classic Edition)

  • Ruthless Romans (newspaper edition)

    Ruthless Romans (newspaper edition)

  • Savage Sticker Book

    Savage Sticker Book

  • Savage Stone Age

    Savage Stone Age

  • Savage Stone Age

    Savage Stone Age

  • Savage Stone Age

    Savage Stone Age

  • Savage Stone Age (Classic Edition)

    Savage Stone Age (Classic Edition)

  • Savage Stone Age (newspaper edition)

    Savage Stone Age (newspaper edition)

  • Shadow of the Gallows

    Shadow of the Gallows

  • Slimy Stuarts

    Slimy Stuarts

  • Slimy Stuarts

    Slimy Stuarts

  • Slimy Stuarts

    Slimy Stuarts

  • Slimy Stuarts (Classic Edition)

    Slimy Stuarts (Classic Edition)

  • Slimy Stuarts (newspaper edition)

    Slimy Stuarts (newspaper edition)

  • Smashing Saxons

    Smashing Saxons

  • Smashing Saxons

    Smashing Saxons

  • Smashing Saxons

    Smashing Saxons

  • Smashing Saxons (Classic Edition)

    Smashing Saxons (Classic Edition)

  • Spies

    Spies

  • Spies

    Spies

  • Spies

    Spies

  • Spy Stories

    Spy Stories

  • Sticker Activity Pack

    Sticker Activity Pack

  • Stormin' Normans

    Stormin' Normans

  • Stormin' Normans

    Stormin' Normans

  • Stormin' Normans (Classic Edition)

    Stormin' Normans (Classic Edition)

  • Stormin' Normans (newspaper edition)

    Stormin' Normans (newspaper edition)

  • Terrible Timeline

    Terrible Timeline

  • Terrible Trenches Field Book

    Terrible Trenches Field Book

  • Terrible Tudors

    Terrible Tudors

  • Terrible Tudors

    Terrible Tudors

  • Terrible Tudors (Classic Edition)

    Terrible Tudors (Classic Edition)

  • Terrible Tudors, The

    Terrible Tudors, The

  • Terrifying Tudors

    Terrifying Tudors

  • Terrifying Tudors

    Terrifying Tudors

  • Terrifying Tudors

    Terrifying Tudors

  • Terrifying Tudors

    Terrifying Tudors

  • Terrifying Tudors

    Terrifying Tudors

  • Terrifying Tudors (Classic Edition)

    Terrifying Tudors (Classic Edition)

  • Terry Deary's Best Ever Greek Legends

    Terry Deary's Best Ever Greek Legends

  • Terry Deary's Best Ever Shakespeare Tales

    Terry Deary's Best Ever Shakespeare Tales

  • Terry Deary's Best Ever Shakespeare Tales

    Terry Deary's Best Ever Shakespeare Tales

  • Terry Deary's Terribly True Crime Stories

    Terry Deary's Terribly True Crime Stories

  • The Angry Aztecs

    The Angry Aztecs

  • The Awesome Egyptians

    The Awesome Egyptians

  • The Awful Egyptians

    The Awful Egyptians

  • The Big Fat Christmas Joke Book

    The Big Fat Christmas Joke Book

  • The Big Fat Father Christmas Joke Book

    The Big Fat Father Christmas Joke Book

  • The Blitzed Brits

    The Blitzed Brits

  • The Cut-Throat Celts

    The Cut-Throat Celts

  • The Frightful First World War

    The Frightful First World War

  • The Groovy Greeks

    The Groovy Greeks

  • The Horrible History of Britain and Ireland

    The Horrible History of Britain and Ireland

  • The Horrible History of the World

    The Horrible History of the World

  • The Horrible Pack of Mega Mayhem

    The Horrible Pack of Mega Mayhem

  • The Incredible Incas

    The Incredible Incas

  • The Ruthless Romans

    The Ruthless Romans

  • The Savage Stone Age

    The Savage Stone Age

  • The Smashing Saxons

    The Smashing Saxons

  • The Stormin' Normans

    The Stormin' Normans

  • The Woeful Second World War

    The Woeful Second World War

  • The Worst in the World

    The Worst in the World

  • This is a Horrible Journal

    This is a Horrible Journal

  • Tomb of Treasure

    Tomb of Treasure

  • Top 50 Kings and Queens

    Top 50 Kings and Queens

  • Top 50 Kings and Queens

    Top 50 Kings and Queens

  • Top 50 Villains

    Top 50 Villains

  • Tower of Terror

    Tower of Terror

  • Trenches

    Trenches

  • Tudors: A High-Speed History

    Tudors: A High-Speed History

  • Up in the Air

    Up in the Air

  • Vicious Vikings

    Vicious Vikings

  • Vicious Vikings

    Vicious Vikings

  • Vicious Vikings

    Vicious Vikings

  • Vicious Vikings (Classic Edition)

    Vicious Vikings (Classic Edition)

  • Vile Victorians

    Vile Victorians

  • Vile Victorians

    Vile Victorians

  • Vile Victorians

    Vile Victorians

  • Vile Victorians

    Vile Victorians

  • Vile Victorians (Classic Edition)

    Vile Victorians (Classic Edition)

  • Villainous Victorians

    Villainous Victorians

  • Villainous Victorians

    Villainous Victorians

  • Villainous Victorians

    Villainous Victorians

  • Villainous Victorians (Classic Edition)

    Villainous Victorians (Classic Edition)

  • Villains

    Villains

  • Wall of Woe

    Wall of Woe

  • Who's Horrible in History

    Who's Horrible in History

  • Wicked Words (Classic Edition)

    Wicked Words (Classic Edition)

  • Wiggott's Wonderful Waxworld: Fire Flight

    Wiggott's Wonderful Waxworld: Fire Flight

  • Wiggott's Wonderful Waxworld: Terror Train

    Wiggott's Wonderful Waxworld: Terror Train

  • Witches

    Witches

  • Woeful Second World War

    Woeful Second World War

  • Woeful Second World War

    Woeful Second World War

  • Woeful Second World War

    Woeful Second World War

  • Woeful Second World War

    Woeful Second World War

  • Woeful Second World War (Classic Edition)

    Woeful Second World War (Classic Edition)

Awards

Terry Deary won the 2001 Blue Peter Prize for Rotten Romans.