Get ready to meet the goddesses.In Divine Might, Natalie Haynes, the bestselling author of Stone Blind and Pandora's Jar, introduces us to the stories of the Greek goddesses. As fearsome, powerful and beloved as their male counterparts, it’s time to look beyond the columns of a ruined temple to the awesome power within . . .We meet Hera, who, whilst most often known for enacting vicious, creative revenge on the women – mortal or otherwise – who catch the wandering eye of her husband Zeus, turns out not to be such a villain after all.We meet Demeter, a mother who will go to any lengths, no matter the cost, to retrieve her daughter Persephone from Hades’ clutches.We’ll be introduced to The Furies, three women who will literally go to the ends of the earth to enact bloody vengeance but who, surprisingly, are the goddesses who can teach us the most about the way we live now.Examining the role of these goddesses and more, Divine Might will change everything you thought you knew about our most ancient stories. Full of fire, fury and devotion, Natalie Haynes brings the divine women of Olympia kicking and screaming into the modern age. Read more

'Excellent. . . Sellars gives a lucid, easy-to-follow account of what Stoicism as a way of life amounts to, and how you might start to put it into practice' Nigel Warburton How can Stoicism inspire us to lead more enjoyable lives?In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly did the Stoics believe? In Lessons in Stoicism, philosopher John Sellars weaves together the key ideas of the three great Roman Stoics -- Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius -- with snapshots of their fascinating lives, to show us how their ideas can help us today. In vivid prose, Sellars shows how the works of these three Stoics have inspired readers ever since, speaking as they do to some of the perennial issues that face anyone trying to navigate their way through life. Their works, fundamentally, are about how to live -- how to understand one's place in the world, how to cope when things don't go well, how to manage one's emotions and how to behave towards others. Consoling and inspiring, Lessons in Stoicism is a deeply thoughtful guide to the philosophy of a good life. Read more

'A masterly account of this first wicked century of the Roman Empire' Sunday Times'Holland does not just tell the story of the reign of the Julio-Claudian family. He knits the history of ancient Rome into his narrative - its founding myths, the fall of the republic, the religious superstitions - with a skill so dextrous you don't notice the stitching. Dynasty is both a formidable effort to compile what we can know about the ancient world and a sensational story' Observer'A witty and skilful storyteller... He recounts with pleasure his racy tales of psychopathic cruelty, incest, paedophilia, matricide, fratricide, assassination and depravity' William Dalrymple, New Statesman'A wonderful, surging narrative... [for] anyone interested in history, politics or human nature - and it has never been better told' Mail on SundayTHE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Read more

In this illuminating and thoughtful book, Will and Ariel Durant have succeeded in distilling for the reader the accumulated store of knowledge and experience from their five decades of work on the eleven monumental volumes of The Story of Civilization. The result is a survey of human history, full of dazzling insights into the nature of human experience, the evolution of civilization, and the culture of man. With the completion of their life's work, they look back and ask what history has to say about the nature, the conduct and the prospects of man, seeking in the great lives, the great ideas, the great events of the past for the meaning of man's long journey through war, conquest and creation - and for the great themes that can help us to understand our own era. Read more

WINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2008'The world's most controversial classicist debunks our movie-style myths about the Roman town with meticulous scholarship and propulsive energy' Laura Silverman, Daily MailThe ruins of Pompeii, buried by an explosion of Vesuvius in 79 CE, offer the best evidence we have of everyday life in the Roman empire. This remarkable book rises to the challenge of making sense of those remains, as well as exploding many myths: the very date of the eruption, probably a few months later than usually thought; or the hygiene of the baths which must have been hotbeds of germs; or the legendary number of brothels, most likely only one; or the massive death count, maybe less than ten per cent of the population.An extraordinary and involving portrait of an ancient town, its life and its continuing re-discovery, by Britain's favourite classicist. Read more

'Bold, dazzling and provocative' – Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads'This book uncovers what was lost when Christianity won' – The TimesIn The Darkening Age, historian Catherine Nixey tells the little-known – and deeply shocking – story of how a militant religion deliberately tried to extinguish the teachings of the Classical world, ushering in unquestioning adherence to the 'one true faith'.The Roman Empire had been generous in embracing and absorbing new creeds. But with the coming of Christianity, everything changed. This new faith, despite preaching peace, was violent, ruthless and intolerant. And once it became the religion of empire, its zealous adherents set about the destruction of the old gods. Their altars were upturned, their temples demolished and their statues hacked to pieces. Books, including great works of philosophy and science, were consigned to the pyre. It was an annihilation.'A searingly passionate book' - Bettany Hughes, author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient WorldA Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Observer, and BBC History MagazineA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceWinner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Nonfiction Read more

Step back in time to ancient Greece with this historic title from the best-selling Eyewitness series of reference books for children. The comprehensive guide to Greece provides a detailed introduction to one of the world's founding nations, together with beautiful images, supporting graphics, and helpful maps designed to appeal to the younger reader. Experience Greece in all its glory as you bow down to gods and goddesses, meet the mythical minotaur, wage war with Alexander the Great, take a trip to a temple, and cross the finish line at the Olympic Games. This is the perfect school study aid, crammed full of information to engage, educate, and entertain. Eyewitness Ancient Greece has been updated to ensure the most interactive and colourful content, boosted by infographics, statistics, facts, and timelines.A giant fold-out wall chart of ancient Greece is included to bring history to life on the walls of your bedroom or classroom. Read more

A fascinating flap book packed with facts about Ancient Greece. Find out what it's like inside a Greek city-state, learn all about the Greek gods and myths, discover how temples were built and how Ancient Greek armies fought in battles. The period covered spans from the earliest Minoan civilisation on Crete to the empire of Alexander the Great. Read more

'A masterly account of this first wicked century of the Roman Empire' Sunday Times'Holland does not just tell the story of the reign of the Julio-Claudian family. He knits the history of ancient Rome into his narrative - its founding myths, the fall of the republic, the religious superstitions - with a skill so dextrous you don't notice the stitching. Dynasty is both a formidable effort to compile what we can know about the ancient world and a sensational story' Observer'A witty and skilful storyteller... He recounts with pleasure his racy tales of psychopathic cruelty, incest, paedophilia, matricide, fratricide, assassination and depravity' William Dalrymple, New Statesman'A wonderful, surging narrative... [for] anyone interested in history, politics or human nature - and it has never been better told' Mail on SundayTHE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Read more

A Guardian, Financial Times, New Statesman, The Rest is Politics and Waterstones Highlight for 2024'Quinn has done a lot more than reinvent the wheel. What we have here is a truly encyclopaedic and monumental account of the ancient world' THE TIMES'A work of great confidence, empathy, learning and imagination' RORY STEWART'Bold, beautifully written and filled with insights . . . Extraordinary' PETER FRANKOPAN'One of the most fascinating and important works of global history to appear for many years' WILLIAM DALRYMPLEThe West, the story goes, was built on the ideas and values of Ancient Greece and Rome, which disappeared from Europe during the Dark Ages and were then rediscovered by the Renaissance. But what if that isn't true?In a bold and magisterial work of immense scope, Josephine Quinn argues that the real story of the West is much bigger than this established paradigm leads us to believe. So much of our shared history has been lost, drowned out by the concept - developed in the Victorian era - of separate 'civilisations'.Moving from the Bronze Age to the Age of Exploration, How the World Made the West reveals a new narrative: one that traces the millennia of global encounters and exchange that built what is now called the West, as societies met, tangled and sometimes grew apart. From the creation of the alphabet by Levantine workers in Egypt, who in a foreign land were prompted to write things down in their own language for the first time, to the arrival of Indian numbers in Europe via the Arab world, Quinn makes the case that understanding societies in isolation is both out-of-date and wrong. It is contact and connections, rather than solitary civilisations, that drive historical change. It is not peoples that make history - people do. Read more

Immerse Yourself in the Modernist Masterpiece Ulysses James Joyce’s Ulysses is a groundbreaking work of modernist literature, renowned for its innovative narrative style, linguistic brilliance, and profound exploration of the human experience. This literary tour de force challenges and rewards readers with its complexity, humor, and emotional depth.A Day in the Life of Leopold Bloom Set in Dublin on a single day, June 16, 1904, the novel follows Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising agent, as he navigates the city. Interwoven with Bloom’s story are the inner lives of Stephen Dedalus and Molly Bloom, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences. Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, Joyce reimagines the epic journey in a modern context, exploring themes of identity, love, and the ordinary heroism of everyday life.Key Themes in Ulysses:Identity and Belonging: A deep exploration of selfhood, culture, and alienation.Stream of Consciousness: Joyce’s innovative technique captures the flow of thought and perception.Modernity and Myth: A reimagining of ancient myths in the context of contemporary Dublin.Love and Fidelity: The complexities of relationships and human connection.A Literary Landmark Ulysses remains one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, celebrated for its experimental form and profound insight into human nature. It is a must-read for lovers of classic literature and those seeking to engage with a truly transformative work. Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Life-filled and life-affirming history, steeped in romance and written with verve' GUARDIAN'Richly entertaining and impeccably researched' Peter FrankopanIstanbul has always been a place where stories and histories collide and crackle, where the idea is as potent as the historical fact. From the Qu'ran to Shakespeare, this city with three names - Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - resonates as an idea and a place, and overspills its boundaries - real and imagined. Standing as the gateway between the East and West, it has served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires. For much of its history it was known simply as The City, but, as Bettany Hughes reveals, Istanbul is not just a city, but a story. In this epic new biography, Hughes takes us on a dazzling historical journey through the many incarnations of one of the world's greatest cities. As the longest-lived political entity in Europe, over the last 6,000 years Istanbul has absorbed a mosaic of micro-cities and cultures all gathering around the core. At the latest count archaeologists have measured forty-two human habitation layers. Phoenicians, Genoese, Venetians, Jews, Vikings, Azeris all called a patch of this earth their home. Based on meticulous research and new archaeological evidence, this captivating portrait of the momentous life of Istanbul is visceral, immediate and scholarly narrative history at its finest. Read more

In 480 BC, Xerxes, the King of Persia, led an invasion of mainland Greece. Its success should have been a formality. For seventy years, victory - rapid, spectacular victory - had seemed the birthright of the Persian Empire. In the space of a single generation, they had swept across the Near East, shattering ancient kingdoms, storming famous cities, putting together an empire which stretched from India to the shores of the Aegean. As a result of those conquests, Xerxes ruled as the most powerful man on the planet. Yet somehow, astonishingly, against the largest expeditionary force ever assembled, the Greeks of the mainland managed to hold out. The Persians were turned back. Greece remained free. Had the Greeks been defeated at Salamis, not only would the West have lost its first struggle for independence and survival, but it is unlikely that there would ever have been such and entity as the West at all. Tom Holland's brilliant new book describes the very first 'clash of Empires' between East and West. Once again he has found extraordinary parallels between the ancient world and our own. There is no competing popular book describing these events. Read more

'With icy remorselessness, it puts paid to any notion that the horrors of modern history might be an aberration - for it tells of universal war, of terrorism, revolution and genocide' Tom HollandThe long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta plunged the ancient Greek world into decades of war. Thucydides was an Athenian and achieved the rank of general in the earlier stages of the war, and in this detailed, first-hand contemporary account he writes as both a soldier and a historian. He applies a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling a factual record of a ruinous conflict that would eventually destroy the Athenian empire.Translated by Rex Warner with an introduction and notes by M. I. Finley Read more

This is a completely new and updated edition of J. M. Roberts and Odd Arne Westad's widely acclaimed, landmark bestseller The Penguin History of the World.For generations of readers The Penguin History of the World has been one of the great cultural experiences - the entire story of human endeavour laid out in all its grandeur and folly, drama and pain in a single authoritative book. Now, for the first time, it has been completely overhauled for its 6th edition - not just bringing it up to date, but revising it throughout in the light of new research and discoveries, such as the revolution in our understanding of many civilizations in the Ancient World. The closing sections of the book reflect what now seems to be the inexorable rise of Asia and the increasingly troubled situation in the West.About the authors:J.M. Roberts, CBE, published The Penguin History of the World in 1976 to immediate acclaim. His other major books include The Paris Commune from the Right, The Triumph of the West (which was also a successful television series), The Penguin History of Europe and The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century. He died in 2003.Odd Arne Westad, FBA, is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. He has published fifteen books on modern and contemporary international history, among them The Global Cold War, which won the Bancroft Prize, and Decisive Encounters, a standard history of the Chinese civil war. He also served as general co-editor of the Cambridge History of the Cold War.Reviews'A work of outstanding breadth of scholarship and penetrating judgements. There is nothing better of its kind' Jonathan Sumption, Sunday Telegraph'A stupendous achievement' A.J.P. Taylor'A brilliant book ... the most outstanding history of the world yet written' J.H. Plumb Read more

In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us. Read more

Newly updated. This edition has been professionally formatted and contains several tables of contents. Metaphysics by Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle On Sophistical Refutations by Aristotle On Youth And Old Age, On Life And Death, On Breathing by Aristotle Politics by Aristotle On the Heavens by Aristotle On the Soul by Aristotle On Generation and Corruption by Aristotle The Categories by Aristotle The History of Animals by Aristotle Poetics by Aristotle The Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus The Suppliants by Aeschylus Agamemnon by Aeschylus The Persians by Aeschylus Choephori by Aeschylus The Eumenides by Aeschylus Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus The Argonautica by Apollonius Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus The Discourses of Epictetus by Epictetus Enchiridion by Epictetus The Trojan Women by Euripides Iphigenia At Aulis by Euripides The Cyclops by Euripides Alcestis by Euripides Andromache by Euripides Heracles by Euripides The Iliad by Homer The Syrian Goddess by Lucian A True Story by Lucian The Works of Lucian of Samosata by Lucian The Mimes of the Courtesans by Lucian Of the Nature of Things by Lucretius The Love Books by Ovid Metamorphoses by Ovid The Satyricon by Petronius The Seventh Letter by Plato The Statesman by Plato Laws by Plato Philebus by Plato The Apology by Plato Critias by Plato Crito by Plato Euthyphro by Plato Timaeus by Plato Euthydemus by Plato Parmenides by Plato The Republic by Plato Symposium by Plato Theaetetus by Plato The Six Enneads by Plotinus Plutarch’s Lives by Plutarch The Golden Verses of Pythagoras by Pythagoras The Poems of Sappho by Sappho On the Shortness of Life by SENECA On Benefits by SENECA Dialogues by SENECA The Trachiniae by Sophocles Ajax by Sophocles Antigone by Sophocles The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides The Eclogues by Virgil Read more

Earth’s history is embedded in its rocks, from dinosaur-trodden landscapes to new plastic-and-rock combinations. How to Read a Rock unearths stories buried in everything from grains of sand to mountain ranges, featuring over one hundred breathtaking illustrations that capture the planet’s splendour. The book explores Earth’s layers and landscapes, including caves, diamond volcanoes, ice strata, sand dunes, and lava flows, while also looking at space rocks beyond Earth to offer a sweeping history of rock formation unlike any other.How to Read a Rock delves into the geological past and what it can teach us about Earth’s future, including evidence of the greening of the planet, the impact of natural forces, and clues on climate change and energy consumption. The book covers topics such as ancient coastlines and coral reefs, fossil fuels, deep earth, natural wonders, the contemporary limestone rock crisis, human-made minerals, technofossils, and so much more. From plate tectonics to interstellar geology, How to Read a Rock is rich with knowledge that will fill readers with a deep appreciation for Earth and the very ground on which they walk. Read more

WINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2008'The world's most controversial classicist debunks our movie-style myths about the Roman town with meticulous scholarship and propulsive energy' Laura Silverman, Daily MailThe ruins of Pompeii, buried by an explosion of Vesuvius in 79 CE, offer the best evidence we have of everyday life in the Roman empire. This remarkable book rises to the challenge of making sense of those remains, as well as exploding many myths: the very date of the eruption, probably a few months later than usually thought; or the hygiene of the baths which must have been hotbeds of germs; or the legendary number of brothels, most likely only one; or the massive death count, maybe less than ten per cent of the population.An extraordinary and involving portrait of an ancient town, its life and its continuing re-discovery, by Britain's favourite classicist. Read more

A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR: The Times/Sunday Times, Observer, Economist, Guardian, BBC History Magazine, i-paper, Novara Media and History Today'Quinn has done a lot more than reinvent the wheel. What we have here is a truly encyclopaedic and monumental account of the ancient world' THE TIMES'One of the most fascinating and important works of global history to appear for many years' WILLIAM DALRYMPLEThe West, the story goes, was built on the ideas and values of Ancient Greece and Rome, which disappeared from Europe during the Dark Ages and were then rediscovered by the Renaissance. But what if that isn't true?In a bold and magisterial work of immense scope, Josephine Quinn argues that the real story of the West is much bigger than this established paradigm leads us to believe. So much of our shared history has been lost, drowned out by the concept - developed in the Victorian era - of separate 'civilisations'.Moving from the Bronze Age to the Age of Exploration, How the World Made the West reveals a new narrative: one that traces the millennia of global encounters and exchange that built what is now called the West, as societies met, tangled and sometimes grew apart. From the creation of the alphabet by Levantine workers in Egypt, who in a foreign land were prompted to write things down in their own language for the first time, to the arrival of Indian numbers in Europe via the Arab world, Quinn makes the case that understanding societies in isolation is both out-of-date and wrong. It is contact and connections, rather than solitary civilisations, that drive historical change. It is not peoples that make history - people do.'A work of great confidence, empathy, learning and imagination' RORY STEWART'Bold, beautifully written and filled with insights . . . Extraordinary' PETER FRANKOPAN Read more