Geschiedenis

In ‘Kastelen’ neemt bestsellerauteur Dan Jones je mee op een ontdekkingstocht langs iconische vestingwerken vol machtsstrijd, menselijke ambitie en verrassende verhalen.

The bestselling alternative history series in bite-sized chapters. Thoroughly researched and entertaining. This is history … but not as you know it.

Taking readers on a global journey through human history, Natasha Tidd examines how lies can change the world around us, from Julius Caesar’s deceptive PR machine to the cover-ups that caused Chernobyl.

A Short History of the World in 50 Lies journeys through forgeries that created centuries worth of conflict and domination, such as The Donation of Constantine, that all started with a forged papal document that went on to spark the start of the European Reformation. Also uncovered are mass political and press cover-ups including the infamous Dreyfus Affair in France that explores wrongful accusations, anti-semitism and Devil’s Island.

Alongside these are examinations of how our retellings of history can turn fiction into fact, including The Spanish Inquisition’s deceitful legacy. Plus, there is an in-depth look at how historic lies can still impact our lives today, such as the deadly legacy of America’s Tuskegee Experiment.

Meet incredible people, including Jeanne de Clisson who became the fourteenth century's most feared pirate – all because of a lie.

A Short History of the World in 50 Lies details the profound impact of this secretive side of history and shows that the truth really is stranger – and far more dangerous – than any fiction.

Also available:
A Short History of the World in 50 Conspiracies (9781789299076)
A Short History of the World in 50 Murders (9781789297737)
A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants (9781789298437)
A Short History of the World in 50 Failures (9781789296938)
A Short History of the World in 50 Books (9781789294088)
A Short History of the World in 50 Animals (9781789292954)
A Short History of the World in 50 Places (9781789291971)

THE PHENOMENAL GLOBAL BESTSELLER.

'Superb, enthralling and necessarily terrifying . . . every step feels spring-loaded with tension... extraordinary.'
THE NEW YORK TIMES
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The story of Chernobyl is more complex, more human, and more terrifying than the Soviet myth. Adam Higginbotham has written a harrowing and compelling narrative which brings the 1986 disaster to life through the eyes of the men and women who witnessed it first-hand.

Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews conducted over the course of more than ten years, as well as letters, unpublished memoirs, and documents from recently-declassified archives, this book makes for a masterful non-fiction thriller.

Chernobyl has become lodged in the collective nightmares of the world: shorthand for the spectral horrors of radiation poisoning, for a dangerous technology slipping its leash, for ecological fragility, and for what can happen when a dishonest and careless state endangers not only its own citizens, but all of humanity. It is a story that has long remained in dispute, clouded from the beginning in secrecy, propaganda, and misinformation.

Midnight In Chernobyl is an indelible portrait of history's worst nuclear disaster, of human resilience and ingenuity and the lessons learned when mankind seeks to bend the natural world to his will - lessons which, in the face of climate change and other threats - remain not just vital but necessary.
Now, Higginbotham brings us closer to the truth behind this colossal tragedy.
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'Tells the story of the disaster and its gruesome aftermath with thriller-like flair . . . wonderful and chilling ... written with skill and passion.'
THE OBSERVER

'An invaluable contribution to history.'
SERHII PLOKHY, EVENING STANDARD

A New York Times Best Book of the Year
A Time Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
Longlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize
2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Winner

Historicus Nathan Lauwers vertelt de geschiedenis van Antwerpen van het einde van de 19de tot het begin van deze eeuw door de lens van de populaire krant ‘De Nieuwe Gazet’.

'Both pioneering and fundamental. This is the essential history of Ukraine, from one of the greatest Ukrainian thinkers and scholars.'
Timothy Snyder #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of On Tyranny

'Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak's vivid, sweeping book lays bare the enduring pride that persuaded his countrymen to resist Russian aggression and offers grounds for hope.'
Luke Harding, Observer

'People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.'
John Adams

UKRAINE The Forging of a Nation delves into the events that led to the creation of Ukraine, examining crucial moments of Ukrainian and world history and how connected they have been, and continue to be, to this day.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the world witnessed the 'creative, freewheeling, darkly humorous, and deeply resilient society' of contemporary Ukraine, and discovered more about a country with a history that is 'exceptionally rich in examples of survival, solidarity and resilience.'

In this timely and original history, already a bestseller in Ukraine, Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak, Ukrainian intellectual and public historian, tells the sweeping story of his nation through a meticulous examination of the major events, conflicts and developments that have shaped it over the course of centuries, exploring Ukraine's dramatic history, incredible fight for freedom and its place as an independent nation in our world today.

This book is a definitive story of Ukraine and its people, as told by one of its most celebrated voices.

'A rollicking, surprising, often moving personal history' ANDREW MARR
'Wonderfully descriptive, knowledgeable and concise' Scotsman
'The first full account of the North Sea, above the waves and below' GORDON BROWN

This is the epic, sweeping history of our shores and our relationship to the sea. It's a story of newcomers and the mark they left. It is a story of warring tribes, foreign invaders, lost civilisations and holidaymakers. But it is also a story of huge technological advancement and industry: of submarine engineering and weather forecasting, of whaling expeditions, fishing trawlers and offshore wind farms. From renowned historian, Alistair Moffat, this is the story of how the North Sea shaped us and will continue to do so; it is above all a story of insistent, inescapable change.

'Brilliant and disturbing' Stephen Spender, New York Review of Books

The classic work on 'the banality of evil', and a journalistic masterpiece

Hannah Arendt's stunning and unnverving report on the trial of Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann first appeared as a series of articles in the New Yorker in 1963. This edition includes material that came to light after the trial, as well as Arendt's postscript directly addressing the controversy that arose over her account. A major journalistic triumph by an intellectual of singular influence, this classic portrayal of the banality of evil is as shocking as it is informative - an unflinching look at one of the most unsettling issues of the twentieth century.

'Deals with the greatest problem of our time ... the problem of the human being within a modern totalitarian system' Bruno Bettelheim

THE 'ELECTRIFYING' UNTOLD STORY OF SLAVERY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE BY THE AUTHOR OF A FATAL THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

'Excellent . . . a thoughtful and refreshing, intimate and disturbing insight into the workings of the Roman Empire' - Sunday Times

'The most important book you'll ever read about ancient Rome.' - Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of KINDRED

We associate the Romans with majesty and greatness: we marvel at their straight roads and innovative underfloor heating, at the dominance of their army and navy, at the grandeur of their palaces and temples. But the Romans were also enslavers. They built an empire on the backs of millions of people snatched from their homes in the aftermath of war, kidnapped from the streets, sold into slavery as punishment or, simply, born enslaved.

Servus takes us into the invisible spaces of the Roman world, where millions of enslaved lives were unwillingly dedicated to the perpetuation of the empire that owned them. From the fields of wheat required to give every Roman their daily bread, to the actors and gladiators who provided their circuses, and the miners who kept Rome a city of gold and marble, enslaved people were the bedrock of the Roman Empire. These enslaved people were ubiquitous, but silenced. Through the fragments they left behind, historian Emma Southon traces the pain and tragedy of their lives alongside the love stories, lifelong friendships, small victories and hard-won freedoms.

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ACCLAIM FOR SERVUS:

'A much-needed corrective to centuries of obfuscations and misunderstandings. Servus is a challenging read yet a simultaneously sensitive and even entertaining one, striking that peculiar balance that . . . only Emma can fully achieve.' Jane Draycott, author of FULVIA

'Electrifying, rousing and flowing with passion, this deeply researched book zips along in a way that defies expectation. What a skill Southon has for maintaining an energetic yet empathetic tone while bringing such dark realities to light.' - Daisy Dunn, author of THE MISSING THREAD

'Forget white marble statues and philosophical debates: Emma Southon takes you on a journey through the hell of ancient slavery that defined the classical world as few other things - a true masterwork of historical enquiry. - Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director General of Pompeii

'From the gladiators forced to entertain to the miners who sourced Rome's marble, this illuminating piece of revisionist history looks at just how much the Roman Empire was built on the back of the people they enslaved.' -I Paper

'One cannot fault the author for the passion with which she tackles this subject, or the vividness of her descriptions' - Literary Review

Survivor. Rebel. Conspirator. Mother and grandmother of kings. Margaret Beaufort was one of the most remarkable and influential women of the Middle Ages.

Margaret was born into a century of conflict. The daughter of the Duke of Somerset and a descendant of Edward III, she was married at twelve; a mother, orphan and widow at thirteen. She rode the vicissitudes of the Wars of the Roses, and two further marriages, to see her only son Henry ascend the throne of England as the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty. Margaret helped to bring about the marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York, a union that helped heal the wounds of a bitterly divided nation.

During Henry’s reign, she exerted considerable influence at court and played a part in the upbringing of her grandson, the future Henry VIII. She was a lifelong artistic patron and supporter of academia. By the time of her death in June 1509, Margaret had outlived by two months the son whose birth had so nearly killed her.

Lauren Johnson’s life of Margaret Beaufort brings its subject vividly and memorably to life. She delineates the decades of political upheaval that were the backdrop to Margaret’s long and resilient career, but also tells her story with a profound and touching humanity. This was a woman who endured the trauma of childbirth when she was little more than a child herself; who saw her baby on only a handful of occasions before he reached manhood; who braved decades of danger and uncertainty, and who succeeded in guiding her son – through courage, political astuteness and sheer persistence – to the greatest prize of all: the crown of England.

A BARACK OBAMA, NEW SCIENTIST AND NPR PICK

Data shaped empires. Now it's shaping our future. A groundbreaking 11,000 year global history from clay tablets to the algorithmic state, perfect for readers of Nexus and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.

'The new history of mankind demanded by our times' Jaron Lanier, author of Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Right Now

'Breathtaking in its scope and enormously fulfilling in its depth' Lewis Dartnell, author of Being Human

From targeted advertising to mass surveillance, data shapes the course of our lives. How did it gain the power it now holds over us?

Since the dawn of civilization, people gained power by keeping count. From ancient censuses to maps and ledgers, data decided who belonged, who owed, and who could be sacrificed. Today, a handful of private brokers increasingly define what we see and what is real.

Provocative, humane and sweeping in scope, Data Empire challenges us to decide whether we will allow a new set of data empires to hardwire inequality into the next century, or fight for the benefit of all. It’s time to decide. Will technology serve democracy or replace it?

'Essential reading for understanding the opportunities and dangers of the technological revolution now transforming our world' Jonathan Kennedy, author of Pathogenesis

'This brilliant, readable book offers a striking new historical perspective' Corinne Fowler, author of Our Island Stories

A bright, illuminating tour of the many fascinating and revealing manifestations of the Cinderella story, dancing artfully across cultures, forms and meanings.

Matthew Sangster, author of An Introduction to Fantasy.

A glass slipper, a fairy godmother, a transformed pumpkin, lizard footmen and seamstress mice: these familiar images evoke a very particular story, one where hopes and dreams for a new life might come true. Adaptations of Cinderella branch out through history and across the world, from early illustrated books to modern children’s and young adult novels, and contemporary films. Cinderella: A Cultural History aims to answer the question, why does Cinderella still inspire so many of us with her story?

Beginning with the literary versions of the tale that were popularized by collectors and writers such as Basile, Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, this book looks back at the folktales that informed them, out to the various countries and cultures that share similar stories, and then forwards to what writers, illustrators, filmmakers and other storytellers continue to do with the Cinderella narrative. Instead of taking a strictly historical approach, it explores the ways heroes, villains, helpers and symbols appear in different interpretations, illustrations and adaptations. It draws connections between the historical and contemporary preoccupations, concerns and hopes that the Cinderella story still addresses in the 21st century, and celebrates our enduring desire for enchantment and transformation.

'A complete overhaul of the Western museum tradition' - Publishers Weekly

In A Programme of Absolute Disorder, Françoise Vergès strips away the veneer of the universal Western museum to reveal its origins as the foundation of liberal ideology.

By exploring the history of the Louvre, and following the radical tradition of Frantz Fanon, she argues that the modern institution cannot just be fixed with a more diverse board or by finding new ways to display the art.

Instead, she demands a 'post-museum': a space that rejects the financialization of art, acknowledges the bloody history of its collections, and prioritises the labour and dignity of those who clean, guard and inhabit its halls.

This beautifully illustrated book explores the stories behind over fifty literary manuscripts held at the Bodleian Library. Covering a time span of nearly three millennia, the book features the work of some of the world’s best-known authors, including novelists, poets, dramatists and children’s writers.

Centuries-old items include papyrus fragments of work by Homer and Sappho, Cædmon’s Hymn as featured in an 11th-century manuscript, and 15th-century illuminated manuscripts of works by Christine de Pizan and Geoffrey Chaucer. Manuscript pages in the author’s own hand give a rare insight into the drafting process from the sixteenth century onwards. Novelists’ drafts range from ‘The Watsons’ by Jane Austen, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Mrs Lirriper’s Lodgings by Charles Dickens, to John le Carré’s biro annotations on typescript for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Philip Pullman’s neat drafts for Lyra’s Oxford on narrow-lined A4. Poems by Christina Rossetti, Thomas Hardy, Wilfred Owen and Jenny Joseph are included alongside well-loved children’s stories such as The Wind in the Willows, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Paddington Goes to Town.

Also featuring portraits and photographs held in the archives, this book delves into authors’ lives, the fascinating stories behind the creation and composition of their works, and the afterlives of their manuscripts.

This is a gripping book, full of flawed characters and philosophical questions, of nationalistic pride and humble heroism. Octavia Pollock, Country Life, August 26 2026

A very important addition to mountaineering literature. Jochen Hemmleb

An insight into the early days of mountaineering and the ways we confront challenges of body, mind and spirit. This book reminds us that while the summit may inspire us, it is the climb itself that truly matters. Conrad Anker

When George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924, the British nation mourned their loss. But soon, other mountaineers focused again on the challenge of climbing Everest or another major Himalayan peak. The British were determined, but faced competition from German mountaineers, who by the 1920s were climbing at a much higher standard.

Chasing Mallory’s Dream tells the story of the first British attempts on Everest and the competition with German climbers in the Himalayas. All of the mountaineers were affected by the First World War: some were veterans of the trenches, others were raised in its shadow. Both countries saw Himalayan climbing as a route to national renewal, a sentiment reinforced in Germany by the arrival of the Nazi regime, which encouraged reckless risk-taking for national glory. The attempts to realise ‘Mallory’s dream’ involve some of the most dramatic stories, poignant tragedies and fascinating characters in mountaineering history. Recounting these perilous expeditions allows us to explore the motives of the participants and their contrasting attitudes to risk, leadership and climbing style. Including striking archival photographs, this is a gripping narrative of Himalayan climbing between the wars.

'A deftly written, colourful little tour of plebeian Rome' Dan Jones, Sunday Times

The untold story of the real people who built an empire

The plebs were the backbone of Roman civilization. They were the farmers who fed the city, the soldiers who conquered the Mediterranean, and the craftsmen who built the monuments we still admire today.

In Plebs Romana, renowned classicist and bestselling author Peter Jones takes us through the twists and turns of Rome's turbulent history - from bloody conquests and civil wars to street riots and shocking scandals - to reveal how this disparate, downtrodden underclass evolved into a political force that challenged the ruling elite and transformed the Roman Republic.

From debt crises to dinner parties, graffiti to gladiators, slaves to strikes, Jones provides fascinating insights into every aspect of ordinary Roman life. It is an extraordinary and entertaining account that, for the first time, places at the heart of the story Rome's working people, who unwittingly helped to lay the foundations of our political system.

'Jones has an eagle's high eye for the history of Rome' The Times
'Jones makes the classical world feel both beguiling and fresh' Sunday Times

'This century's most compelling theorist of racism and colonialism' Angela Davis

Written at the height of the Algerian war for independence from French colonial rule and first published in 1961, Frantz Fanon's Wretched of the Earth has provided inspiration for anti-colonial movements ever since, analysing the role of class, race, national culture and violence in the struggle for freedom. With power and anger, Fanon makes clear the economic and psychological degradation inflicted by imperialism. It was Fanon, himself a psychotherapist, who exposed the connection between colonial war and mental disease, who showed how the fight for freedom must be combined with building a national culture, and who showed the way ahead, through revolutionary violence, to socialism.

'In clear language, in words that can only have been written in the cool heat of rage, he showed us the internal theatre of racism' Deborah Levy

'A master storyteller' The Times

Democracies are fragile. Freedoms that seem secure can be lost. Few historical events illustrate this as vividly as the failure of the Weimar Republic.

Fateful Hours tells one of the greatest dramas in world history: the failure of Germany's first democracy, culminating in the horrific rise of the Third Reich.

But this tragedy was not inevitable. In this gripping new book, celebrated historian Volker Ullrich charts the many failed alternatives and missed opportunities that contributed to German democracy's collapse. In an immersive style that takes us to the heart of political power, Ullrich argues that, right up until January 1933, history was open - just as in the present, it is up to us whether democracy lives or dies.

A devastating, meticulous account of the history of Israel’s destruction of Gaza from an acclaimed architect and investigator

'Urgent and essential' DAVID WENGROW
'Extraordinary' ILAN PAPPÉ

Eyal Weizman is one of the world’s leading experts on the relationship between violence, conflict and the environment, both built and natural. As director of the organisation Forensic Architecture, he and his team of interdisciplinary researchers document acts of state crimes and human rights violations around the world. Since 2023, the group has worked to produce evidence for the International Court of Justice’s genocide case against Israel.

In Ungrounding, Weizman draws on that research to bring us on an eye-opening journey across time and into the 'deep cartography' of the area extending from Gaza’s subterranean tunnels through to its militarised topography, its unique soil, settlements and barriers. He catalogues, in unflinching and forensic detail, the Israeli campaigns of violence and displacement that have reshaped the region in an effort to make Gaza and its surrounding areas unliveable.

Taking us through the broader geographic and historical context, from the Nakba in 1948 to the present day, Ungrounding establishes that architectural and territorial analysis is key to understanding the relationship between coloniser and colonised – and how Israel’s actions after 7 October escalated into violence so extreme and so far-reaching as to, Weizman argues, meet the definition of genocide.

Deeply informative and profoundly affecting in its scope and precision, and illustrated with dozens of original images, maps and diagrams, Ungrounding is an essential document of atrocity in our time.

An unprecedented exploration of Japanese women artists and their impact on the global artistic landscape, from the post-war period to the turn of the twenty-first century