Geschiedenis

** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **

'Extraordinary' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, SUNDAY TIMES • ‘An epic thriller . . . droll, moving, with a cinematic eye and not a boring line in it' OBSERVER • ‘Fascinating . . . gripping' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH • 'Excellent . . . a fresh, unexpected take on the liberation of Paris' JULIAN JACKSON, author of France on Trial

From the Sunday Times-bestselling Patrick Bishop comes a heart-stopping countdown narrative recreating the liberation of Paris in 1944, one of the great and most dramatic hinge moments of WW2.

When the Germans marched in and the lamps went out in the City of Light the millions who loved Paris mourned. Liberation, four years later, triggered an explosion of joy and relief. It was the party of the century and everybody who was anybody was there. General Charles de Gaulle seized the moment to create an instant legend that would take its place alongside the great moments in French history. After years of oppression and humiliation Parisians had risen to reclaim their city and drive out the forces of darkness – or so the story went.

This fresh new account of the liberation, packed with revelation, tells the story of those heady days of suspense, danger, exhilaration – and vengeance – through the eyes of a range of participants, reflecting all sides of the conflict: Americans, French and Germans; resisters and collaborators. Among them are famous names like Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger and Pablo Picasso, but also some fascinating unknowns including a medic turned Resistance gunwoman, an androgynous Hungarian sculptor and a French bluestocking who quietly set about saving the nation’s art treasures from the Nazi looters.

Paris ’44 looks behind the mythology to tell the real story of the liberation and expose the conflicts and contradictions of France under the occupation – the shame as well as the glory. This gripping war-time narrative will enthral anyone who has a place for Paris in their hearts.

THE INSTANT NYT BESTSELLER

'Fascinating' - The Guardian

A gripping account of the little-known plot that could have put an end to JFK's historic presidency - before it even began.

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration.

Kennedy was infamously assassinated in 1963, ending his historic presidency. But what most people don't know is that JFK's story almost ended before it began - at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite.

On December 11, 1960, shortly after Kennedy's election and before his inauguration, retired postal worker, Richard Pavlick, waited in his parked Buick on a quiet street in Palm Beach, Florida. Pavlick knew when Kennedy would leave his house and where he was going. From there, Pavlick had a simple plan - one that almost changed the course of history.

Written in the page-turning style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch's bestselling series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life. Meltzer and Mensch are at the top of their game with a brilliant exploration of what could've been for one of the most compelling leaders of the 20th century.

A NEW YORK TIMES, TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, SPECTATOR, ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN AND TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025
WINNER OF THE POL ROGER DUFF COOPER PRIZE 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024
WINNER THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS BOOK AWARD 2025
WINNER OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH SOCIETY LITERARY AWARD 2024

A vital re-examination of the trailblazing and controversial artist Paul Gauguin – and the first full biography in over thirty years – written by the award-winning author of I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Nietzsche.

'Scintillating.' FINANCIAL TIMES
'Immaculate.' NEW STATESMAN
'Phenomenal.' PROSPECT
'A heroic rehabilitation.' THE TIMES

Paul Gauguin is chiefly known as the giant of post-Impressionist painting whose bold colours and compositions rocked the Western art world. It is less well known that he was a stockbroker in Paris and that after the 1882 financial crash he struggled to sustain his artistry, and worked as a tarpaulin salesman in Copenhagen, a canal digger in Panama City, and a journalist exposing the injustices of French colonial rule in Tahiti.

In Wild Thing, the award-winning biographer Sue Prideaux re-examines the adventurous and complicated life of the artist. She illuminates the people, places and ideas that shaped his vision: his privileged upbringing in Peru and rebellious youth in France; the galvanising energy of the Paris art scene; meeting Mette, the woman who he would marry; formative encounters with Vincent van Gogh and August Strindberg; and the ceaseless draw of French Polynesia.

Prideaux conjures Gauguin’s visual exuberance, his creative epiphanies, his fierce words and his flaws with acuity and sensitivity. Drawing from a wealth of new material and access to the artist’s family, this myth-busting work invites us to see Gauguin anew.

'Our greatest living expert on Sparta' - Tom Holland, author of Rubicon

The definitive account of the extraordinary people of Sparta.

The Spartan legend has inspired and captivated subsequent generations with evidence of its legacy found in both the Roman and British Empires. The Spartans are our ancestors, every bit as much as the Athenians. But while Athens promoted democracy, individualism, culture and society, their great rivals Sparta embodied militarism, totalitarianism, segregation and brutal repression . . .

As ruthless as they were self-sacrificing, their devastatingly successful war rituals made the Spartans the ultimate fighting force, epitomized by Thermopylae. While slave masters to the Helots for over three centuries, Spartan women, such as Helen of Troy, were free to indulge in education, dance and sport.

Interspersed with the personal biographies of leading figures, and based on thirty years' research, Paul Cartledge's The Spartans tracks the people from 480 to 360 BC charting Sparta's progression from the Great Power of the Aegean Greek world to its ultimate demise.

Now part of the Picador Collection.

THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE BBC'S MISS AUSTEN: THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY JANE AUSTEN LOVER

Readers LOVE Jane Austen at Home:

'A "tour de force" which should be in the reading list of anyone who has either read the books or watched the film adaptations.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is a delight . . . I will return to Austen's novels with a greater appreciation of the hardships and hopes of her heroines.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I devoured this. Jane's story is told in vivid prose and a compassionate manner.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Where better to celebrate the 250th birthday of one of Britain's most beloved novelists than the very rooms from which she quietly changed the world?

In this bestselling biography, Lucy Worsley travels from room to room, house to house, showing us how and why Jane Austen lived as she did, examining the places and spaces that mattered to her. It wasn't all country houses and ballrooms, but a life that was often a painful struggle. Jane famously lived a 'life without incident', but with new research and insights Lucy Worsley reveals a passionate woman who fought for her freedom. A woman who far from being a lonely spinster in fact had at least five marriage prospects, but who in the end refused to settle for anything less than Mr Darcy.

Featuring a guided tour of all the best Jane Austen sites to visit specially written for this birthday edition, this gorgeous book is perfect for Austen fans everywhere.

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Critical acclaim for Jane Austen at Home:

'This is my kind of history: carefully researched but so vivid that you are convinced Lucy Worsley was actually there at the party - or the parsonage.' ― Antonia Fraser

'Jane Austen at Home offers a fascinating look at Jane Austen's world through the lens of the homes in which she lived and worked throughout her life. The result is a refreshingly unique perspective on Austen and her work and a beautifully nuanced exploration of gender, creativity, and domesticity.' ― Amanda Foreman

'A must for any Austenite.' ― Red magazine

'Brilliant and very moving, this book is a fascinating and original exploration of Jane Austen with lots of new material - Worsley brings Austen to life superbly, through her pages she is a flesh and blood woman, intelligent, powerful, contradictory, loving, loved. A magnificent book.' ― Kate Williams

'Rarely, if ever, will you encounter a historian so in command of their material. Truly, this is a dazzling exercise in persuasion, written with sense and sensibility.' ― Saturday Express

'Worsley offers us much that Austen's admirers wish to know... [she] is entirely convincing.' ― New York Times

'A sprightly new take on Austen's life.' ― Mail on Sunday

Lucy Worsley 'is a great scene-setter for this tale of triumph and heartbreak' ― Sunday Times

The gripping, untold story of how six epic journeys launched the three communist revolutions that changed world history forever. From the streets of Petrograd during the heady autumn of 1917, to Mao's stunning victory in October 1949, and Fidel's triumphant arrival in Havana, in January 1959, the history of the twentieth century was transformed in dramatic and profound ways by the Russian, Chinese, and Cuban revolutions. In Three Revolutions, the stories of these epoch-defining events are told together for the first time. At the heart of each revolution was an epic journey: Lenin's 1917 return to Russia from exile in Switzerland; Mao's 'Long March' of 1934-35, covering some 6,000 miles across China; and Fidel Castro's return to Cuba in 1956 following his exile in Mexico. Told in tandem with these are the corresponding journeys of three extraordinary journalists - John Reed, Edgar Snow and Herbert L. Matthews - whose electric testimony from the frontlines of each revolution would make a decisive contribution to how these revolutions were understood in the wider world. Here, in Simon Hall's masterful retelling, these six remarkable journeys are brought vividly to life. Featuring a stellar cast, extraordinary drama and an epic sweep, Three Revolutions raises fundamental questions about the nature of political power, the limits of idealism and the role of the journalist - questions that remain of utmost urgency today.

Written in the 6th century BC, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is still used as a book of military strategy today. Using a new translation by James Trapp, this bilingual edition of The Art of War lays the original Chinese text opposite the modern English translation.

The last word in luxury, sophistication and romance, Tiffany & Co. has dazzled shoppers since its beginnings in nineteenth-century New York. From Breakfast at Tiffany's to collaborating with Beyoncé, and with celebrity fans including Elizabeth Taylor and Lady Gaga, Tiffany & Co. has taken its glamorous jewellery from Fifth Avenue to the world. Featuring over 100 stunning images - including the breathtaking Tiffany Diamond, jewel-encrusted brooches and the iconic blue box - accompanied by expert text, Little Book of Tiffany & Co. tells the timeless story of an incomparably influential jeweller.

Why, for centuries, did people fear fruit?All these questions - and more - are answered in this juicy, truly intimate history of the home. Through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, Lucy Worsley explores what people actually did in bed, in the bath, at the table, and at the stove.

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.

A groundbreaking, global survey of queer art, featuring more than 300 artworks made following the introduction of the term ‘homosexual’ in 1869

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.

Learn about the engineer Joseph Bazalgette, who solved London's 1858 pollution crisis with a groundbreaking sewer system, saving countless lives.

Deryck Whibley's memoir, "Walking Disaster," chronicles his journey from a punk kid in Canada to the lead singer of Sum 41, sharing the band's highs and lows.

Bob Woodward's "War" explores the complex politics of Ukraine, the Middle East, and the American presidency, with insights on Biden, Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump.

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 New York Times bestseller, "The Pursuit of Happiness" explores what this phrase meant to the Founders and its role in shaping our democracy.

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.

Fred C. Trump III breaks his silence, revealing untold family stories and his battle to protect his loved ones in "All in the Family."

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

Champagne and sparkling wine have evolved from celebration-only drinks to everyday beverages in the twenty-first century. Sparkling wines are now made in every wine region of the world, becoming global favourites in bars, restaurants and even at home. In this book you will discover the history of the world’s great sparkling wines, from the original French champagne – which remains a symbol of luxury – to the evolution of the sparkling wines of other regions that are now so popular. Whether you prefer magnums of Cristal or the more affordable thrill of prosecco or crémant, Champagne is an invaluable complement to a glass of bubbly as well as an informative, elegant gift for all wine-lovers.

This book offers a fresh perspective on the reign of Alexander the Great. It re-examines Alexander’s military victories and personality, while also exploring the impact of his campaigns on the people he conquered. Alexander’s story, Stephen Harrison argues, is one that includes the vital roles that other figures played in historical events. By considering the social and intellectual currents of the last two decades, Harrison highlights how changing contemporary experiences shape historical interpretations. Moving beyond polarized debates about Alexander, he provides a nuanced discussion of Alexander’s achievements and impact. The book presents an Alexander for the twenty-first century, offering new insights into how and why historical interpretations of him have changed.

Join man’s best friend on a walk through art history.

From ancient Egyptian busts to 1960s screenprints, portraiture is an historic art form beloved of painters, sculptors and photographers alike. A History of Portraits in 21 Dogs offers a fun, unique guide to this fascinating genre, with 21 of the most important and recognizable masterpieces recreated with dashing dog subjects. Each reimagined artwork is accompanied by information about the original artist and portrait, as well as a bitesize, illustrated breakdown of all the key elements of the piece.

Perfect for dog lovers and art fans everywhere, A History of Portraits in 21 Dogs is illustrated by art-lover and animal enthusiast Nia Gould and makes an imaginative companion to feline favourite A History of Art in 21 Cats.

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.

The essential volume on the great fashion designer, entrepreneur and Louis Vuitton artistic director, back in print

This authoritative Virgil Abloh compendium, created by the designer himself, accompanies his acclaimed landmark 2019–23 touring exhibition and offers in-depth analysis of his career and his inspirations. More than a catalog, Figures of Speech is a 500-page user’s manual to Abloh's genre-bending work in art, fashion and design.
The first section features essays and an interview that examine Abloh’s oeuvre through the lenses of contemporary art history, architecture, streetwear, high fashion and race, to provide insight into a prolific and impactful career that cuts across mediums, connecting visual artists, musicians, graphic designers, fashion designers, major brands and architects. The book also contains a massive archive of images culled from Abloh’s personal files on major projects, revealing behind-the-scenes snapshots, prototypes, inspirations and more—accompanied by intimate commentary from the artist. Finally, a gorgeous full-color plate section offers a detailed view of Abloh’s work across disciplines.
Virgil Abloh (1980–2021) was a fashion designer and entrepreneur, and the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's men's wear collection from 2018 to 2021. He was also CEO of the Milan-based label Off-White, a fashion house he founded in 2013. Born in Rockford, Illinois, to Ghanaian parents, he entered the world of fashion with an internship at Fendi in 2009 alongside rapper Kanye West. The two began an artistic collaboration that would launch Abloh's career with the founding of Off-White. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.

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

A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR: THE TIMES/SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, TELEGRAPH, TLS, FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST, NEW STATESMAN, LONDON STANDARD AND WASHINGTON POST

'Absolutely mesmerising. I was possessed by this book in the same way that I suspect its author was possessed by Spark. It still hasn’t put me down' Spectator
'Unputdownable' Financial Times
'Joyously, brilliantly intelligent. In Wilson, Spark has met her true match' Anne Enright

From one of our leading biographers and critics comes an exhilarating, landmark new look at Muriel Spark.

The word most commonly used to describe Muriel Spark is ‘puzzling’. Spark was a puzzle, and so too are her books. She dealt in word games, tricks, and ciphers; her life was composed of weird accidents, strange coincidences and spooky events. Evelyn Waugh thought she was a saint, Bernard Levin said she was a witch, and she described herself as ‘Muriel the Marvel with her X-ray eyes’. Following the clues, riddles, and instructions Spark planted for posterity in her biographies, fiction, autobiography and archives, Frances Wilson aims to crack her code.

Electric Spark explores not the celebrated Dame Muriel but the apprentice mage discovering her powers. We return to her early years when everything was piled on: divorce, madness, murder, espionage, poverty, skulduggery, blackmail, love affairs, revenge, and a major religious conversion. If this sounds like a novel by Muriel Spark it is because the experiences of the 1940s and 1950s became, alchemically reduced, the material of her art.

*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
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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

"... essential guide to the gods, monsters, and creatures from the show, based on the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling series by Rick Riordan."--Provided by publisher.

Learn how to solve epic quests with a historically accurate guide that brings fantasy tropes to life using medieval facts.

A brilliantly original history of privacy with a simple and urgent argument: private life is a precious and sustaining resource that must be defended.

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.