NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERDouglas Murray, international bestselling author and renowned cultural commentator confronts what he views as the most pressing issue of our time: why Western support of the Palestinian cause is ultimately playing into the hands of a much more dangerous force.Drawing from intensive on-the-ground reporting in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, Murray presents a compelling case that places the latest violence in its historical context. He takes readers on a harrowing journey through the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 massacre, piecing together exclusive accounts from victims, survivors and even the terrorists responsible for the atrocities.On Democracies and Death Cults argues that Israel’s commitment to fundamental Western values – capitalism, individual rights, democracy and reason – has made it a beacon of progress in a region dominated by authoritarianism and extremism. Murray contrasts Israel’s principles with the ideology of Hamas, which openly proclaims its love of death over life. If left unchecked, Murray argues, this misplaced Western sympathy could embolden forces that seek to undermine democratic values and perpetuate a culture of violence.Clear-eyed and deeply reasoned, On Democracies and Death Cults is a gripping and essential read for all who seek to understand the complexities of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and its implications for the future of democracy – and for the world itself.Douglas Murray's book 'On Democracies and Death Cults' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-04-07. Read more

*FULLY UPDATED WITH A NEW FOREWORD*THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE BRITISH ARMY MILITARY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016'Truly essential' Simon Sebag MontefioreThe final destruction of the Ottoman Empire - one of the great epics of the First World War, from bestselling historian Eugene RoganFor some four centuries the Ottoman Empire had been one of the most powerful states in Europe as well as ruler of the Middle East. By 1914 it had been drastically weakened and circled by numerous predators waiting to finish it off. Following the Ottoman decision to join the First World War on the side of the Central Powers the British, French and Russians hatched a plan to finish the Ottomans off: an ambitious and unprecedented invasion of Gallipoli...Eugene Rogan's remarkable book recreates one of the most important but poorly understood fronts of the First World War. Despite fighting back with great skill and ferocity against the Allied onslaught and humiliating the British both at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia (Iraq), the Ottomans were ultimately defeated, clearing the way for the making, for better or worse, of a new Middle East which has endured to the present. Read more

‘Unforgettable’ Independent‘Fresh and gripping’ TelegraphTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLEROn April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens.A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.'The pre-eminent historian of the secret world . . . His books have set the gold standard for accurate historical reporting, but read like heart-pounding thrillers' Mick Herron‘Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else’ John Preston Read more

A SUNDAY TIMES AND TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR'Fascinating and important'Natalie Haynes, author of Stone Blind'Monumental and vividly imagined'Daily Telegraph'Wonderfully entertaining'Sunday Times'Lively and engrossing 'Literary ReviewOn a sparsely populated Egyptian coastline, Alexander the Great sketched his vision of a metropolis into the sand. Situated on the cusp of three continents, it became the city where Greeks and Egyptians, Romans and Jews created a global knowledge capital that changed the face of philosophy, religion and science forever.In this sweeping biography of the great city, Islam Issa takes us on a fascinating journey across millennia. Rich in big ideas, brutal tragedies and distinctive characters, Alexandria tells the gripping story of a city that has shaped our modern world.'A multifaceted history of an enthralling city'Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, author of Persians: The Age of the Great Kings'A cornucopia of fascinating details, every page revealing a new delight'Paul Strathern, author of The Medici Read more

'A wondrous wonderful achievement' STEPHEN FRYLonglisted for The Anglo-Hellenic League Runciman Award 2025The Seven Wonders of the World were staggeringly audacious impositions on our planet. They were also brilliant adventures of the mind, test cases for the reaches of human imagination. Now only the great pyramid remains fully standing, yet the scale and majesty of these seven wonders still enthral us today. In a thrilling, colourful narrative enriched with the latest archaeological discoveries, bestselling historian Bettany Hughes walks through the landscapes of both ancient and modern time. This is a journey whose purpose is to ask why we wonder, why we create, why we choose to remember the wonder of others. She explores traces of the Wonders themselves, and the traces they have left in history. A magisterial work of historical storytelling, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World reinforces the exciting and nourishing notion that humans can make the impossible happen.'Fantastic...a joy from the outset' PETER FRANKOPAN'Fascinating...all told with Bettany's natural sense of wonder and adventure' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE Read more

'Brain-stretching . . . pulsating . . . irresistable' The Sunday Times'Deeply researched and elegantly written - essential reading' Dan Jones'Erudite, often thrilling and much-needed' Daily TelegraphHow the Mongol invasions of the Near East reshaped the balance of world power in the Middle Ages.For centuries, the Crusades have been central to the story of the medieval Near East, but these religious wars are only part of the region's complex history. As The Mongol Storm reveals, during the same era the Near East was utterly remade by another series of wars: the Mongol invasions. In a single generation, the Mongols conquered vast swaths of the Near East and upended the region's geopolitics. Amid the chaos of the Mongol onslaught, long-standing powers such as the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, and the crusaders struggled to survive, while new players such as the Ottomans arose to fight back. The Mongol conquests forever transformed the region, while forging closer ties among societies spread across Eurasia.This is the definitive history of the Mongol assault on the Near East and its enduring global consequences. Read more

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A “fascinating and very moving” (Aaron Sorkin, award-winning screenwriter of The West Wing and The Social Network) chronological timeline spanning from Biblical times to today that explores one of the most interesting countries in the world—Israel.Israel. The small strip of arid land is 5,700 miles away but remains a hot-button issue and a thorny topic of debate. But while everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Israel, how many people actually know the facts? Here to fill in the information gap is Israeli American Noa Tishby. But “this is not your Bubbie’s history book” (Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher). Instead, offering a fresh, 360-degree view, Tishby brings her “passion, humor, and deep intimacy” (Yossi Klein Halevi, New York Times bestselling author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor) to the subject, creating an accessible and dynamic portrait of a tiny country of outsized relevance. Through bite-sized chunks of history and deeply personal stories, Tishby chronicles her homeland’s evolution, beginning in Biblical times and moving forward to cover everything from WWI to Israel’s creation to the disputes dividing the country today. Tackling popular misconceptions with an abundance of facts, Tishby provides critical context around headline-generating controversies and offers a clear, intimate account of the richly cultured country of Israel. Read more

‘The very grubby coalface of foreign policy … I found the entire book most horribly addictive’ Independent ‘One of the unexpected responses to reading this masterful study is amazement at the efforts the British and French each put into undermining the other’ Spectator A fascinating insight into the untold story of how British-French rivalry drew the battle-lines of the modern Middle East. In 1916, in the middle of the First World War, two men secretly agreed to divide the Middle East between them. Sir Mark Sykes was a visionary politician; François Georges-Picot a diplomat with a grudge. They drew a line in the sand from the Mediterranean to the Persian frontier, and together remade the map of the Middle East, with Britain’s 'mandates' of Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq, and France's in Lebanon and Syria. Over the next thirty years a sordid tale of violence and clandestine political manoeuvring unfolded, told here through a stellar cast of politicians, diplomats, spies and soldiers, including T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle. Using declassified papers from the British and French archives, James Barr vividly depicts the covert, deadly war of intrigue and espionage between Britain and France to rule the Middle East, and reveals the shocking way in which the French finally got their revenge. Read more

A fascinating account of the fifty years of major conquests that established the vast Arabian empire shortly after Muhammad’s death, changing the Middle East forever.This record of the history of Arabian expansion and its Bedouin people is the perfect read for fans of T.E. Lawrence, Hugh Kennedy, Justin Marozzi, and Robert G. Hoyland.For the Bedouin tribes of Central Arabia, the years A.D. 630 to A.D. 680 were transformative as, through their religious fervour and courage, they established one of the greatest empires in all history, second only to the achievements of Alexander the Great. Their scope and success were all the more remarkable for the lack of a trained, disciplined army or any central organisation, and despite the existence of tribal divisions and the personal ambitions of this warlike people.Using his deep personal understanding of the history and characteristics of the Bedouin people, gained during time living amongst them, original Arabic sources, and European translations, Glubb provides an insightful and thought-provoking read.‘Among the most astonishing and significant events in human history.’ — Times Literary Supplement‘Sir John Glubb’s unique insight into Arab mentality has enabled him to write a fascinating account of his subject.’ — The Sunday Telegraph'A scholarly work by Sir John Glubb whose obvious fascination with his subject transforms the driest and dustiest desert war into a thing of excitement and suspense' — Evening NewsPraise for John Bagot Glubb’s Great Arab History:‘Sir John Glubb … as always a clear guide, illuminating history by the fruits of his own experience.’ — The Times‘Few men are better qualified to bring such a period to life.’ — The Sunday Times Read more

'I have been looking forward to Sabrina Ghayour's new book, Simply, ever since I knew she was writing it... Every page is an invitation to cook.' - Nigella Lawson'Packed with the Iranian-born cook's trademark Persian flavours' - The Herald'The food has immediate "eat me" appeal' - Diana Henry, Sunday Telegraph's 20 Best Cookbooks To Buy This AutumnEasy. Everyday. Simple.Sabrina Ghayour's new collection of unmissable dishes in her signature style, influenced by her love of fabulous flavours, is full of delicious food that can be enjoyed with a minimum of fuss. With sections ranging from Effortless Eating to Traditions With a Twist, Simply provides over 100 bold and exciting recipes that can be enjoyed every day of the week.CONTENTS Chapter one: Effortless Eating Including Spiced carrot & tamarind soup; Date & ginger chicken wings; Baked sweet potato & za'atar chips; Spring onion saladChapter two: Traditions with a Twist Including Green hummus; Kabab koobideh; Persian tahchin; Tahdig e macaroni; Mamen Maleh's borscht; Adas polowChapter three: The Melting Pot Including Steak tartines with tarragon & paprika butter; Chilled pistachio & cucumber soup; Ghayour house chicken kariChapter four: Something Special Including Spiced pork wraps with green apple salsa; Firecracker prawns; Green & black-eyed bean baklava; Mushroom dumplingsChapter five: Cakes, Bakes & Sweet Treats Including Stuffed dates with torched goats' cheese; Lime & black pepper frozen yogurt; Tahini, almond & orange brownies Read more

‘It grips like a python from the first page, squeezing the breath out of the reader’ DAILY MAIL‘Outstanding’ SUNDAY TIMES‘Breathless action’ THE TIMESHidden from prying Western satellites, Iranian scientists are at work on a banned device . . . They are acting on the orders of a renegade cell within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose objective is to transform their country into a nuclear-armed nation, and so seal its domination of the Middle East.Britain’s intelligence agencies know something is up. Someone on the inside is ready to hand over information - but the rendezvous with SIS officer Luke Carlton goes bloodily wrong . . .Then MI6 sees an opportunity to recruit an individual with unique access to the IRGC hardliners. Luke is chosen to reel them in. Going into Iran undercover is dangerous enough, but then there’s a killing and a kidnapping and the British government is presented with a shocking ultimatum.With time running out, it seems only Luke can stop a cataclysmic new war in the Gulf . . .________Readers love Ultimatum:***** ‘An action-packed thriller . . . very authentic’***** ‘A real page turner . . . thrilling adventure’***** ‘Gripping page turner that keeps you glued to the story’ Read more

The book that is providing a storm of controversy, from ‘Israel’s bravest historian’ (John Pilger)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 at gunpoint. Denied for almost six decades, had it happened today it could only have been called 'ethnic cleansing'. Decisively debunking the myth that the Palestinian population left of their own accord in the course of this war, Ilan Pappe offers impressive archival evidence to demonstrate that, from its very inception, a central plank in Israel’s founding ideology was the forcible removal of the indigenous population. Indispensable for anyone interested in the current crisis in the Middle East. *** 'Ilan Pappe is Israel's bravest, most principled, most incisive historian.' JOHN PILGER 'Pappe has opened up an important new line of inquiry into the vast and fateful subject of the Palestinian refugees. His book is rewarding in other ways. It has at times an elegiac, even sentimental, character, recalling the lost, obliterated life of the Palestinian Arabs and imagining or regretting what Pappe believes could have been a better land of Palestine.'TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT 'A major intervention in an argument that will, and must, continue. There's no hope of lasting Middle East peace while the ghosts of 1948 still walk.' INDEPENDENT Read more

Discover the remarkable life of Lawrence of Arabia...Free BONUS Inside!T. E. Lawrence was a man of all seasons. Known for his great thirst for adventure, he earned the name Lawrence of Arabia due to his hands-on expertise in the Middle East during World War I and the Arab Revolt. Yet his achievements extended well beyond exploration—he was an innovative soldier, a dedicated archaeologist, and a passionate curator of history. Fiercely loyal to his friends and surprisingly considerate even to his adversaries, Lawrence’s fearless attitude convinced the ruler of Hejaz that he was the visionary capable of steering them to victory against the Ottoman Turks. In the end, his adventures spanned continents and reshaped history.This book chronicles Lawrence of Arabia’s remarkable journey—not only across vast geographic distances but also through the realms of the human spirit.Discover a plethora of topics such asEarly LifeFrom Academia to EspionageTurning to ArabiaA Gentleman, A Scholar, and A WarriorThe Cost of VictoryLate Life and DeathAnd much more!So if you want a concise and informative book on Lawrence of Arabia, simply scroll up and click the "Buy now" button for instant access! Read more

'Heresy is a brilliant book' - The Times'Enthralling . . . an absolute pleasure to read' - The Sunday Telegraph‘In the beginning was the Word,’ says the Gospel of John. This sentence – and the words of all four gospels – is central to the teachings of the Christian Church and has shaped Western art, literature and language, and the Western mind.Yet in the years after the death of Christ there was not merely one word, nor any consensus as to who Jesus was or why he had mattered. There were many different Jesuses, among them the aggressive Jesus who scorned his parents and crippled those who opposed him, the Jesus who sold his twin into slavery and the Jesus who had someone crucified in his stead.Moreover, in the early years of the first millennium there were many other saviours, many sons of gods who healed the sick and cured the lame. But as Christianity spread, they were pronounced unacceptable – even heretical – and they faded from view.Now, in Heresy, Catherine Nixey tells their extraordinary story, one of contingency, chance and plurality. It is a story about what might have been. Read more

**THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – NOW AN AMAZON PRIME TV SERIES STARRING CHRIS PRATT** If you loved Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Peter James's Roy Grace or Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller, you will love The Devil's Hand and the James Reece series!'Take my word for it, James Reece is one rowdy motherf***er. Get ready!' Chris Pratt 'This is seriously good . . . the suspense is unrelenting, and the tradecraft is so authentic the government will probably ban it –so read it while you can!' Lee Child 'With a particular line in authentic tradecraft, this fabulously unrelenting thrill-ride was a struggle to put down' Mark DawsonIt has been two decades since 9/11. The enemy has been patient. The enemy has been learning. The enemy has been adapting.  The enemy is ready to strike again . . . Former Navy SEAL James Reece must embark on a top-secret CIA mission of retribution twenty years in the making in this riveting and timely thriller that will leave you gasping for breath.Praise for Jack Carr . . . 'Gritty, raw and brilliant!' Tom Marcus ‘So powerful, so pulse-pounding, so well-written – rarely do you read a debut novel this damn good’ Brad Thor 'Carr writes both from the gut and a seemingly infinite reservoir of knowledge in the methods of human combat. Loved it!' Chris Hauty 'A powerful, thoughtful, realistic, at times terrifying thriller that I could not put down. A terrific addition to the genre, Jack Carr and his alter-ego protagonist, James Reece, continue to blow me away' Mark Greaney 'Thrilling' Publishers Weekly Read more

BOOK 1 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorIN THE HEART OF EGYPTUNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE GODSA NEW POWER IS RISINGIn the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. The favoured son of a doting father, and ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. But behind the beautiful façades a sinister evil is plotting. Craving power and embittered by jealousy, Hui's stepmother, the great sorceress Isetnofret, and Hui's own brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui's father, condemning Hui and seizing power in the city.Cast out and alone, Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer.But soon Hui finds himself in an even greater battle - one for the very heart of Egypt itself. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned mage, Taita. Now Hui must choose his path - will he be a hero in the old world, or a master in a new kingdom?Book 1 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 7 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don't miss the rest of the epic Ancient Egyptian Series, available now.'The New Kingdom' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 05-09-2021. Read more

‘Cooper is a phenomenon’ Max Hastings, Sunday Times‘You need to read this book’ Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment**Based on the hit podcast with over 100 million downloads**The world is full of ruins. From the Colosseum of Rome to the crumbling suburbs of Detroit, the vine-wreathed temples of the Maya to the shell-pocked buildings of Bakhmut and Gaza. Each of these ruins have a different history, but they share a single truth: they are all places where, one day, the future ended.In Fall of Civilizations, historian Paul Cooper tells the stories behind our greatest civilizations, how they rose to power and what life was like for the people who witnessed their downfall. Based on the critically acclaimed podcast, this extraordinary book turns a clear eye on to humanity’s past mistakes – and whether we are doomed to repeat them.PRAISE FOR FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS 'Paul Cooper's histories of fallen civilizations are brilliantly written: clear, compelling, and ultimately chilling as we are forced to accept the lost genius of ancient cultures and the inevitable ruination of our own. Full of fascinating detail and nuanced findings, you need to read this book'  Cal Flyn, journalist and author of Islands of Abandonment 'Eminently readable... one can almost hear the spoken word as one reads. Yet Cooper has built his narrative out of close reading of the original sources... the author’s strength is his ability to evoke the physical setting of the great cities that lay at the heart of empires'  David Abulafia, Spectator 'An instructive, engaging and compelling epic which reveals the fragility of human existence: magnificent triumphs and lamentable tragedies, the civilized and the barbarian. A timely tour de force of historical storytelling' Ron Ramdin, author of The Making of the Black Working Class in Britain ‘Cooper draws parallels between fears for our own future and the colossal wrecks of fallen empires so that we may marvel at them and, perhaps, learn from them’ Tim Leach, author of The Hollow Throne  Read more

***THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*** In Peter Beinart's view, one story dominates Jewish communal life: that of persecution and victimhood. It is a story that erases much of the nuance of Jewish religious tradition and warps our understanding of Israel and Palestine. After Gaza, where Jewish texts, history and language have been deployed to justify mass slaughter and starvation, Beinart argues, Jews must tell a new story. After this war, whose horror will echo for generations, they must do nothing less than offer a new answer to the question: What does it mean to be a Jew? Beinart imagines an alternate narrative, which would draw on other nations' efforts at moral reconstruction and a different reading of Jewish tradition. A story in which Israeli Jews have the right to equality, not supremacy, and in which Jewish and Palestinian safety are not mutually exclusive but intertwined. One that recognizes the danger of venerating states at the expense of human life.Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza is a provocative argument that will expand and inform one of the defining conversations of our time. It is a book that only Peter Beinart could write: a passionate yet measured work that brings together his personal experience, his commanding grasp of history, his keen understanding of political and moral dilemmas, and a clear vision for the future. Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF 2021'Astonishing and compelling' Bernard Cornwell‘This superb book is like a classical symphony, perfectly composed and exquisitely performed’ THE TIMES Books of the Year Follow bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman – and the cutting-edge forensic techniques central to her research – as she uncovers epic stories of the Viking age and follows a small ‘Carnelian’ bead found in a Viking grave in Derbyshire to its origins thousands of miles to the east in Gujarat.‘This superb book is like a classical symphony, perfectly composed and exquisitely performed’ THE TIMES Books of the Year Dr Cat Jarman is a bioarchaeologist, specialising in forensic techniques to research the paths of Vikings who came to rest in British soil. By examining teeth that are now over one thousand years old, she can determine childhood diet, and thereby where a person was likely born. With radiocarbon dating, she can ascertain a death date down to the range of a few years. And her research offers new visions of the likely roles of women and children in Viking culture.In 2017, a carnelian bead came into her temporary possession. River Kings sees her trace its path back to eighth-century Baghdad and India, discovering along the way that the Vikings’ route was far more varied than we might think, that with them came people from the Middle East, not just Scandinavia, and that the reason for this unexpected integration between the Eastern and Western worlds may well have been a slave trade running through the Silk Road, and all the way to Britain.Told as a riveting story of the Vikings and the methods we use to understand them, this is a major reassessment of the fierce, often-mythologised voyagers of the north, and of the global medieval world as we know it. Read more

When the US Navy send their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six.SEAL Team Six is a clandestine unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue and counterinsurgency. Until recently its existence was a closely-guarded secret. Then ST6 took down Osama bin Laden, and the operatives within it were thrust into the global spotlight.In this internationally bestselling chronicle, former ST6 shooter Howard Wasdin takes readers deep inside the world of Navy SEALs and Special Forces snipers. From the inside track on the operation that killed the world's most wanted man to his own experience of the gruelling ST6 selection processes to his terrifying ordeal at the 'Black Hawk Down' battle in Somalia, Wasdin's book is one of the most explosive military memoirs in years. Read more