History & Archaeology

How did an elderly cleric overthrow the Shah of Iran and change the world?Why did Bin Laden attack the USA - and why did the USA destroy Saddam?How did Britain and France carve up the Middle East - and why did the Kurds never get their own state? THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE MAKING OF TODAY'S MIDDLE EAST: A SPELLBINDING...

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...

The epic true story of George Mallory and Edmund Hillary and the quest to be the first to conquer Everest. A captivating story of adventure, daring, despair and triumph from Australia's favourite storyteller. Last century, two men, thirty years apart, set out to become the first to conquer the highest point in the world. Their names are synonymous with adventure...

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the author’s groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...

Archie Gibson's initiation into desert warfare almost proved to be his last. Barrelling through the sand dunes at the wheel of his truck, Gibson spied a searing flash of light up ahead, the signature of a feared German 88mm gun firing ... right at him. He leapt from his speeding vehicle just before it was torn apart and turned into...

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I've ever read' Guardian 'The greatest sea story ever told' Spectator 'I cannot think of anyone who would not love this book... It is an extraordinary true story, beautifully...

The Chief and the Empire uncovers the extraordinary true tale of Te Tai Tokerau rangatira Te Pahi - the first influential Māori leader to cross the Tasman - whose curiosity about the Pākehā world forged alliances, saved lives, and ultimately cost him his own. On a visit to Sydney in 1805, Te Pahi was feted as a celebrity, building close...

From the multi-million-selling historian, the remarkable, unknown Cold War story of how one spy saved the world from nuclear war. The year is 1981. Tehran is in violent turmoil in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. The Soviets are planning to overthrow the Ayatollah's fledgling Islamist regime. If they do so, one response from America — unknown to the public...

Silence is complicity, but how do we confront the cost of speaking up? Sydney, May 2021. Ashraf is an academic whose career and personal life are in freefall. Hannah is a young journalist struggling to honour the voices of her community. When a Year 12 Al-Bayinnah College student is arrested for protesting a university's ties to an Israeli weapons manufacturer,...

Assurancetourix is entering the legendary Gallic bards' competition to win the golden menhir. But with the Romans keeping a close watch, Asterix and Obelix must protect him at all costs. Their mission? Keep him safe-no matter what... even if it means risking their own ears! First released as a book-disc in 1967, this adventure soon became a rare treasure, long...

From the bestselling author of The Templars and Powers and Thrones, Dan Jones returns with Castles: a gripping history of the world told through over three thousand years of iconic strongholds. Castles have been built to defend humanity for millennia – from the walls of Troy and the desert bastion of Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, to Windsor Castle and...

The last weeks of World War II on the Western Front in Europe witnessed extraordinary scenes of heroism, horror, melodrama, and pathos. In Plunder, Max Hastings presents a cast of fascinating people—British, American, and German—in a series of great events in which some distinguished themselves through wonderful deeds, others through the basest crimes. The book takes its title from Montgomery’s...

'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' – PETER FRANKOPAN 'This book is a revelation … both original and important' – MISHAL HUSAIN A history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it. As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and...

Keep Calm — We Are Coming briefly backgrounds the New Zealand Special Air Service deployment in Afghanistan — then goes into action. While primarily training Afghan forces, in Kabul the NZSAS had to respond to a series of ‘spectacular attacks’ by heavily armed Taliban fighters wearing suicide vests and determined to inflict major casualties. In the words of those who...

From a multiple New York Times bestselling author, here is an eye-opening history of the United States' war on terror across four presidential administrations. The year 2026 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11, the most devastating attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Within days, the United States began to declare its war on terror: 'Either you are with us,...

Riveting and original ... a work enriched by solid scholarship, vivid personal experience, and acute appreciation of the concerns and aspirations of the contending parties in this deeply unequal conflict - Noam Chomsky The twentieth century for Palestine and the Palestinians has been a century of denial: denial of statehood, denial of nationhood and denial of history. The Hundred Years'...

A moving, riveting and immersive story of six Iranians who, together, lived the entire arc of modern Iranian history—the promise of the 1979 revolution, its betrayal by the Islamic mafia state and a people's undying spirit of resistance. Fuelled by Iranians' dreams of social justice and political freedom, the 1979 revolution swept aside the shah's ailing, repressive monarchy. But in...

One child. Two years in hiding. Three lives in mortal danger. In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl is hidden. Her name is Elli. Her father has been executed at Mauthausen concentration camp. Her mother is fleeing for her life. Elli is next. To save her, resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens must risk everything, concealing her...

In mid-winter, Matariki rises in the pre-dawn sky, and its observation is celebrated with incantations on hilltops at dawn, balls, exhibitions, dinners, and a vast number of events. The Matariki tradition has been re-established, and its regeneration coincides with a growing interest in Māori astronomy. Still, there remain some unanswered questions about how Matariki was traditionally observed. These include: What...

From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, comes a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of the most infamous stock market crash in history. In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and...

'I am a helpless, devoted, pathetic fan. So is everyone I know' JAMES MARRIOTT, THE TIMES'The history publishing phenomenon of my lifetime' ROBERT COLLS, NEW STATESMANFrom the award-winning podcast The Rest is History and Sunday Times bestselling authors Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook comes a riotous deep dive into history’s biggest heroes and most notorious villains Welcome to a shadowy...

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...

Spanning centuries and continents, The Silk Roads by Professor Peter Frankopan offers a compelling and comprehensive retelling of history through the lens of the ancient trade routes that linked the East and the West. This fascinating book takes readers on an epic journey across time and space, exploring the key role that these pathways played in shaping the world's continents,...

‘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...

A powerful literary debut from an astonishing new Kiwi voice, focusing on the Indo-Fijian indenture system and how it affected generations across the Pacific.Rajasthan 1888: Avani Rathod, a nomad of the Banjara community, is summoned to teach a blue-eyed colonial officer the trees of her region, but instead is misled into indenture to the sugarcane plantations of Fiji. While on...

There is an invisible weapon among us. By the time you know you are a victim, it has turned you into a killer. A blistering new non-fiction thriller from the Baillie Gifford shortlisted author of Nuclear War (200,000 copies sold). A lab accident, a bio-attack, a global pandemic, and the collapse of human society. In this essential new book, based...

The story of a hotel. The story of a nation. When the Inter-Continental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan's first luxury hotel symbolised a dream of a modernising country connected to the world. More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall...

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...

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

Goliath’s Curse by Luke Kemp offers a radical retelling of human history through the lens of collapse, delving into what this means for our uncertain future. This narrative spans from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twenty-first century and beyond. It's grounded in the latest research and a comprehensive database of more than 440...

A new edition of the bestselling 2024 memoir by a former NZSAS commander, on serving in Afghanistan over four deployments and operating at the edge of his limits. 'Frighteningly, devastatingly real.' - The Post In 2011, following the Taliban siege on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an SAS soldier identified only as Serviceman J was awarded New Zealand's second highest military honour...

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...

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,...

Cold Sunset, the third novel starring accidental spy Gabriel Dax, takes you deep into a shadow-drenched world where loyalty blurs, motives darken, and every step could be fatal, in a tautly woven mystery from acclaimed bestseller William Boyd. The new stylish mystery from acclaimed bestseller William Boyd takes you deep into a shadow-drenched world where loyalty blurs, motives darken, and...

An uproarious, illuminating trek through contested history, from the creator of the hit podcast and TV series. In the days of the British Empire, things were taken that probably shouldn't have been. So how come they're still in museums, galleries and some much stranger places? British museums are home to millions of fascinating objects. The trouble is, a whole bunch...

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...

A pioneering exploration of the differences between the brain’s right and left hemispheres and their effects on society, history, and culture—"one of the few contemporary works deserving classic status” (Nicholas Shakespeare, The Times, London). “Persuasively argues that our society is suffering from the consequences of an over-dominant left hemisphere losing touch with its natural regulative ‘master’ the right. Brilliant and...

From a little-known chapter of Holocaust history, Rebecca Frankel's Into the Forest is one family's inspiring true story of love, escape, and survival. In the summer of 1942, the Rabinowitz family narrowly escaped the Nazi ghetto in their Polish town by fleeing to the forbidding Bialowieza Forest. They miraculously survived two years in the woods—through brutal winters, Typhus outbreaks, and...

Sea People by Christina Thompson is a riveting historical exploration that delves into the mysterious origins and epic journeys of the Polynesians—one of the world's most enigmatic and adventurous seafaring peoples. The narrative unfolds over a thousand years ago, focussing on how these master navigators discovered and colonised the far-flung islands within a vast triangle from Hawaii to New Zealand...

Homer called it a divine substance. Plato described it as especially dear to the gods. As Mark Kurlansky so brilliantly relates here, salt has shaped civilisation from the beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of mankind. Wars have been fought over salt and, while salt taxes secured empires across Europe and Asia, they...

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...

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown is an eye-opening chronicle of the tragic history of the American West from 1860 to 1890, a period marked by broken promises, disillusionment, war, and massacre. Beginning with the forced relocation known as the Long Walk of the Navajos, and culminating in the devastating massacre of the Sioux at Wounded Knee,...

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...

This brilliant new book explores the lives of eight generations of the greatest kings and queens that this country has ever seen, and the worst. The Plantagenets – their story is the story of Britain. England’s greatest royal dynasty, the Plantagenets, ruled over England through eight generations of kings. Their remarkable reign saw England emerge from the Dark Ages to...

The Brighton bombing of 1984 remains one of the most audacious and chilling assassination attempts in recent political history. In Killing Thatcher, veteran journalist Rory Carroll meticulously reconstructs the series of events that nearly altered the course of British politics forever. This riveting account unveils the story behind the IRA's meticulous plan to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and decimate...

The definitive and bestselling history of Aotearoa New Zealand by one of our leading historians, continuously in print for 20 years. This bestselling book by the late Michael King is the unchallenged contemporary reference on the history of New Zealand. First published in 2003 and hailed as a triumph of careful research, wide reading and judicious assessment, it has been...

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:...

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...

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. ‘Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee…’ Few literary masterpieces cast quite as awesome a shadow as Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. Captain...

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...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2023 A WATERSTONES BOOK OF YEAR FOR POLITICS 2023 ‘I learned something new on every page of this totally essential book’ Sathnam Sanghera ‘By thinking about gendered inequality as rooted in something unalterable within us, we fail to see it for what it is: something more fragile that has had to be...

One of BookBub's Best Historical Fiction Books of the Fall From the author of Sisters of the Resistance comes the story of WWII British Naval Intelligence officer Victoire Bennett, the real-life inspiration for the James Bond character Miss Moneypenny, whose international covert operation is put in jeopardy when a volatile socialite and Austrian double agent threatens to expose the mission...

Masters of the Air by Donald L. Miller is an electrifying narrative that delves into the lives and exploits of the men of the American Eighth Air Force during World War II. These brave airmen, piloting the renowned Flying Fortresses, played a pivotal role in crippling Nazi Germany’s grip on Europe. Their valiant efforts are brought vividly to life, taking...

The Gift by Edith Eger is a profound exploration of resilience and the human spirit, encapsulated in a series of reflections on hope, healing, and finding freedom. This poignant narrative is penned by a celebrated therapist and Holocaust survivor, who has also authored the award-winning international bestseller, The Choice. Eger's journey takes the reader from the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz,...

An explosive insider story of the biggest mistakes in US history and how to put them right - from the man who saw America's wrong moves up close, White House insider turned host of the hit podcast, The Rest is Politics- US. We're living in an age of deep political anger and frustration. Where did it come from, and how...

Renowned Israeli historian, Ilan Pappe's groundbreaking work on the formation of the State of Israel. Along with the late Edward Said, Ilan Pappe is the most eloquent writer of Palestinian history. NEW STATESMAN Between 1947 and 1949, over 400 Palestinian villages were deliberately destroyed, civilians were massacred and around a million men, women, and children were expelled from their homes...

Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History is a landmark publication that meticulously portrays the extensive journey of Māori history from Pacific origins to the twenty-first century. Authored by Atholl Anderson, this richly illustrated book spans numerous generations, offering readers a vivid and comprehensive narrative that is anchored in specific localities and histories. The book unfolds across fifteen compelling chapters, each of...

Eusebius is regarded as the historian of Christian antiquity. Eusebius's account is the only surviving historical record of the Church during its crucial first 300 years. Bishop Eusebius, a learned scholar who lived most of his life in Caesarea in Palestine, broke new ground in writing the The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine and provided a model...

Dazzling, poetic and vivid storytelling from one of Australia's greatest writers, which tells the bloody, brutal and enthralling story of the epic journey of the First Fleet. Originally published as a multi-part serial in The Australian, By Sea & Stars tells the story of the epic voyage which led to the founding of our nation, as told from the point...

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,...

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound piece of literature that delves into the depths of human resilience and the quest for purpose. This remarkable book, which is now available in a handsome gift edition featuring a new introduction and appendices, is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the human condition through the lens of...

'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...

Great Tales of Aotearoa uncovers the stories that helped build our collective history, from pioneering tales of New Zealand's first bank and company to stories of high treason, nautical disasters, courage and survival. For over 40 years, retired journalist Tom Clarke has compiled this collection of fascinating, entertaining and extraordinary tales from New Zealand's storied past.

A revised edition of the best-selling book containing two new chapters covering the last decade and a half. Struggle Without End by Dr. Ranginui Walker is a compelling history of Aotearoa, New Zealand, viewed from a distinctly Māori perspective. Dr. Walker meticulously traces the journey of the Māori people from their Polynesian origins, through the arrival of European settlers in...

A stunning, soul-stirring, philosophical, and political treatise on what liberation for Palestine and our world will look like in the twenty-first century. 'At once searing, loving and rousing, this is an acrobatic feat of political leadership from a generational talent' Naomi Klein Palestine is a litmus test - the repercussions of which will go beyond the Middle East, extending outward...

The extraordinary life of the daring adventurer who defied ice and fire - war photographer, Antarctic explorer and adventurer - by Australia's No.1 bestselling historical biographer, featuring a foreword by Hurley's granddaughter. From the moment he ran away from school at just 13, Frank Hurley carved a path as one of the greatest adventurers of all time. A visionary photographer...

THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 'A triumph.' Deborah Levy, New Statesman 'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner, The Times 'Revelatory.' Simon Schama, Financial Times 'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn, Observer 'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis, Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard '[Ian Leslie]...

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...

Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style. What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires. Gale force advisories are issued on a regular basis by weather services around the world. Atmospheric scientists are...

The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a monumental work that provides a harrowing account of the Soviet Union's labour camp system. Set against a vast canvas of camps, prisons, transit centres, and secret police, the narrative unfolds the grim realities of informers, spies, and interrogators while simultaneously celebrating instances of everyday heroism. This literary masterpiece, based on the testimony...

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...

From the author of A Ghost in the Throat, an unforgettable book—both history and ghost story—that will leave you gasping by its final page. In the city of Cork, a derelict Victorian mental hospital is being converted into modern apartments. One passerby has always flinched as she passes the place. Had she lived in another time, she too might have...

The gripping true story of the woman who became the Gestapo's most wanted spy In the early 1930s, Nancy Wake was a young woman enjoying a bohemian life in Paris. By the end of the Second World War, she was the Gestapo's most wanted person. As a naïve, young journalist, Nancy Wake witnessed a horrific scene of Nazi violence in...

The debut book from the YouTube sensation and all-round cartographical nerds, The Map Men! In their long-awaited debut, YouTube’s Map Men bring their highly infectious enthusiasm for everything map-related to the printed page for the very first time, in a brilliantly entertaining and eye-catching tome. Packed with humour and fascinating facts, This Way Up takes a deep dive into the...

The Taper Man by Nick Harkaway, renowned for his bestselling take on George Smiley, returns with the iconic spy hot on the trail of a traitor at the top of American intelligence. It is 1965, and the Cold War has never been colder. The Circus, the secret centre of British intelligence, has one prized asset left in Moscow: a senior...

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is an extraordinary exploration of humanity's history from the dawn of our species to the present day. Harari delves into our evolution, offering insights into the cognitive revolutions that allowed Homo sapiens to rise above other animal species. Traversing through various stages of human development, he examines the Agricultural Revolution, the unification of humankind through...

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 80 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Translated into 80 languages, the allegory teaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here.”—Oprah Daily, “Best Self-Help Books of a Generation” “It’s a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome.”—Neil Patrick Harris, actor A special deluxe...

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. “Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee…” Few literary masterpieces cast quite as awesome a shadow as Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. Captain...

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...

Orientalism is one of the greatest and most influential books of ideas to be published since the end of the European empires. For generations now, it has defined our understanding of colonialism and empire, and with each passing year, its influence becomes, if anything, even greater. To mark its 25th anniversary, Orientalism rightfully takes its place as a Penguin Modern...