A groundbreaking new perspective on catastrophes throughout human history, with vital lessons for our future

You’ve heard all about the ‘brilliant men’ of ancient myth, but what about the scheming and scandalous women who were so often lost in their shadow?

'This is a wise book, and hopefully its wisdom will rub off' Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature'Progress upturns shibboleths. Without new understandings of our past, such as that given here, chaos may be inevitable' Danny Dorling, author of Inequality and the 1%

'The fascinating story of ancient words ? new revelations await' The Guardian 'A truly extraordinary detective story' Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything ________________________________

'A sparkling debut by an outstanding young historian' PETER FRANKOPAN'This book is a revelation ... both original and important' MISHAL HUSAINA history of modern South Asia told through five partitions that reshaped it.

The astonishing story of the ten million books that were smuggled across the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.