HISTORY HEROES
How well do you know your monarchs?
This is a super
game which comes in the form of forty two playing cards and one of instruction,
about British monarchs. It's presented in a pack like a regular pack of playing
cards but each card inside is devoted to one British or English monarch. The cards all have a jolly cartoon picture of
each monarch and below that, are six facts of decreasing complexity. At the bottom of each card are clues designed
to help befuddled players to achieve the correct answer. There are six games to
play which are described on the instruction card and these are fun and
competitive. It would also be possible to set further challenges to players
such as putting the monarchs in chronological order, or using them as a starting
point for further discoveries.
I can well imagine
that anyone playing one of these games would quickly increase their store of
knowledge about those who have wielded power over the English, or the British,
as they were after James 1 of Britain and VI of Scotland.
Even those who
consider themselves well informed will learn some surprising facts. Did you know that Henry VIII was the first to
be called Your Majesty, or that William IV had an affair with an actress and
had ten children with her? And that Oliver Cromwell died of malaria after a
huge thunderstorm hit London in 1649?
This is a game
which is guaranteed to provide a lot of fun for children and their grown
ups. Inquisitive children of eight
upwards will love this and so will their grannies and grandpas. Granny might also pose the question 'can a
man who beheaded two wives or one who went mad or one who abdicated the throne
be properly called a 'hero'? But that's
another profitable way to use this very attractive game. It would make a lovely present and keep the family occupied for hours. And
you'll all be better informed at the end.
