Non-Secondhand Books

What happened when Jane Austen's heroines and heroes were finally wed? Marriage is at the centre of Jane Austen's novels. The pursuit of husbands and wives, advantageous matches, and, of...

An engaging account of Britain's greatest painter, told through works from the Yale Center for British Art's extensive collection Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) is one of the most recognizable...

A superbly engaging guide to music around the world, from prehistory to the present Music excites and moves us perhaps more than any other art form. From a Neanderthal's bone...

The second volume in an acclaimed biography of Oliver Cromwell, from the capture of Charles I to the expulsion of the Long Parliament In 1647, the Parliamentarians were divided. They...

A major new history of North and South Korea, from the late nineteenth century to the present day Korea has a long, riveting history-it is also a divided nation. South...

An enjoyable, accessible exploration of the legacy of ancient Greece today, across our daily lives and all forms of popular culture Our contemporary world is inescapably Greek. Whether in a...

An incisive account of modern Spain, from the death of Franco to the Catalan referendum and beyond "Comprehensive and engaging."-Gideon Rachman, Financial Times Spain's transition to democracy after Franco's long...

A lively and inviting history of Belfast-exploring the highs and lows of a resilient city Modern Belfast is a beautiful city with a vibrant tradition of radicalism, industry, architectural innovation,...

A revelatory new history of Britain's industrial revolution and the exploitation that enabled it Was Britain's industrial revolution the result of its machines, which produced goods with miraculous efficiency? Was...

A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art's central role in culture today "This lively volume is ideal for the precocious high-schooler,...

A vivid new history of how medieval people around the world perceived the moon When they gazed at the moon, medieval people around the globe saw an object that was...

Longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2019 The most ambitious work of fiction by one of the world's greatest writers "In this dreamlike novel . . . amid increasingly...

A reminder that war is not always, or even generally, good for long-term growth Many believe that despite its destructive character, war ultimately boosts long-term economic growth. For the United...

"A masterpiece. . . . Nobody has done more than John Lukacs to turn the short history book into an art form."-Anthony Beevor "As gripping as any novel."-Robert Harris "A...

"A fascinating catalogue of the conditions and agency of ignorance"-Jeffrey Collins, Times Literary Supplement "A declaration of love for education"-Stefan Bauer, History Today "Dazzling . . . a deliciously knowledgeable...

The first history of childhood in Tudor England " Tudor Children is social history at its best. . . . By connecting with our own history as children, Orme invites...

"Fascinating."-Thomas W. Hodgkinson, The Guardian "Richly detailed and frequently illuminating."-Rhys Blakely, Times (UK) "Excellent."-Clare Bucknell, New Yorker A New Yorker Best of the Week Pick A provocative and original history...

How, for just over a century, Britain ensured it would not face another Napoleon Bonaparte-manipulating European powers while building a global maritime empire At the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars,...

A major new history of the two most important British secret service networks in the First and Second World Wars Intelligence gathering was essential to both sides in the First...

A lively reimagining of how the distant medieval world of war functioned, drawing on the objects used and made by crusaders Throughout the Middle Ages crusading was justified by religious...

A lively, accessible history of mathematics throughout the ages and across the globe Mathematics is fundamental to our daily lives. Science, computing, economics-all aspects of modern life rely on some...

From a widely celebrated artist, this dazzling book takes readers on a profound journey into the heart of creativity When Makoto Fujimura painted as a child, he felt a mysterious...

A compelling, authoritative account of the brilliant, conflicted, visionary world of Tudor England When Henry VII landed in a secluded bay in a far corner of Wales, it seemed inconceivable...

Historian Sarah E. Bond retells the traditional story of Ancient Rome, revealing how groups of ancient workers unified, connected, and protested as they helped build an empire From plebeians refusing...

A bold new account of Europe's plight as it faces political fracture, economic stagnation and external challenges from the U.S., China and Russia Today, Europe finds itself in a fast-changing,...

How the wisdom of Herodotus can fortify us against political falsehoods and violent extremism Nearly 2,500 years ago, the Greek writer Herodotus introduced the concept of objective truth derived from...

The true history of tattoo as both art and profession in the West There is a pervasive stereotype of tattoo culture as relating to an underworld of scoundrels, sailors, and...

The tragic story of ancient Greece's last democratic leader and his doomed fight to save Athens from Macedonian domination In the spring of 340 BCE, news arrived that Philip of...

Britain's pagan past, with its mysterious monuments, atmospheric sites, enigmatic artifacts, bloodthirsty legends, and cryptic inscriptions, is both enthralling and perplexing to a resident of the twenty-first century. In this...

A major study of the collapse of the Soviet Union-showing how Gorbachev's misguided reforms led to its demise "A deeply informed account of how the Soviet Union fell apart."-Rodric Braithwaite,...

A poem for the ages, freshly and accessibly translated by an international rising star, bringing together scholarly precision and poetic grace "Sophus Helle's new translation . . . [is] a...

Crushed by the Romans in the first century A.D., the ancient Druids of Britain left almost no reliable evidence behind. Because of this, historian Ronald Hutton shows, succeeding British generations...

A fascinating history of the piano explored through 100 pieces chosen by one of the UK's most renowned concert pianists "Tomes . . . casts her net widely, taking in...

A wonderfully readable anthology of our greatest poetry, chosen by the author of A Little History of Poetry "Does anyone know more about poetry than John Carey? Almost certainly not."-...

The first volume in a pioneering account of Oliver Cromwell-providing a major new interpretation of one of the greatest figures in history "Hutton's book is intelligent, well documented, and stylish."-Keith...

An engaging, richly illustrated account of parish churches and churchgoers in England, from the Anglo-Saxons to the mid-sixteenth century Parish churches were at the heart of English religious and social...

In a time of social distancing and isolation, a meditation on the beauty of solitude from renowned Buddhist writer Stephen Batchelor A Los Angeles Review of Books "Best of the...

A timely account of empathy, politics, and leadership, showing how greater understanding and connection can foster trust, community, and innovation Empathy has become a cliche of contemporary politics, often espoused...

Jane Eisner traces the professional accomplishments and personal challenges of pop icon Carole King, exploring her unique contribution to American music Carole King's extraordinary career has defined American popular music...

A captivating popular history that shines a light on the notorious Julio-Claudian women who forged an empire Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero-these are the names history associates with the...

A unique illustrated exploration of the development of finance that combines data from every part of the world and covers five thousand years of history "The book is a lot...

An eloquent call to draw on the lessons of the past to address current threats to international order The ancient Greeks hard-wired a tragic sensibility into their culture. By looking...

An epic account of how a new world order under Tamerlane was born out of the decline of the Mongol Empire By the mid-fourteenth century, the world empire founded by...

A masterfully researched history of Iran from 1501 to 2009 "The defiant spirit of [Iran] is brought to life in this monumental history of the past 500 years."-Richard Spencer, The...

A lively account of the history of our planet, from its earliest origins to the present day, told through the major geological changes and scientific breakthroughs Where has our planet...

The first English-language book to document the men who emerged from the gulags to become Russia's much-feared crime class: the vory v zakone Mark Galeotti is the go-to expert on...

Why have societies all across the world feared witchcraft? This book delves deeply into its context, beliefs, and origins in Europe's history "Traces the idea of witches far beyond the...

The definitive guide to the stone circles of Britain and Ireland From Stonehenge and the Ring of Brogdar to the Rollright Stones and Avebury, the British and Irish Isles are...