European History

The bestselling author of The Parasitic Mind shows why empathy in politics leads to civilizational collapse. What happens when a society elevates victimhood to a virtue and decides that punishment is cruel? You get the disease Dr. Gad Saad calls suicidal empathy. And the West may be terminally infected. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy, Saad unleashes a blistering critique...

‘Tom Bower is the Inspector Morse of investigative biographers, a fluent, phlegmatic storyteller and a master of intricacies.’ Sunday Times The British Crown is in crisis, with constitutional threats at home and abroad. At a landmark moment in royal history, can King Charles overcome the scandals that blight the Royal family? Can the broken bonds between the Houses of Sussex...

'Vivid storytellers.' THE TIMES 'As well as highly entertaining read, How To Kill A Witch is a tour de force of research, understanding and compassion.' PROFESSOR SUE BLACK, author of All That Remains 'Fascinating, angering' THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 'A work of real historical investigation and a fierce warning for our times.' MALCOLM GASKILL, author of The Ruin Of All...

The first joint biography of the women who have shaped - and shaken - the modern Royal Family. Diana. Camilla. Catherine. Meghan. Outsiders by birth, insiders by marriage. Four women united by their decision to enter the most famous family in the world, and by their place in the centre of its greatest upheavals. From Diana's emotional revolution to Camilla's...

A brilliant memoir of adolescence in New Zealand and of the migration of European manuscripts to the far side of the world. Christopher de Hamel is one of the world's best-known scholars and writers on illuminated manuscripts. He was mostly brought up in the south of New Zealand, where his family moved when he was four. This book magically evokes...

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is a compelling and insightful guidebook on how to resist and challenge the forces of authoritarianism and preserve democratic values. Bringing together lessons from history, Snyder provides concrete strategies and principles that individuals can employ to protect freedom and stave off the threat of tyranny. This essential read is not only a reflection on the...

Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer provides a compelling and comprehensive chronicle of the darkest chapter in modern history, delving into the twelve years when Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime seized and held power in Germany. Shirer, a renowned journalist and historian, offers an unparalleled eyewitness account, charting the meteoric ascent and devastating collapse...

The blockbuster biography of the greatest Briton, by one of Britain's bestselling historians. Winston Churchill towers over every other figure in twentieth-century British history. By the time of his death at the age of 90 in 1965, many thought him to be the greatest man in the world. There have been over a thousand previous biographies of Churchill. Andrew Roberts...

The Notebook was named a 'Best Book of the Year 2023' by the New Statesman, Spectator, and Waterstones. "From plans for flying machines to philosophy - the remarkable joy of jotting things down" - Guardian "Surprisingly revealing" - The Sunday Times We see notebooks everywhere we go. But where did this simple invention come from? How did they revolutionise our...

The real story of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, endorsed by the Mayne family Summer 1944: the SAS were charged with the most crucial D-Day missions, taking on the might of the Nazi Reich deep behind enemy lines. Facing Hitler's fearsome Panzer divisions with little more than raw courage and their nimble Willys jeeps, it would take maverick thinking and unconventional warfare...

From the bestselling author of Emperor of Rome and SPQR "The rock star scholar of Ancient Rome" – Financial Times "The reigning Queen of Classics" – Spectator What's exciting about a piece of bread 4,000 years old? Or some pots of paint abandoned in the eruption at Pompeii? Why should we be bothered with the distant past anyway? What's the...

The first joint biography of William and Catherine to be written in over a decade, by acclaimed royal journalist and broadcaster Russell Myers. From the relentless media scrutiny and controversies of their 2022 Caribbean Tour to the shock cancer diagnoses of both the Princess of Wales and the King, this captivating biography by acclaimed royal journalist Russell Myers intimately traces...

A propulsive narrative history of the motivation and mentality behind the Nazis and their supporters. How could the Nazis have committed the crimes they did? Why did commandants of concentration and death camps willingly—often enthusiastically—oversee mass murder? How could ordinary Germans have tolerated the removal of the Jews? In The Nazi Mind, bestselling author Laurence Rees combines history and the...

NOW WITH A FUN PUB QUIZ 'An idiosyncratic ride through history' Independent 'Holland and Sandbrook have pretty much reinvented popular history for the modern age' The Times The nation’s favourite historians, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, take on the most curious moments in history, answering the questions we didn’t even think to ask... - What was the most disastrous party...

A wonderful, epic story that tells the history of the greatest city in the world, from Roman times to the present day. London has perhaps the most remarkable history of any city in the world. Now its story has a unique voice. In this epic novel, Edward Rutherfurd takes the reader on a magnificent journey across sixteen centuries from the...

For twenty years, Lucy Worsley had what she calls 'The best job in the world': Chief Curator at Hampton Court, the Tower of London and Kensington Palace, 'leading the presentation, appearance, development and appropriate use of the palaces including their contents and grounds'. Now, in her most personal book yet, Queens and Kings, she takes us behind those palace walls...

The Sunday Times Bestseller ‘A lasting work of social history’ — The Times ‘A genuinely new history of our nation’ — Dan Jones ‘This celebration of women is a triumph of popular history’ — Spectator From the multi-million bestselling historical novelist comes the culmination of her life’s work. Did you know that there are more penises than women in the...

The most pivotal, brutal, and shattering campaign the Allies faced in World War II by bestselling historian James Holland. Holland knows his stuff when it comes to military matters - Daily Mail James Holland is the best of the new generation of WW2 historians - Sebastian Faulks With the invasion of France the following year taking shape, and hot on...

The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris meticulously charts the turbulent history of Britain from the end of Roman rule to the Norman Conquest. As the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain in the early fifth century, the island swiftly descended into chaos and decay. This vacuum of power attracted waves of foreign invaders, primarily the Anglo-Saxons, who emerged from across the sea...

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum delves into the dark and intriguing world of Ancient Rome, where the best stories are tainted with bloodshed. Romulus, driven by ambition, kills his brother Remus to lay the foundation of Rome. Julius Caesar's assassination is orchestrated in a desperate bid to save the Republic. The theatre becomes a bloody...

Vivid biographies of famous characters from the Ancient Greek world, in a revised edition of Ian Scott-Kilvert's seminal translation. The Parallel Lives of Plutarch are cornerstones of Western literature, and have exerted a profound influence on writers and statesmen since the Renaissance, most notably Shakespeare. This selection of ten biographies spans the period from the start of the fourth century...

The definitive account of D-Day from the author of international bestsellers Stalingrad and Berlin: D-Day by Antony Beevor is a landmark historical narrative that captures the epic scale and human cost of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. Drawing from first-hand accounts, archival research, and a keen historian's eye, Beevor immerses readers in the gripping details of...

In Thomas Cromwell, Diarmaid MacCulloch offers an unrivalled exploration of one of Tudor England’s most enigmatic and influential figures. From his humble beginnings in Putney to his meteoric rise within the court of Henry VIII, Cromwell's life is a testament to the power and peril of ambition. Firmly rooted in historical context, this biography delves into the intricate and often...

The sensational account of the overwhelming role of drug-taking in the Third Reich - from Hitler and his entourage to ordinary troops. The Nazis styled themselves as warriors against moral degeneracy. Yet, as Norman Ohler's gripping bestseller reveals, the entire Third Reich was permeated with drugs—cocaine, heroin, morphine and, most of all, methamphetamines, or crystal meth. These substances were used...

Sparta - its legendary warriors and steadfast resilience are famous throughout the world as a model for toughness, justice and masculinity. The Spartans' reputation as fighters is matched only by their mythic code of honour. Their torch has been carried by footballers and politicians, video games and philosophers alike.But who really were the Spartans? And what was the driving force...

A brilliant reappraisal of the medieval women whose lives have been misrepresented and co-opted over centuries for political, nation-building ends. By Professor Janina Ramirez, bestselling historian and author of FEMINA. From the bestselling author of FEMINA, a brilliant reappraisal of the medieval women whose lives have been exploited over centuries for political, nation-building ends. In Legenda, bestselling historian Professor Janina...

This defining period in world history is explored and explained as never before. World War II- The Definitive Visual Guide is captured in hundreds of compelling images, presenting the people, places, and politics involved in the epic conflict. Inside this complete visual guide is chronological coverage of the lead up to war, major military battles around the globe, and the...

One of the greatest and most controversial feats of twentieth-century journalism. Hannah Arendt's authoritative and stunning report on the trial of German Nazi SS leader Adolf Eichmann first appeared as a series of articles in the New Yorker in 1963. A major journalistic triumph by an intellectual of singular influence, Eichmann in Jerusalem is as shocking as it is informative...

A panoramic history of the arrival of the Stuarts, and how the reign of King James I saw England reach new corners of the globe. 'A majestic, brilliant account of the birth of an empire. Spectacularly good.' — PETER FRANKOPAN 'With its gripping storytelling combined with historical rigour, The Sun Rising is just the right kind of zesty treatment a...

Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts offers an unparalleled insight into the life and times of one of history's most remarkable figures. Spanning the crucial twenty years from 1795 to 1815, this definitive modern biography chronicles how Napoleon Bonaparte rose from relative obscurity to become the master of Europe. As he catapulted from a Corsican military officer to the Emperor...

SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER ‘The most important book of the year’ Daily Mail The brilliant and provocative new book from one of the world’s foremost political writers: ‘The anti-Western revisionists have been out in force in recent years. It is high time that we revise them in turn…’ In The War on the West, international bestselling author Douglas Murray asks:...

In 1945, after his capture at the end of the Second World War, Hermann Göring arrived at an American-run detention centre in war-torn Luxembourg, accompanied by sixteen suitcases and a red hatbox. The suitcases contained all manner of paraphernalia: medals, gems, two cigar cutters, silk underwear, a hot water bottle, and the equivalent of 1 million in cash. Hidden in...

Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare uncovers one of the most riveting yet lesser-known stories of the Second World War. Set against the backdrop of a world on the brink of chaos, this book delves into the inception and operations of a unique top-secret organisation established in London during the spring of 1939. Its singular mission: to orchestrate the systematic destruction...

Through compelling eye-witness testimony and renowned historian James Holland's expert analysis, Brothers in Arms brings to vivid life the final bloody scramble across Europe from the powerful perspective of one of the greatest tank regiments - the Sherwood Rangers. It took a certain type of courage to serve in a tank in World War Two. Encased in steel, surrounded by...

The Weimar Years by Frank McDonough offers a meticulous and enthralling exploration of one of the most consequential periods in German and world history. Set in the aftermath of Germany's crushing defeat in the First World War, the book delves into the era of the Weimar Republic, an epoch marked by immense social reform, profound cultural renaissance, and hitherto unprecedented...

A 2025 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR: Telegraph, Financial Times, i Paper 'Making Francisco Franco’s long life and 38 years of dictatorship enjoyable reading is a daunting challenge ... Giles Tremlett nonetheless succeeds magnificently' PAUL PRESTON 'An excellent biography – compelling, authoritative, even entertaining – of this highly dislikable creature’ SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE, DAILY TELEGRAPH 'A magisterial, groundbreaking new portrait...

The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard J. Evans is a masterful exploration into the origins and rise of Nazi Germany, vividly recounting the transformation of a modern and culturally rich nation into the epicentre of one of history’s darkest periods. This meticulously researched work takes readers on a journey through the tumultuous years that saw Germany descend from...

Winner of the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography - Andrew Roberts overturns received wisdom on Britain's longest-reigning king. Andrew Roberts's magnificent new biography portrays George as intelligent, benevolent, scrupulously devoted to the constitution of his country and (as head of government as well as head of state) navigating the turbulence of eighteenth-century politics with a strong sense of honour...

From the international bestselling author and notable journalist Aldo Cazzullo comes a brilliantly researched and extremely accessible journey through the history and legacy of the Roman Empire. “The only way to narrate over a thousand years of history is to understand what it has left us. To tell the reasons, the things and the stories, thanks to which Roman civilization...

The most celebrated historical work in the English language Spanning thirteen centuries from the age of Trajan to the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the greatest narratives in European Literature. David Womersley's masterly selection and bridging commentary enables the reader to acquire a general sense...

The definitive history of the dynasty that dominated Europe for centuries. In The Habsburgs, Martyn Rady tells the epic story of a dynasty and the world it built - and then lost - over nearly a millennium. From modest origins, the Habsburgs grew in power to gain control of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifteenth century, before their possessions...

One of the great books in Western history and the very first work of non-fiction, in Tom Holland's compelling new translation. The Histories of Herodotus, completed in the second half of the 5th century BC, is generally regarded as the first work of history and the first great masterpiece of non-fiction writing. Joined here are the sheer drama of Herodotus'...

An engrossing portrait of #1 bestseller Yanis Varoufakis's political awakening, told through the extraordinary history of his family and the tumultuous twentieth century in Europe. Eleni put an arm around him and said, "Come, come, life is ahead of us. Raise your soul now. We have much to do." This is a book about how the great forces of history...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley is an intimate and groundbreaking biography that delves into the personal and domestic life of one of literature's most beloved novelists, Jane Austen. Through meticulous research and a vivid narrative, Worsley brings to light a new perspective on how Austen's surroundings and daily experiences influenced her writing, creativity, and...

Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy delves into the riveting narrative of one of history's most influential figures, Gaius Julius Caesar. From the outset, Caesar's life is coloured with episodes of near-death experiences, tremendous achievements, and a relentless ambition that shaped the future of Rome. As a teenager, Caesar narrowly escaped execution under the repressive rule of the dictator Sulla, an early...

An unforgettable coming-of-age story, Free by Lea Ypi explores the profound meanings of freedom—personal, collective, and political—through the eyes of a young girl growing up in one of the most isolated countries on earth. Albania, where communist ideals replaced religion, stood as the last Stalinist stronghold in Europe, virtually impossible to visit or leave. It was a land of scarcity...

Step into the mythical, magical realm of King Arthur... Uncover the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table in intricate detail as you piece together his fabled kingdom and read all about the epic tales that have fascinated storytellers for centuries. Spot the sword in the stone, Guinevere and Lancelot, the Lady of the Lake, Merlin,...

The Trouble With Being Born by E. M. Cioran is a deeply introspective and profoundly philosophical exploration of the human condition. The book navigates the bleak and often darkly comic territories of existence, examining fundamental questions such as birth, death, the concept of God, the relentless passage of time, the complexity of human relationships, and the daily struggle to find...

The Sunday Times number-one bestseller. A reissue of this classic title brought up to date with never-before-published material from the original taped interviews and a new introduction by Andrew Morton. This edition reflects on the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the original publication, and on the long-term legacy of Diana, the woman who helped reinvigorate the royal family, giving it a more...

The Last Viking is a masterful and pulse-pounding narrative that transports the reader into the middle of the action.’ Carl Gnam, Military Heritage Harald Sigurdsson burst into history as a teenaged youth in a Viking battle from which he escaped with little more than his life and a thirst for vengeance. But from these humble origins, he became one of...

A colourful exploration into the history, training, weapons, lifestyles and legacy of the Vikings. From Norway to Sicily, Russia to Ireland and across the Atlantic to North America, the Vikings traversed the globe in their pursuit of land and plunder. Renowned as merciless raiders from the sea, these fearless warriors ransacked the shores of Europe for more than 250 years....

The true story of Daniel Defoe and the dirty tricks which helped bring Scotland into union with England. In 1706, Edinburgh was on the brink of a popular uprising. Men and women took to the streets to protest the planned union with England, fearing the end of Scottish sovereignty. But unbeknownst to the mob, a spy was in their midst—the...

A wide-ranging new history of the Baltic Crusades and their legacy Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, crusading armies unleashed a relentless holy war against the last pagan societies in northern Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. Led by Catholic rulers, churchmen, and, most importantly of all, the warrior monks of the Teutonic Order, they sought to expand Christendom...

Britain's best-selling historian writes the first definitive account of the famous televised SAS storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens. A tense six-day siege...

A stunning new edition of the classic Stoic text. Contained in the timeless volume Meditations, the personal writings of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180 CE, are more relevant today than ever. Reflecting the core tenets of Stoicism, this collection of wisdom is a must-have for anyone interested in classical literature, philosophy, self-improvement, and mindfulness....

Revealed for the first time: the true story of the entrapment and deception of Princess Diana The death of Princess Diana in August 1997 was one of the most shocking events in recent history. Many events surrounding the tragedy have been shrouded in mystery, particularly the BBC Panorama interview Diana gave to journalist Martin Bashir less than two years before...

A stunning new story of Queen Victoria's secret love for her servant John Brown, by the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell. 'So often I told him no one loved him more than I did ... and he answered, "Nor you than me. No-one loves you more" ...' From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria's household, he...

A harrowing true story about a young girl's struggle to survive Nazi persecution, and a man's attempt to unveil his family's secrets. The last time Lien saw her parents was in the Hague, where she was collected at the door by a stranger and taken away to be hidden from the Nazis. She was raised by her foster family as...

First time in Modern Classics Born into a Jewish ghetto in Hungary, as a child, Elie Wiesel was sent to the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald. This is his account of that atrocity—the ever-increasing horrors he endured, the loss of his family, and his struggle to survive in a world that stripped him of humanity, dignity, and faith....

The sky above war-torn Europe was ablaze during the third week of February 1944, as the combined Allied air forces launched an unprecedented round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany. Big Week by bestselling author James Holland delves into this pivotal moment in World War II history with unmatched depth and intensity. This battle sought to cripple the main factories and production...

A seriously FUNNY, seriously CLEVER history of our early kings and queens by one of our favourite comedians and cultural commentators. This will be the most refreshing, entertaining history of England you'll have ever read. Certainly, the funniest. Because David Mitchell will explain how it is not all names, dates or ungraspable historical headwinds, but instead show how it's really...

The Crown meets The West Wing in this illuminating history that chronicles the largely unknown story of Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with thirteen American presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Donald J. Trump. With that, she changed the world. No American or foreign leader has met with as many sitting presidents as Queen Elizabeth II. Her Royal Majesty’s seventy-year reign...

Growing up in the small town of Maden in Turkey, Fethiye Çetin knew her grandmother as a happy and respected Muslim housewife called Seher. Only decades later did she discover the truth. Her grandmother's name was not Seher but Heranus. She was born a Christian Armenian. Most of the men in her village had been slaughtered in 1915. A Turkish...

WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR FICTION In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel's New York Times bestselling Wolf Hall is "a darkly brilliant reimagining of life under Henry VIII... Magnificent." (The Boston Globe). The basis for the TV series on BBC and PBS Masterpiece starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. England in the...

Augustus by Adrian Goldsworthy is an enthralling biography that delves into the life and times of Rome's first emperor. Rising from the shadows of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus schemed and fought his way to absolute power, a journey fraught with political intrigue, ruthless ambition, and strategic cunning. Goldsworthy masterfully chronicles Augustus's ascent from a young, unassuming heir to...

Elie Wiesel's Night is a harrowing autobiographical account that follows his experiences as a young Jewish boy during one of history's most brutal chapters. Transported from a Jewish ghetto in Hungary to the unforgiving confines of Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Wiesel's narrative is filled with the escalating horrors he faced. The book captures his profound loss of...

WINSTON CHURCHILL called it ‘the worst journey in the world’. But was even this telling quote, describing the nightmarish torment experienced while transporting military aid to northern Russia during World War Two, an understatement? As this book’s title implies, Battle of the Arctic tells a unique story. For much of the conflict was complicated by terrific storms, snow, ice, fog,...

THE #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ‘As gripping as any thriller. History doesn't get any better than this’ — BILL BRYSON ‘A brilliant read … Game of Thrones but in the real world’ — ANTHONY HOROWITZ PICKED AS A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 BY THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE GUARDIAN, THE DAILY MAIL AND THE DAILY EXPRESS. The sinking of...

Delve into this stunning gift edition boasting the complete collection of Meditationswith an introduction by Pierre Baumann.  The personal writings of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161 to 180 AD, not only reflect on the philosophical idea of Stoicism, but also on this powerful man's day-to-day life and issues that still plague us all. Considered to be one...

Alice Roberts goes in search of the Celts and their treasures in a narrative history to accompany a new BBC series. We know a lot about the Roman Empire. The Romans left monuments to their glories and written histories charting the exploits of their heroes. But there was another ancient people in Europe—feared warriors with chariots, iron swords, exquisite jewellery,...

The Templars by Dan Jones masterfully chronicles the extraordinary history of the Knights Templar, from their humble beginnings to their dramatic downfall. This captivating narrative delves into the enigmatic and illustrious lives of the Templars, who were the wealthiest and most influential military order in the crusading era. Dan Jones takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the medieval world,...

The classic, bestselling, official biography of Winston Churchill, back in print for the first time in two decades. By far the most lucid, comprehensive and authoritative account of Churchill that has been offered in a single volume – Daily Telegraph Drawing on decades of unprecedented access to Winston Churchill's family and estate, this classic bestseller remains the definitive biography of...

'Certain to become the definitive work' DOUGLAS SMITH 'Elegantly written and magisterially researched' ROBERT SERVICE 'Masterful . . . a chilling lesson' VLADISLAV ZUBOK The definitive story behind the self-destruction of the autocratic Romanov dynasty, by the world's foremost expert. When Tsar Nicholas II fell from power in 1917, Imperial Russia faced a series of overlapping crises, from war to...

A “magnificent and intimate” (Harper’s) modern classic of Russian history, the spellbinding story of the love that ended an empire—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, The Romanovs, and Catherine the Great. “A moving, rich book . . . [This] revealing, densely documented account of the last Romanovs focuses not on the great events . . . but...

Since its discovery in 1968, the painting of a diver on a tomb in Paestum, originally the Greek colony of Poseidonia in southern Italy, has left viewers spellbound. It depicts a beautiful and enigmatic scene: a young man dives headfirst into the water from a cliff or tower. The image is joined by others from the same tomb depicting a...

'I don't know where to stop praising Benny and this amazing book...' - HEATHER MORRIS, The Tattooist of Auschwitz 'This book...is the stuff folk tales are made of. How wonderful that sometimes they are true' - MARTIN FREEMAN What a century of life experience can teach us about happiness, ambition, courage, love and how to make the most of the...

The French Revolution and What Went Wrong by Stephen Clarke is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of one of history's most tumultuous periods. With his signature wit and engaging narrative style, Clarke delves into the intricacies of the French Revolution, shedding light on how a nation teetering on the brink of change spiralled into chaos and bloodshed. This isn't just...

'A humbling, inspiring account of some of the real founders of modern day Special Forces soldiering' - Bear Grylls SAS Nazi Hunters is the incredible, hitherto untold story of the most secret chapter in the SAS's history. Officially, the world's most elite special forces unit was dissolved at the end of the Second World War, and not reactivated until the...