If you loved
Darkmans
Nicola Barker · Book · 2007
You loved Darkmans for how it treats history as a grotesque, cyclical, and darkly comedic playground where the past bleeds into the present.
Films on the same thread
Nuremberg
James Vanderbilt · Film · 2025
Explores: moral ambiguity, psychological warfare, post-war reconstruction.
Much like the unsettling historical figures in Darkmans, this film explores the moral rot and psychological weight of the past, forcing you to confront the unsettling human cost of justice.
Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino · Film · 2009
Explores: Revenge, Justice, Moral Ambiguity.
This film mirrors the revisionist, violent energy found in Darkmans, treating historical trauma as a stage for spectacle while subverting standard narratives about the horrors of the twentieth century.
Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2017
Explores: evacuation, wartime survival, collective trauma.
If the collective trauma and suffocating atmosphere of history in Darkmans resonated with you, this visceral depiction of survival offers a similarly intense look at the fragility of human existence.
The Favourite
Yorgos Lanthimos · Film · 2018
Explores: Political Intrigue, Power Dynamics, Queer Relationships.
The biting, period-accurate satire and grotesque power struggles in this film echo the dark, cynical playfulness of Darkmans, particularly in how it depicts the absurdity of royal court life.
Series on the same thread
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Richard Ayoade · Series · 2004
Explores: Hospital Setting, Over-the-Top Characters, Low-Budget Aesthetics.
The meta-humor and low-budget absurdity of this series capture the same surreal, fragmented spirit of Darkmans, proving that history and genre tropes are ripe for chaotic, satirical deconstruction.
Blackadder
Richard Curtis · Series · 1983
Explores: Cynicism, Social satire, Historical Parody.
This series shares the cynical, cyclical view of British history present in Darkmans, highlighting how human incompetence and self-serving nature repeat themselves regardless of the specific historical era.
Black Books
Dylan Moran · Series · 2000
Explores: misanthropy, dysfunctional friendship, alcoholism.
The misanthropy and eccentricity found here mirror the character work in Darkmans, offering a similarly bleak yet deeply funny look at dysfunctional people trapped in their own insular worlds.
I, Claudius
Martin Lisemore · Series · 1976
Explores: Power Struggles, Political Intrigue, Corruption.
The dark comedy and political corruption of this series align perfectly with the tone of Darkmans, showing how power dynamics are often just a long, cruel joke played across generations.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dark History
Audioboom Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold narratives, institutional corruption, societal taboos.
This podcast shares the fascination with the grotesque and untold sides of the past that defines Darkmans, framing history as a collection of dark secrets waiting to be unearthed.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The unorthodox, analytical approach to history here matches the intellectual curiosity of Darkmans, as both works examine the uncomfortable consequences of power and the circular nature of human behavior.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Darkmans a historical novel?
Darkmans explores history as a repetitive cycle through the perspectives of figures like the court jester John Scogin and physician Andrew Boarde. The narrative examines the nature of historical events and the individuals who influence them, framing the past as a series of recurring, often dark, occurrences.
Who are the key historical figures mentioned in Darkmans?
Darkmans centers on two primary historical figures. The first is John Scogin, who served as a court jester to Edward IV and is noted for his cruel pranks. The second is Andrew Boarde, who acted as a physician to Henry VIII and contributed to the historical context of the novel.
What is the central premise of Darkmans?
Darkmans questions the nature of history by asking if it is merely a recurring sick joke. The novel investigates the identity of the person or force telling this story, focusing on the influence of historical figures like John Scogin and Andrew Boarde on the repetition of past events.
Is Darkmans written by the author of Clear?
Yes, Darkmans is written by Nicola Barker, who is also the award-winning author of Clear. The novel is described as an epic work of startling originality that explores the cyclical nature of history through the actions of figures such as John Scogin and Andrew Boarde.