Totally Punked

The Dreadnought hoax

Totally Punked: The Dreadnought Hoax
By Mike Nesbitt

In 1910, the world’s most powerful navy was thoroughly duped by a gang of bohemians in bedsheets and boot polish. This is the true—and truly hilarious—story of how a group of eccentric intellectuals, led by a compulsive prankster and including a young Virginia Woolf in disguise, managed to infiltrate the Royal Navy’s crown jewel: HMS Dreadnought.

Totally Punked is a raucous, razor-sharp retelling of the most famous prank in British naval history. More than a hoax, it was a theatrical masterpiece—a moment where satire torpedoed pomp, and the empire’s stiff upper lip was tickled until it twitched.

Inside this witty and insightful volume, readers will meet:

• Horace de Vere Cole, the aristocratic saboteur who treated high society like his personal stage;

• Virginia Woolf, future literary icon turned fake Abyssinian prince;

• The Royal Navy, the unsuspecting straight man to one of history’s greatest practical jokes.

From the foggy docks of Weymouth to the hallowed decks of HMS Dreadnought, the story unfolds with flair, featuring forged telegrams, made-up languages (“Bunga Bunga,” anyone?), and military men saluting spoons glued to sandals. It’s a tale that skewers British imperialism, mocks Edwardian decorum, and proves once and for all that the pen—and the paintbrush—can be mightier than the sword.

But Totally Punked is more than just a hilarious caper. Author Mike Nesbitt delivers biting commentary on the social norms of the time, the absurdities of empire, and the timeless British talent for laughing at one's own institutions. With chapters such as “The Navy Strikes Back (Politely),” “Virginia and the Beard,” and “Diplomatic Gibberish,” this book sails through history with the speed of a dreadnought and the charm of a West End farce.

Expect absurdity. Expect wit. Expect moustaches.

This is the Edwardian era as you've never seen it—poked, prodded, and perfectly punked.