You Wouldn't Want to Be in a Medieval Dungeon

Author: MacDonald, Fiona

History & the past: general interest (Children's / Teenage)

Published on 12 February 2026 by Bonnier Books Ltd (Hatch) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 32 pages
239 x 212 x 4 | 150g

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It's the end of the 15th century, and your days as a battle-hardened soldier are over. You're broke, injured, and desperate for work-so you take a job running the castle prison. But beware: this is no cosy posting! From filthy cells teeming with rats and lice to prisoners plotting escape, every day brings danger, stench, and the constant threat of disease.

In this immersive, first-person narrative, readers experience the grim realities of medieval justice-torture devices, corrupt officials, innocent captives, and the harsh punishments meted out to traitors, thieves, and troublemakers. Packed with comic-style illustrations, fascinating historical facts, and 'Handy Hints' for survival, this instalment in the bestselling You Wouldn't Want to Be series makes history irresistibly funny, gruesome, and unforgettable. Perfect for reluctant readers, budding historians, and Horrible Histories fans alike.