Prisoners of Geography meets Bill Bryson: a funny, fascinating, beautifully illustrated – and timely – history of countries that, for myriad and often ludicrous reasons, no longer exist.
Longlisted for the 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction (now the Bailie Gifford)
‘A thrilling and complex book, enlarges our view of Homer … There’s something that hits the mark on every page’ Claire Tomalin, Books of the Year, New Statesman
'An erudite, extremely entertaining work' Jan Morris, IndependentIn the style of Longitude and Fermat’s Last Theorem, acclaimed novelist Maureen Duffy has written a page-turning narrative history of the making of the myth of the English.
Two hundred years ago, India was seen as a place with little history and less culture.Today it is revered for a notable prehistory, a magnificent classical age and a cultural tradition unique in both character and continuity. How this extraordinary change in perception came about is the subject of this fascinating book.
An updated edition of this unique, bestselling history of the IRA, now including behind-the-scenes information on the recent advances made in the peace process.
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