Geschiedenis

The story of the sixteenth-century’s epic contest for the spice trade, which propelled European maritime exploration and conquest across Asia and the Pacific Spices drove the early modern world economy, and for Europeans they represented riches on an unprecedented scale. Cloves and nutmeg could reach Europe only via a complex web of trade routes, and for decades Spanish and Portuguese explorers competed to find their elusive source. But when the Portuguese finally reached the spice islands of the Moluccas in 1511, they set in motion a fierce competition for control. Roger Crowley shows how this struggle shaped the modern world. From 1511 to 1571, European powers linked up the oceans, established vast maritime empires, and gave birth to global trade, all in the attempt to control the supply of spices. Taking us on voyages from the dockyards of Seville to the vastness of the Pacific, the volcanic Spice Islands of Indonesia, the Arctic Circle, and the coasts of China, this is a narrative history rich in vivid eyewitness accounts of the adventures, shipwrecks, and sieges that formed the first colonial encounters—and remade the world economy for centuries to follow.

'Fascinating... One of the most astute political commentators on Putin and modern Russia' Financial Times

'An amazing achievement' Peter Frankopan

Can anyone truly understand Russia?

Russia is a country with no natural borders, no single ethos, no true central identity. At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it is everyone's 'other'. And yet it is one of the most powerful nations on earth, a master game-player on the global stage with a rich history of war and peace, poets and revolutionaries.

In this essential whistle-stop tour of the world's most complex nation, Mark Galeotti takes us behind the myths to the heart of the Russian story: from the formation of a nation to its early legends - including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great - to the rise and fall of the Romanovs, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, Chernobyl and the end of the Soviet Union - plus the rise of a politician named Vladimir Putin, and the events leading to the Ukrainian war.

A Sunday Times Art Book of the Year. This is a unique and compelling journey through five centuries of the city known as ‘La Serenissima’ – a perfect companion for both lovers of Venice and lovers of its art. Venice was a major centre of art in the Renaissance: the city where the medium of oil on canvas became the norm. Nowhere else has been depicted by so many great painters in so many diverse styles and moods. Venetian views were a speciality of native artists such as Canaletto and Guardi, but the city has also been represented by outsiders: J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, John Singer Sargent, Howard Hodgkin, and many more. Then there are those who came to look at and write about art. The reactions of Henry James, George Eliot, Richard Wagner and others enrich this tale. Nor is the story over. Since the advent of the Venice Biennale in the 1890s, and the arrival of Peggy Guggenheim in the late 1940s, the city has become a shop window for the contemporary art of the whole world, and it remains the site of important artistic events. In this elegant volume, Gayford – who has visited Venice countless times since the 1970s, covered every Biennale since 1990, and even had portraits of himself exhibited there on several occasions – takes us on a visual journey through the city’s past five centuries.

THE MUST-READ BOOK ON THE WORLD'S BIGGEST FLASHPOINT

A BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, THE SPECTATOR AND DAILY EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR

'Magnificent ... As exciting to read as it is important' Peter Frankopan

'Fascinating ... essential reading' Helen Thompson

'Alarming and uplifting' John Kampfner

The Baltic will decide the course of the West in the coming years.

These nine borderlands are not only the historical battleground of Russian aggression; they are also a factory of ideas for how to revive Europe. Shaped by the past one hundred years, each Baltic country offers lessons in adaptability, hope and prosperity in an era of instability.

Innovation in Estonia, patience in Finland, resilience in Poland, even poetry in Latvia: with their tumultuous pasts and exposed geography, these poorly understood frontline states are reconfiguring the balance of power around the heart of Eurasia. From pioneering environmental initiatives and world-leading innovations in technology to ever-growing economies, from tackling disinformation to tempering the populist right, the Baltic states are now key to understanding how political events might unfold in the coming years.

Blending history, politics and reportage, this is the first book to explain why these are some of our most imaginative allies, yet most of us know so little about them. Interviewing prime ministers, presidents, generals, intelligence officers, business leaders and ordinary people, Oliver Moody traces the extraordinary emergence of a new fulcrum of great-power rivalry. But the real reason we need to understand them is that their fate is ours.

The currents of History run deep and often unseen beneath the everyday ripple of events. But now and again the current rises to the surface, and the events of a single day shed an exceptional light on the meaning of the past.

Such events are the subject of Days that Changed the World. Some of the 50 days described here mark the end of an era; others the start of something new. Many are the dates of bloody battles or murders; others of momentous decisions or breathtaking discoveries. All are remembered as powerful symbols of their time.

Our story begins almost 2500 years ago on 28 September 480 before the Christian Era, when the Athenian navy destroyed the Persian invasion fleet in the Bay of Salamis. Had the Persians won we might never have heard the names of Plato, Aristotle or Alexander, nor recognize the word democracy. Charting 50 such defining moments, concluding with Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and 9/11 a decade after, Days that Changed the World is a unique and fascinating way to portray the story of world history.

Repackaged into a neat and striking format, with a brand new cover and an entirely narrative approach, it is bound to be anyone interested in History's favorite encyclopaedia.

'Ted Kessler and Hamish MacBain are fantastic chaps. The Dudley Moore and Peter Cook of music journalism LG x' – Liam Gallagher

'Something special: a book of wit and verve about why Oasis matter' – The Telegraph

This instant Sunday Times bestseller is the definitive book about the music of Oasis, published in time for the reunion tour. A deeply researched tribute to the creative talent and star power of the Gallaghers, A Sound So Very Loud is crammed with unknown detail and the kind of anarchic, brilliantly funny anecdotes that only Oasis could generate.

Music journalists Ted Kessler and Hamish MacBain first met Liam and Noel in 1994, when the brothers were playing tiny venues, and have since interviewed them dozens of times, tracking the astonishing success of Oasis as they became one of the biggest bands in the world.

In this comprehensive telling of the Oasis story through their spectacular back catalogue, Kessler and MacBain focus on the enduring power of the music, exploring the tales behind the lyrics and revealing the background to the writing, recording and impact of all the songs, from megahits like ‘Live Forever’, ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’ to the fan-favourite B-sides and deep cuts such as ‘Acquiesce’, ‘The Masterplan’ and ‘Half the World Away’.

With their unique perspective on all things Oasis, Kessler and MacBain bring this story to life in glorious colour. A Sound So Very Loud is a book every Oasis fan needs on their shelves, destined to be as timeless and as moreish as the music itself.

'Essential reading. Hamish and Ted have had front row tickets to the Oasis story from the very beginning. There’s no one who knows more about the band, the music and its impact' – Mat Whitecross, director of Oasis: Supersonic

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukraine conflict that began eight years earlier. But the roots of the conflict began long before that historic date.

The origins of the Russo-Ukrainian War can be traced back through a sequence of events to the early 1990s that lead us not to Russia or Ukraine, but to the other side of the Atlantic. In 1994, the White House, under President Clinton, embarked upon the expansion of NATO, urged on by the new governments of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, who sought the security NATO could offer against Russia. Even at this early stage, the United States was secretly considering Ukraine for membership. When the likelihood of this emerged, President Putin of Russia made absolutely clear that this was a red line not to be crossed. But few expected the war that eventually came.

In Hubris, Jonathan Haslam, one of the world’s greatest experts on Russian foreign policy and espionage, examines one of the most intractable issues of our time.

A bestselling book by Noa Tishby offers a concise, engaging history of Israel, from Biblical times to today, tackling misconceptions with passion and humor.

In this poignant memoir, Frank McCourt recounts his impoverished Irish Catholic childhood, filled with humor, hardship, and the power of storytelling amidst struggle.

Isaacson's biography of Einstein explores his rebellious nature, creativity, and how he became a genius despite personal and professional struggles.

Unorthodox is Deborah Feldman's memoir of escaping a strict Hasidic sect to seek freedom for herself and her son. Now a Netflix series.

"Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin explores Lincoln's political genius, his presidency, and his cabinet of former foes.

David McCullough's biography of John Adams explores the life of the second U.S. president, his role in the Revolution, and his enduring love for Abigail Adams.

Lorenzo de' Medici, the brilliant and sometimes ruthless statesman, transformed Florence into the cultural heart of the Renaissance.

Cornelius Ryan's *The Longest Day* masterfully recounts the D-Day invasion, illuminating the courage and tragedy that marked this pivotal World War II battle.

This detective story explores the mysterious disappearance of inventor Rudolf Diesel on the eve of World War I and his impact on global industry.

Walter Isaacson's boxed set features his biographies of Steve Jobs, Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Leonardo da Vinci.

"The Founders" details PayPal's origins and the influential tech figures behind its rise, revealing untold stories and their impact on modern innovation.

"Bowling Alone" by Robert D. Putnam examines the decline of community in America, updated with insights on social media's impact on social connections.

Stephen A. Smith shares his journey from a poor kid in Queens to ESPN star, detailing his struggles, career highs, and personal insights.

Alice Feiring's memoir blends personal essays on love, heartbreak, and wine with practical wine advice. Nominated for a James Beard Award.

Jen Winston's "Greedy" is a witty essay collection on bisexuality, gender, and sex. A candid look at self-discovery, challenging stereotypes.

Award-winning artist Nora Krug delves into her family's hidden WWII history in Nazi Germany, blending comics, scrapbooking, and collage.

A lyrical memoir of Safiya Sinclair's struggle to break free from her rigid Rastafarian upbringing and find her own voice.

"My Own Words" by Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers an insightful look into her life, discussing gender equality, the Supreme Court, and more.

Winner of the 2023 PROSE Award and Chautauqua Prize, "The Song of the Cell" by Mukherjee explores the discovery and impact of cells on medicine.

Nicholas Pileggi's "Wiseguy" chronicles Henry Hill's life in the mafia, inspiring Scorsese's "GoodFellas." An engrossing true-crime read.

A moving look at Ramanujan, an Indian prodigy who revolutionized mathematics at Cambridge University with his brilliant theories.

'Captivating. Kent effortlessly weaves travels that are close to his heart into a bigger story of Turkey’s past and present' – Mishal Husain
'A rich, spellbinding book: dense with people, stories, history, colour, lived experience . . . The book is alive on every page' – Neel Mukherjee, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Lives of Others

The Endless Country takes a journey through Turkey’s past – the nation the author’s father left decades ago and he returns to as a young man.

It is not about Erdogan or Atatürk, the two towering Presidents who have book-ended that history, and at times have appeared impossible to escape. Instead Sami Kent’s book goes deep beyond them, revealing a history as rich, layered and absurd as his family’s favourite dessert, künefe: a shredded wheat pastry with a core of melted cheese, a topping of pistachios, and a drowning of syrup.

From tiny weightlifters to the world’s biggest prison, from a failed socialist commune to a wildly successful orchid ice cream, the book is a tribute to the sheer bewildering diversity of Turkey’s past: its people, their ideas and their struggles.

'This is surely how history should be told – human, fun, alive' – The Telegraph

An expert voice will turn your world upside down-literally-with this bold new international take on the myths created by our global maps and our borders

*AS HEARD ON RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*

THE INTERNATIONAL #1 BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2024 NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WATERSTONES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
A 2024 BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE OBSERVER, ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES AND PROSPECT

‘A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it’ PROFESSOR BRIAN COX

‘Exceptional’ FINANCIAL TIMES

‘A cracking book that is as enjoyable as it is readable’ PETER FRANKOPAN

‘Equally entertaining and insightful’ YANIS VAROUFAKIS
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MONEY.
The object of our desires.
The engine of our genius.
Humanity’s greatest invention.

From clay tablets in Mesopotamia to today’s cryptocurrency, global economist David McWilliams takes us on an epic journey of innovation, disruption and transformation that is an astonishing new history of our species.

The question is, over 5,000 years, have we changed money – or has money changed us?
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‘A fun history of money told through the stories of the chancers, cheats, scoundrels and geniuses who made it happen’ KATIE MARTIN

‘An impressive journey that fizzes with facts’ ECONOMIST

‘An eye-opening history of what makes the world go round’ EVENING STANDARD

‘Compelling, funny and original’ KATJA HOYER

‘If, as David McWilliams complains, economists take the fun out of money, then he is the exception that proves the rule: a man who could not write a boring sentence if he tried’ TOM HOLLAND

Enter the mysterious world of sixteenth-century science, where astronomers and alchemists shared laboratories... 'There is magic in these pages.' Daisy Dunn, author of The Missing ThreadIn 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus declared the earth revolved around the Sun, overturning centuries of scholastic presumption. A new age was coming into view – one guided by observation, technology and logic. But omens and elixirs did not disappear from the sixteenth-century laboratory. Charms and potions could still be found nestled between glistening brass instruments and leather-bound tomes. The line between the natural and supernatural remained porous, yet to be defined. From the icy Danish observatory of Tycho Brahe, to the smoky, sulphur-stained workshop of John Dee, Violet Moller tours the intellectual heart of early European science. Exploring its rich, multidisciplinary culture, Inside the Stargazer’s Palace reveals a dazzling forgotten world, where all knowledge, no matter how arcane, could be pursued in good faith. ***'In this fascinating study of the early scientific revolution, when experimental thought was beginning to emerge from Medieval scholasticism, Violet Moller brings to life the trailblazers of this new age.' Paul Strathern, author of The Other Renaissance'Inside the Stargazer's Palace plunges us into an irresistible network of touchy scientists, unpredictable patrons and religious controversy in the sixteenth century, antechamber of the modern world. Violet Moller is an assured and expert guide to this world, writing with a light touch and an infectious love of her subject.' Christopher de Bellaigue, author of The Lion House‘Inside the Stargazer’s Palace takes the reader to places they are unlikely to have visited and to figures they are unlikely to know… Violet Moller brings the world to life vividly and with style.’ Nicholas Spencer, author Magisteria

Brimming with life and drama, this is the first book to explore two thousand years of European history through one the greatest imperial networks ever built

'A delightful, novel and authoritative history from the ground up' JUDITH HERRIN

'Epic and witty ... Fletcher is a thoroughly enjoyable narrator because she peppers her learned prose with wry humour' TOBIAS JONES, Observer

'Fletcher is a rare thing: an academic who writes beautifully and accessibly about big subjects ... utterly riveting, filled with golden nuggets' CHARLIE CONNELLY, New European

'All roads lead to Rome.' It's a medieval proverb, but it's also true: today's European roads still follow the networks of the ancient empire, as Rome’s extraordinary legacy continues to grip our imaginations.

Over the two thousand years since they were first built, the roads have been walked by crusaders and pilgrims, liberators and dictators, but also by tourists and writers, refugees and artists. As channels of trade and travel, and routes for conquest and creativity, Catherine Fletcher shows how the roads forever transformed the cultures, and intertwined the fates, of a vast panoply of people across Europe and beyond.

Reflecting on his own walk on the Appian Way, Charles Dickens observed that here is ‘a history in every stone that strews the ground.’ Based on outstanding original research, and brimming with life and drama, this is the first book to explore two thousand years of history through one of the greatest imperial networks ever built.

Bestselling historian William Dalrymple reinstates India as the great superpower of Ancient Asia.

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE*

Nuclear war begins with a blip on a radar screen.
This is a minute-by-minute account of what comes next.
It has to be read to be believed.

'A stomach-clenching, multi-perspective, ticking-clock, geopolitical thriller' Forbes
'Tells a terrifying story in a devastatingly straightforward way' Guardian
'These are scenes straight out of Dr Strangelove' Telegraph

There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war.

Until now, no one outside official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the Pentagon. Second by second and minute by minute, these are the real-life protocols that choreograph the end of civilization.

Decisions that affect hundreds of millions of lives need to be made within six minutes, based on partial information, in the knowledge that once launched, nothing is capable of halting the destruction.

Based on dozens of new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and taken responsibility for crucial decisions, this is the only account of what a nuclear exchange would look like.

Nuclear War is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever.

'This terrifying book is a must-read for every world leader' Mother Jones
'At once methodical and vivid' The Economist
'Dangerously plausible – and it reads like a thriller' Sunday Times

* A New York Times bestseller (March 2024) and a Sunday Times bestseller (April 2024). Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2024, the UK's premier annual prize for non-fiction books.

* A Financial Times Book of the Year * A Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday Summer Read *

HOLD THE POWER AND GLORY OF ANCIENT ROME IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.

'Fantastic ... expert storytelling' CONN IGGULDEN
'Excellent' SUNDAY TIMES
'Riveting and utterly original' MAIL ON SUNDAY

A wild she-wolf tenderly nurses infant twins Romulus and Remus.
Marcus Junius Brutus looks out over chaos and conflict, flaunting the bloodied daggers with which he murdered Julius Caesar.
Trumpets blare, crowds roar, gladiators enter the grand Colosseum. Let the games begin.

Frescoes fade and books vanish, but the story of Rome’s epic rise and fall survives in scenes struck in gold, silver and bronze. Told through the lives of twelve remarkable coins, this is ancient Rome as you’ve never seen it before.

'Extremely enjoyable' EMMA SOUTHON
'Wonderful ... there are riches aplenty in these pages' CHRISTOPHER HADLEY
'Ingenious - filled with illuminating details' MATTHEW KNEALE
'Fascinating, original and fun' MARTIN WOLF, FINANCIAL TIMES

Discover the Sunday Times bestseller and incredible true story behind the most catastrophic 24-hours the British military faced in World War II from the bestselling author.

‘Utterly brilliant... this book really is the last word on the Battle of Arnhem’ James Holland
’Superb... A military historian of originality and insight to compare with the best’ Saul David
_________

The Battle of Arnhem is one of the best-known stories in British military history: a daring but doomed attempt to secure a vital bridgehead across the Rhine in order to end the war before Christmas 1944.

It is always written about, with the benefit of unerring 20/20 hindsight, as being destined to fail, but the men who fought there, men of military legend, didn't know that that was to be their fate.

Now, in Arnhem: Black Tuesday, Al Murray focuses on the events of one day as they happened through the eyes of the British participants, without bringing any knowledge of what would happen tomorrow to bear, offering a very different perspective on a familiar narrative.

Some things went right and a great many more went wrong, but recounting them in this way allows the reader to understand for the first time how certain decisions were taken in the moment and how opportunities were squandered.

Al Murray has always been obsessed by this legendary battle, and in Arnhem: Black Tuesday he showcases all of his knowledge, interpretation and enthusiasm to bear to tell the story of one of history’s great heroic failures differently for the first time.
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Praise for Arnhem: Black Tuesday:

‘Original and insightful’ Telegraph
'A revelation.. This is Arnhem unplugged. By confining himself to men in and around Arnhem on that Tuesday, Murray achieves something special' The Times

Jared Cohen's book explores the post-presidency lives of seven U.S. presidents, revealing their impactful and unique contributions after leaving office.

Phil Knight's "Shoe Dog" details Nike's rise from a start-up to an iconic brand, highlighting his journey, risks, setbacks, and triumphs.

Rob Henderson's memoir "Troubled" recounts his journey from foster care to the Air Force to elite universities, exploring "luxury beliefs" and social class.

Kara Swisher's "Burn Book" is a memoir and history of Silicon Valley's tech giants, detailing their rise and impact on the world.

A new and original history of the Viking Age, told through the objects that defined the lives of the people who lived through it

An intimate look at Elie Wiesel, author of the seminal Holocaust memoir Night and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, Biography category “An indispensable touchstone.”—Julia M. Klein, Forward As an orphaned survivor and witness to the horrors of Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) compelled the world to confront the Holocaust with his searing memoir Night. How did this soft-spoken man from a small Carpathian town become such an influential figure on the world stage? Drawing on Wiesel’s prodigious literary output and interviews with his family, friends, scholars, and critics, Joseph Berger seeks to answer this question. Berger explores Wiesel’s Hasidic childhood in Sighet, his postwar years spent rebuilding his life from the ashes in France, his transformation into a Parisian intellectual, his failed attempts at romance, his years scraping together a living in America as a journalist, his decision to marry and have a child, his emergence as a spokesperson for Holocaust survivors and persecuted peoples throughout the world, his lifelong devotion to the state of Israel, and his difficult final years. Through this penetrating portrait we come to know intimately the man the Norwegian Nobel Committee called “a messenger to mankind.”

The Instant Sunday Times BestsellerBlackwell's Book of the YearShortlisted for Waterstones Book of the YearHistorian and bestselling author of Eleanor, Alice Loxton, presents a scintillating history of Britain, told through portraits of eighteen figures in British history at the age of eighteen. 'The star of her generation' – Dan Snow, host of History Hit'Bursting with ideas and images' – Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl'Utterly, utterly brilliant' – Tracy Borman, author of The King's WitchAt eighteen, your life is full of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to – unless you've got the plague . . . What happens if the First World War breaks out while you're at university?How does a young woman, born without arms or legs, make a living in Georgian London?What turns a rugby-obsessed teenager from a Welsh mining town into Richard Burton?In this unconventional and witty history, award-winning writer and broadcaster Alice Loxton delves into Britain's past, exploring the country through eighteen notable figures at that most formative age of eighteen. From a young Elizabeth Tudor facing deadly intrigue at court, to Empress Matilda already changing the fate of nations, Eighteen invites readers to join an eclectic cast of young Britons across the nation and throughout its history. Filled with fascinating stories of royalty, explorers, writers and entertainers, Eighteen asks what lessons we can learn for modern Britain. 'Brilliantly original, wonderfully perceptive and full of rich insights . . . Loxton has confirmed her place as one of our most exciting and talented young historians' – James Holland, bestselling author and historian

'ROBERT FISK HAS BEEN REPORTING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST WITH INCOMPARABLE DEPTH AND UNDERSTANDING…AND EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE' NOAM CHOMSKY In this final work from renowned journalist Robert Fisk, he picks up reporting on the Middle East where his internationally bestselling The Great War of Civilisation left off. From the Arab uprisings and the Syrian civil war to Israel’s conflicts with Palestine and Lebanon, Fisk condemns the West’s ongoing hypocrisy and interference while revealing the horrific truth of life on the ground. Unafraid to criticise authority and unpick complex truths, hecreates a compelling narrative of passionate and engaging journalism, historical analysis and eyewitness reporting. With a Postscript by Nelofer Pazira-Fisk and a foreword by Patrick Cockburn, Night of Power delivers an essential and prophetic account of the last twenty years, which exposes the inescapable consequences of colonial oppression and violence in the Middle East. ‘This is a masterly work by a unique and gifted “historian of the present”, who was unafraid to criticise authority while revealing the horrific realities of life and death on the ground’ Conor O’Clery, Irish Times ‘Every sentence of Robert Fisk radiates his loathe of wars and the inevitable dehumanization they produce, which makes his (sadly) last book an everlasting warning, beyond its value as a meticulous historical recount and analysis of today's events’ Amira Hass, journalist, Haaretz 'Fisk's reporting is clear-eyed and unflinching, a model for what journalists should aspire to practice in their ever more important and widely threatened craft' Anthony Arnove, editor, Iraq Under Siege and author, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal ‘I was at the funeral of a friend of mine, in Kilternan cemetery … I came across Robert Fisk’s grave. Someone has to bear witness to the unspeakable, and he did it, whatever the cost to himself’ Neil Jordan, film director and writer

Cunning Folk transports us to a time when magic was used to solve life’s day-to-day problems – as well as some of deadly importance. ‘A brilliant book, written with wit and vigour’ MALCOLM GASKILL, author of The Ruin of All Witches‘Absolutely fascinating’ IAN MORTIMER, author of The Time-Traveller’s Guide to Medieval EnglandIt’s 1600 and you’ve lost your precious silver spoons, or maybe they’ve been stolen. Perhaps your child has a fever. Or you’re facing trial. Maybe you’re looking for love or escaping a husband. What do you do? In medieval and early modern Europe, your first port of call might well have been cunning folk: practitioners of magic who were a common, even essential part of daily life, at a time when the supernatural was surprisingly mundane. Charming, thought-provoking and based on original research, Cunning Folk is an immersive reconstruction of a bygone world by an expert historian, as well as a commentary on the beauty and bafflement of being human. ‘I adore Cunning Folk. A truly fascinating and human book’ Ruth Goodman, author of How To Be a Tudor‘Packed with vivid historical anecdotes, this is an intriguing insight into the magical lives of past people and the history of our own superstitions today’ Marion Gibson, author of Witchcraft‘Fascinating . . . opens a window into another world’ Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I‘Full of such magical tips and colourful vignettes . . . crackles with incident’ Kate Maltby, Financial Times‘Spirited and richly detailed’ New York Times

The propagandists share resources—the troll farms that promote one dictator’s propaganda can also be used to promote the propaganda of another—and themes, pounding home the same messages about the weakness of democracy and the evil of America.

LONGLIST SOCRATESBEKER 2026!

Onderzoek naar de opmars van de machine door de eeuwen heen. Komt de machine ons helpen of gaat hij ons vervangen?

*Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2024* *Shortlisted for the Cundill Prize*

A story of staggering scope and drama, Revolusi is the masterful and definitive account of the epic revolution that changed the course of the 20th century.

'Astounding . . . history at its best' Yuval Noah Harari
'Utterly compelling . . . astonishing' Financial Times
'Superb' Guardian

On a sunny morning in August 1945, a handful of tired people raised a homemade cotton flag and announced the birth of a new nation: Indonesia. For three and a half centuries, its people had been subject to Dutch colonial rule. It would take another four years of guerrilla warfare and resistance – the ‘Revolusi’ – to finally win their freedom, blazing a trail that would reshape the world.

Drawing on hundreds of interviews and eye-witness testimonies, David Van Reybrouck’s superbly woven narrative is alive with human detail at every turn, showing Indonesia’s struggle for independence to be one of the defining dramas of the twentieth century.

*A Financial Times, Evening Standard, History Today and Prospect Best Book of the Year*

‘A magnificent fusion of oral history, sparkling analysis and historical wisdom. Revolusi has it all: a masterpiece’ Sebastian Mallaby

‘Masterly . . . compelling . . . convincingly argues that Indonesia in itself represents a global crossroads, one of the most important in modern history’ Elizabeth Pisani, The Times

‘We learn something utterly fascinating on every single page’ Evening Standard, Books of the Year

‘The story of [Indonesia’s] formation is delivered in a manner that genuinely seems unsurpassable’ History Today, Books of the Year

‘Revolusi briskly ushers Indonesia onto the centre stage of modern history’ Pankaj Mishra

‘With rare narrative brilliance, Revolusi gives us a history at once vast and intimate, a history in colour’ Laksmi Pamuntjak

‘A magisterial and gripping account of events of urgent importance to us now’ Jason Burke

‘A wonderful and important book’ Peter Frankopan

‘Majestic and beautifully written’ Times Literary Supplement

‘Immensely readable’ Adam Hochschild, Atlantic

‘An electrifying narrative’ Tunku Varadarajan, Wall Street Journal

‘The definitive account of a neglected epoch’ Economist

‘Masterly’ J M Coetzee

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE WINNER OF THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE

'Hypnotic, shocking and unputdownable' JOHN LE CARRÉ
'Remarkable' THE SUNDAY TIMES
'Breathtaking, gripping, shattering' ELIF SHAFAK
'A taut and finely crafted factual thriller' OBSERVER
'A triumph of research and brilliant storytelling' ANTONY BEEVOR
'Extraordinary' EVENING STANDARD

In this riveting real-life thriller, Philippe Sands offers a unique account of the daily life of senior Nazi SS Brigadeführer Otto Freiherr von Wächter and his wife, Charlotte. Drawing on a remarkable archive of family letters and diaries, he unveils a fascinating insight into life before and during the war, as a fugitive on the run in the Alps and then in Rome, and into the Cold War. Eventually the door is unlocked to a mystery that haunts Wächter's youngest son, who continues to believe his father was a good man - what happened to Otto Wächter while he was preparing to travel to Argentina on the 'ratline', assisted by a Vatican bishop, and what was the explanation for his sudden and unexpected death?

Mark Mazower legt zorgvuldig uit waar de verwarring over het begrip antisemitisme vandaan komt en hij laat zien waarom die onduidelijkheid zo gevaarlijk is.

In this engrossing biography, Walter Isaacson chronicles Benjamin Franklin's life from apprentice to America's foremost writer, inventor, diplomat, and political leader.

In "The Art of Learning," Josh Waitzkin shares his journey from chess prodigy to Tai Chi World Champion, revealing his principles of learning and peak performance.

Medicine carries the burden of its own troubling history. Over centuries, women's bodies have been demonised and demeaned until we feared them, felt ashamed of them, were humiliated by them. But as doctors, researchers, campaigners and most of all as patients, women have continuously challenged medical orthodoxy. Medicine's history has always been, and is still being, rewritten by women's resistance, strength and incredible courage.

In this ground-breaking history Elinor Cleghorn unpacks the roots of the perpetual misunderstanding, mystification and misdiagnosis of women's bodies, illness and pain. From the 'wandering womb' of ancient Greece to today's shifting understanding of hormones, menstruation and menopause, Unwell Women is the revolutionary story of women who have suffered, challenged and rewritten medical misogyny. Drawing on Elinor's own experience as an unwell woman, this is a powerful and timely exposé of the medical world and woman's place within it.

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