In 1781, what was the response of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, on being presented with a copy by Edward Gibbon, of Gibbon’s recently published book ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’, which is still in print today and regarded as the standard text on the decline of the Roman Empire?

Answer: ‘Another damn thick, square book? Always scribble, scribble, scribble, eh Mr Gibbon?’

Source: General Historical Texts

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