Otto English. Fake Heroes: Ten False Icons & How They Altered the Course of History

Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history’s biggest names. Separating the myth-builders from the fraudsters and celebrating some of the genuine unsung heroes from our history, Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.

Was Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?

Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?

Is Henry V actually England’s greatest king?

And why does JFK’s legend continue to grow?

Whether it’s virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?

Exploring everything from Captain Scott’s reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol’s flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel’s murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history’s most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.