The most authoritative and highly regarded single-volume history of India – from ancient time to the modern day. Five millennia of the sub-continent’s social, economic, political and cultural history are interpreted by one of our finest writers on India and the Far East.

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%

'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.

'Lively and fascinating. I loved it' David Bellos, author of Is That a Fish in your Ear?'A history of the world in microcosm ... I highly recommend' Douglas Preston, author of The Lost City of the Monkey God'A real detective story ... a tour de force' David Crystal, author of A Date with Language