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History » Regional and National History

Most Recommended Books

Ionian Vision by Michael Llewellyn Smith

“The disaster that befell the city shows what can happen when people only think in terms of their own nationality, their own race and their own needs. In 1919, encouraged by British Prime Minster Lloyd George, Greece landed an army in the city”

Philip Mansel, Historian

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Molotov’s Magic Lantern by Rachel Polonsky

“Based on a chance discovery of Molotov’s library, Polonsky takes cultural allusions from Russian literary history and uses them to explain the present.”

Edward Lucas, Journalist

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War and Peace (Book) by Leo Tolstoy

“Classics of literature often seem intimidating, especially when they’re long. What’s interesting about them is that often they’re very easy reads, especially once you adjust to the language, which normally takes a few chapters. For me, War and Peace was, literally, a beach read. I read it on holiday the year I turned 19. I spent the days on the beach clutching it in the sand. At night, I stayed awake in the hut where we were staying to find out what happened next by the light of a small lamp, long after everyone else had gone to sleep and trying my best not to disturb anyone.”

Five Books,

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Making Sense of Pakistan by Farzana Shaikh

The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen

“Depending how you count, almost any nation could be portrayed as argumentative. But he uses this central theme to range over an amazing breadth of scholarship”

Kaushik Basu, Economist

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

History

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Here you'll find interviews dedicated to the history of specific countries or regions, including:

Russian history books,

Books about American history,

British history books

German history books.

    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento, recommended by Carlotta Ferrara degli Uberti

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    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento - The Nation of the Risorgimento: Kinship, Sanctity and Honour in the Origins of Unified Italy by Alberto Mario Banti

    1

    The Nation of the Risorgimento: Kinship, Sanctity and Honour in the Origins of Unified Italy
    by Alberto Mario Banti

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    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento - The Antiquity of the Italian Nation: The Cultural Origins of Political Myth in Modern Italy by Antonino De Francisco

    2

    The Antiquity of the Italian Nation: The Cultural Origins of Political Myth in Modern Italy
    by Antonino De Francisco

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    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento - Risorgimento in Exile: Italian Emigrés and the Liberal International in the Post-Napoleonic Era by Maurizio Isabella

    3

    Risorgimento in Exile: Italian Emigrés and the Liberal International in the Post-Napoleonic Era
    by Maurizio Isabella

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    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento - Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero by Lucy Riall

    4

    Garibaldi: Invention of a Hero
    by Lucy Riall

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    The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento - Monarchie et Identité Nationale en Italie (1861-1900) by Catherine Brice

    5

    Monarchie et Identité Nationale en Italie (1861-1900)
    by Catherine Brice

The best books on Italy’s Risorgimento, recommended by Carlotta Ferrara degli Uberti

Italian unification was one of the great political dramas of 19th century Europe, transforming a patchwork of territories speaking different languages into the nation-state of Italy. Here, historian Carlotta Ferrara degli Uberti discusses the people and ideas that brought it about and how its disputed legacy continues to impact Italy today.

    The best books on The Ghana, Mali and Songhai African Empires, recommended by Michael Gomez

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century by E.W. Bovill

    1

    Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century
    by E.W. Bovill

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    The best books on The Ghana - Ancient Ghana and Mali by Nehemiah Levtzion

    2

    Ancient Ghana and Mali
    by Nehemiah Levtzion

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    The best books on The Ghana - Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900 by Elias Saad

    3

    Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900
    by Elias Saad

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    The best books on The Ghana - Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples by David C. Conrad

    4

    Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples
    by David C. Conrad

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    The best books on The Ghana - Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents by John Hunwick

    5

    Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents
    by John Hunwick

The best books on The Ghana, Mali and Songhai African Empires, recommended by Michael Gomez

Long before the Europeans arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, sub-Saharan West Africa saw the emergence of a series of African empires that lasted for centuries and stretched over vast swathes of the continent. They were known as the Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires. Here, historian Michael Gomez discusses what led to their greatness, what sustained them and why they fell.

    The best books on Indian Cricket, recommended by Prashant Kidambi

  • Read
    The best books on Indian Cricket - Stray Thoughts on Indian Cricket by J M Framjee Patel

    1

    Stray Thoughts on Indian Cricket
    by J M Framjee Patel

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    The best books on Indian Cricket - History of Indian Cricket by Edward Docker

    2

    History of Indian Cricket
    by Edward Docker

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    The best books on Indian Cricket - Patrons, Players, and the Crowd: The Phenomenon of Indian Cricket by Richard Cashman

    3

    Patrons, Players, and the Crowd: The Phenomenon of Indian Cricket
    by Richard Cashman

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    The best books on Indian Cricket - A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport by Ramachandra Guha

    4

    A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport
    by Ramachandra Guha

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    The best books on Indian Cricket - Migrant Races: Empire, Identity and K.S. Ranjitsinhji by Satadru Sen

    5

    Migrant Races: Empire, Identity and K.S. Ranjitsinhji
    by Satadru Sen

The best books on Indian Cricket, recommended by Prashant Kidambi

South Asia has become the beating heart of cricket, with wild enthusiasm for the game at every level of society. Historian Prashant Kidambi—whose book, Cricket Country, was shortlisted for the 2020 Wolfson History Prize—takes us through the history of cricket in India, from its traditional, colonial roots through to the colourful, frenetic national game of today.

    The best books on The Silk Road, recommended by Valerie Hansen

  • Read
    The best books on The Silk Road - The Silk Road: A New History by Valerie Hansen

    1

    The Silk Road: A New History
    by Valerie Hansen

  • Read
    The best books on The Silk Road - Sogdian Traders: A History Étienne de la Vaissière (trans. James Ward)

    2

    Sogdian Traders: A History
    Étienne de la Vaissière (trans. James Ward)

  • Read
    The best books on The Silk Road - Diary: Record of a Pilgrimage to China in Search of the Law Ennin (trans. E O Reischauer)

    3

    Diary: Record of a Pilgrimage to China in Search of the Law
    Ennin (trans. E O Reischauer)

  • Read
    The best books on The Silk Road - Foreign Devils on the Silk Road by Peter Hopkirk

    4

    Foreign Devils on the Silk Road
    by Peter Hopkirk

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    The best books on The Silk Road - Silk Roads: Peoples, Cultures, Landscapes by Susan Whitfield

    5

    Silk Roads: Peoples, Cultures, Landscapes
    by Susan Whitfield

The best books on The Silk Road, recommended by Valerie Hansen

From the Han dynasty to the time of Marco Polo, the routes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe—now known as the Silk Road—were responsible for enormous amounts of global trade. Yale historian Valerie Hansen, author of The Silk Road: A New History, introduces us to its rich history: “one of the reasons the Silk Road is a misnomer is that silk was not the main good moving along.”

    The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Lynn Hunt

  • Read
    The best books on The French Revolution - The Ancien Régime and the Revolution by Alexis de Tocqueville

    1

    The Ancien Régime and the Revolution
    by Alexis de Tocqueville

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    The best books on The French Revolution - Interpreting the French Revolution by François Furet

    2

    Interpreting the French Revolution
    by François Furet

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    The best books on The French Revolution - Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution by Simon Schama

    3

    Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution
    by Simon Schama

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    The best books on The French Revolution - Twelve Who Ruled by RR Palmer

    4

    Twelve Who Ruled
    by RR Palmer

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    The best books on The French Revolution - The New Regime by Isser Woloch

    5

    The New Regime
    by Isser Woloch

The best books on The French Revolution, recommended by Lynn Hunt

It’s a revolution that still resonates and yet it resists easy interpretation. Lynn Hunt, a leading historian of the French Revolution, tells us what the events of 1789 and later years really meant, and what relevance they have for us today.

    The best books on Soviet Law, recommended by Stephen Lucas

  • Read
    The best books on Soviet Law - Soviet Workers and the Collapse of Perestroika by Donald Filtzer

    1

    Soviet Workers and the Collapse of Perestroika
    by Donald Filtzer

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    The best books on Soviet Law - Lenin's Tomb by David Remnick

    2

    Lenin's Tomb
    by David Remnick

  • Read
    The best books on Soviet Law - The Socialist Offensive by R W Davies

    3

    The Socialist Offensive
    by R W Davies

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    The best books on Soviet Law - Communists and Their Law by John N Hazard

    4

    Communists and Their Law
    by John N Hazard

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    The best books on Soviet Law - The History of International Law in Russia 1647-1917 by V E Grabar

    5

    The History of International Law in Russia 1647-1917
    by V E Grabar

The best books on Soviet Law, recommended by Stephen Lucas

Dr Stephen Lucas is a partner in the banking group of an international law firm, Linklaters LLP and a student of Soviet law. He recommends books on communist legislation in the former USSR

    The best books on American History, recommended by Brent Glass

  • Read
    The best books on American History - The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough

    1

    The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
    by David McCullough

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    The best books on American History - Wilderness At Dawn: The Settling of the North American Continent by Ted Morgan

    2

    Wilderness At Dawn: The Settling of the North American Continent
    by Ted Morgan

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    The best books on American History - The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner

    3

    The Story of American Freedom
    by Eric Foner

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    The best books on American History - This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust

    4

    This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
    by Drew Gilpin Faust

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    The best books on American History - In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides

    5

    In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
    by Hampton Sides

The best books on American History, recommended by Brent Glass

Which are the best books on American history? Brent Glass, Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the world’s largest museum devoted to telling the story of America, chooses five standout books in a crowded field.

    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States, recommended by Norman Davies

  • Read
    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States - The Last King of Poland by Adam Zamoyski

    1

    The Last King of Poland
    by Adam Zamoyski

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    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States - Iron Kingdom: the Rise and Downfall of Prussia 1600-1947 by Christopher Clark

    2

    Iron Kingdom: the Rise and Downfall of Prussia 1600-1947
    by Christopher Clark

  • Read
    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States - The Mediterranean in History by David Abulafia

    3

    The Mediterranean in History
    by David Abulafia

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    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States - The Goths by Peter Heather

    4

    The Goths
    by Peter Heather

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    The best books on Europe’s Vanished States - Realm of the Black Mountain by Elizabeth Roberts

    5

    Realm of the Black Mountain
    by Elizabeth Roberts

The best books on Europe’s Vanished States, recommended by Norman Davies

The rise of China means the study of its history is suddenly in vogue. But, says historian Norman Davies, there’s as much to learn, if not more, from looking at states that have disappeared

    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China, recommended by Rana Mitter

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    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China - Call to Arms by Lu Xun

    1

    Call to Arms
    by Lu Xun

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    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China - Two Kinds of Time by Graham Peck

    2

    Two Kinds of Time
    by Graham Peck

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    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China - Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

    3

    Life and Death in Shanghai
    by Nien Cheng

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    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China - Deathsong of the River by Su Xiaokang and Wang Luxiang

    4

    Deathsong of the River
    by Su Xiaokang and Wang Luxiang

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    The best books on 100 Years of Modern China - The End of the Revolution by Wang Hui

    5

    The End of the Revolution
    by Wang Hui

The best books on 100 Years of Modern China, recommended by Rana Mitter

In October 1911, China’s last imperial dynasty fell. The legacy of that revolution remains deeply ambiguous in today’s People’s Republic. China scholar Rana Mitter tells us about the country’s tumultuous changes from 1911 to the present day.

    The best books on The Spanish Civil War, recommended by Paul Preston

  • Read
    The best books on The Spanish Civil War - The Spanish Civil War by Helen Graham

    1

    The Spanish Civil War
    by Helen Graham

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    The best books on The Spanish Civil War - Life and Death of the Spanish Republic by Henry Buckley

    2

    Life and Death of the Spanish Republic
    by Henry Buckley

  • Read
    The best books on The Spanish Civil War - The Assassination of Federico García Lorca by Ian Gibson

    3

    The Assassination of Federico García Lorca
    by Ian Gibson

  • Read
    The best books on The Spanish Civil War - Guernica! Guernica! by Herbert R Southworth

    4

    Guernica! Guernica!
    by Herbert R Southworth

  • Read
    The best books on The Spanish Civil War - The Spanish Civil War by Hugh Thomas

    5

    The Spanish Civil War
    by Hugh Thomas

The best books on The Spanish Civil War, recommended by Paul Preston

It was a bloody conflict that divided Spain and drew in Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini. Later, it inspired great works of art and literature. An eminent historian of the period tells us why it continues to fascinate him

    The best books on The Russian Revolution, recommended by Roland Chambers

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - Six Weeks in Russia in 1919 by Arthur Ransome

    1

    Six Weeks in Russia in 1919
    by Arthur Ransome

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution by Orlando Figes

    2

    A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution
    by Orlando Figes

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - The Debate on Soviet Power by John LH Keep (editor and translator)

    3

    The Debate on Soviet Power
    by John LH Keep (editor and translator)

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - Lenin in Zurich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

    4

    Lenin in Zurich
    by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  • Read
    The best books on The Russian Revolution - History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky

    5

    History of the Russian Revolution
    by Leon Trotsky

The best books on The Russian Revolution, recommended by Roland Chambers

The Russian revolution was the beginning of the modern age, says award-winning author Roland Chambers. He tells us what Solzhenitsyn imagined Lenin was like, and about the children’s author who led a double life as a spy in Bolshevik Russia.

    The best books on Iranian History, recommended by Ali Ansari

  • Read
    The best books on Iranian History - Khomeinism by Ervand Abrahamian

    1

    Khomeinism
    by Ervand Abrahamian

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    The best books on Iranian History - The Turban for the Crown by Said Amir Arjomand

    2

    The Turban for the Crown
    by Said Amir Arjomand

  • Read
    The best books on Iranian History - Sketches of Persia by Sir John Malcolm

    3

    Sketches of Persia
    by Sir John Malcolm

  • Read
    The best books on Iranian History - Shahnameh by Abolqasem Ferdowsi, abridged and translated by Dick Davis

    4

    Shahnameh
    by Abolqasem Ferdowsi, abridged and translated by Dick Davis

  • Read
    The best books on Iranian History - The Persian Revolution of 1905-1909 by Edward Granville Browne

    5

    The Persian Revolution of 1905-1909
    by Edward Granville Browne

The best books on Iranian History, recommended by Ali Ansari

A better understanding of Iran starts with a better understanding of the country’s history. Historian Ali Ansari talks us through some of the most influential works about Iranian history available in English.

    The best books on Putin and Russian History, recommended by Edward Lucas

  • Read
    The best books on Putin and Russian History - It Was a Long Time Ago, and It Never Happened Anyway by David Satter

    1

    It Was a Long Time Ago, and It Never Happened Anyway
    by David Satter

  • Read
    The best books on Putin and Russian History - Internal Colonization by Alexander Etkind

    2

    Internal Colonization
    by Alexander Etkind

  • Read
    The best books on Putin and Russian History - The Man Without a Face by Masha Gessen

    3

    The Man Without a Face
    by Masha Gessen

  • Read
    The best books on Putin and Russian History - Molotov’s Magic Lantern by Rachel Polonsky

    4

    Molotov’s Magic Lantern
    by Rachel Polonsky

  • Read
    The best books on Putin and Russian History - Let Our Fame Be Great: Journeys Among the Defiant People of the Caucasus by Oliver Bullough

    5

    Let Our Fame Be Great: Journeys Among the Defiant People of the Caucasus
    by Oliver Bullough

The best books on Putin and Russian History, recommended by Edward Lucas

Journalist and author Edward Lucas gives an excoriating critique of Putinism and explains how Russia’s amoral present is rooted in a failure to come to terms with its past.

    The best books on Modern Irish History, recommended by Richard Bourke

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce

    1

    A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man
    by James Joyce

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    The best books on Modern Irish History - Modern Ireland: 1600-1972 by Roy Foster

    2

    Modern Ireland: 1600-1972
    by Roy Foster

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - War and an Irish Town by Eamonn McCann

    3

    War and an Irish Town
    by Eamonn McCann

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - States of Ireland by Conor Cruise O’Brien

    4

    States of Ireland
    by Conor Cruise O’Brien

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - Celtic Revivals: Essays in Modern Irish Literature by Seamus Deane

    5

    Celtic Revivals: Essays in Modern Irish Literature
    by Seamus Deane

The best books on Modern Irish History, recommended by Richard Bourke

A “powerful and aggravating absence of consensus” came to define the Irish political experience, says the historian Richard Bourke. Here he picks the best books for gaining a range of perspectives on Irish history, singling out James Joyce as offering insight into the divergence of nationalist opinion.

    The best books on The Arabs, recommended by Eugene Rogan

  • Read
    The best books on The Arabs - Travel in Syria and the Holy Land by John Lewis Burckhardt

    1

    Travel in Syria and the Holy Land
    by John Lewis Burckhardt

  • Read
    The best books on The Arabs - An Imam in Paris by Rifa'a Rafi' al-Tahtawi & translated and introduced by Daniel L Newman

    2

    An Imam in Paris
    by Rifa'a Rafi' al-Tahtawi & translated and introduced by Daniel L Newman

  • Read
    The best books on The Arabs - One Palestine, Complete by Tom Segev

    3

    One Palestine, Complete
    by Tom Segev

  • Read
    The best books on The Arabs - Pity the Nation by Robert Fisk

    4

    Pity the Nation
    by Robert Fisk

  • Read
    The best books on The Arabs - A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani

    5

    A History of the Arab Peoples
    by Albert Hourani

The best books on The Arabs, recommended by Eugene Rogan

Eugene Rogan is Director of the Middle East Centre at Oxford University. His research focuses on the social and economic history of the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire and the Arab states in the 20th century.

    The best books on The History of Iraq, recommended by Kanan Makiya

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Iraq - The Shi’is of Iraq by Yitzhak Nakash

    1

    The Shi’is of Iraq
    by Yitzhak Nakash

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Iraq - The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq by Hanna Batatu

    2

    The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movement in Iraq
    by Hanna Batatu

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Iraq - Iraq Since 1958 by Marion Farouk-Sluglett & Peter Sluglett

    3

    Iraq Since 1958
    by Marion Farouk-Sluglett & Peter Sluglett

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Iraq - The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy Mottahedeh

    4

    The Mantle of the Prophet
    by Roy Mottahedeh

  • Read
    The best books on The History of Iraq - The Forever War by Dexter Filkins

    5

    The Forever War
    by Dexter Filkins

The best books on The History of Iraq, recommended by Kanan Makiya

The Iraqi democracy and civil rights campaigner says the Iran-Iraq war is one of the single largest unappreciated great events of modern Middle Eastern history. He chooses the best books on Iraqi history.

    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity, recommended by Mani Shankar Aiyar

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity - Pakistan by Khalid bin Sayeed

    1

    Pakistan
    by Khalid bin Sayeed

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity - A Journey to Disillusionment by Sherbaz Khan Mazari

    2

    A Journey to Disillusionment
    by Sherbaz Khan Mazari

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity - The Idea of Pakistan by Stephen Philip Cohen

    3

    The Idea of Pakistan
    by Stephen Philip Cohen

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity - Making Sense of Pakistan by Farzana Shaikh

    4

    Making Sense of Pakistan
    by Farzana Shaikh

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity - Tinderbox by MJ Akbar

    5

    Tinderbox
    by MJ Akbar

The best books on Pakistan’s History and Identity, recommended by Mani Shankar Aiyar

India’s first-ever consul general to Karachi says Pakistan is not a failed state. He is convinced that its middle class will save it from the Taliban, and that it can engage with India and set aside historic hostilities.

    The best books on Belgium, recommended by Martin Conway

  • Read
    The best books on Belgium - The Sorrow of Belgium by Hugo Claus

    1

    The Sorrow of Belgium
    by Hugo Claus

  • Read
    The best books on Belgium - Belgium and the Congo, 1885-1980 by Guy Vanthemsche

    2

    Belgium and the Congo, 1885-1980
    by Guy Vanthemsche

  • Read
    The best books on Belgium - King Ottokar’s Sceptre by Hergé

    3

    King Ottokar’s Sceptre
    by Hergé

  • Read
    The best books on Belgium - The Legacy of Nazi Occupation: Patriotic Memory and National Recovery in Western Europe, 1945-1965 by Pieter Lagrou

    4

    The Legacy of Nazi Occupation: Patriotic Memory and National Recovery in Western Europe, 1945-1965
    by Pieter Lagrou

  • Read
    The best books on Belgium - Souvenirs Pieux (Dear Departed) by Marguerite Yourcenar

    5

    Souvenirs Pieux (Dear Departed)
    by Marguerite Yourcenar

The best books on Belgium, recommended by Martin Conway

With a keen awareness of the vicissitudes of history and an ironic sense of national identity, Belgium is a country others could learn a lot from. Historian Martin Conway recommends some books to better understand Belgium/België/Belgique.

    The best books on Turkish History, recommended by Norman Stone

  • Read
    The best books on Turkish History - Levant by Philip Mansel

    1

    Levant
    by Philip Mansel

  • Read
    The best books on Turkish History - The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin

    2

    The Bellini Card
    by Jason Goodwin

  • Read
    The best books on Turkish History - Turkey: A Short History by Norman Stone

    3

    Turkey: A Short History
    by Norman Stone

  • Read
    The best books on Turkish History - Ionian Vision by Michael Llewellyn Smith

    4

    Ionian Vision
    by Michael Llewellyn Smith

  • Read
    The best books on Turkish History - Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga

    5

    Portrait of a Turkish Family
    by Irfan Orga

The best books on Turkish History, recommended by Norman Stone

Turkey is rediscovering its Ottoman past, says the British professor living in Ankara. He picks five books for compelling insights into Turkish history.

    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide, recommended by Thomas de Waal

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - My Grandmother by Fethiye Cetin

    1

    My Grandmother
    by Fethiye Cetin

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan by Aram Haigaz

    2

    Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan
    by Aram Haigaz

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Burning Orchards by Gurgen Mahari

    3

    Burning Orchards
    by Gurgen Mahari

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Song of America by George M. Mardikian

    4

    Song of America
    by George M. Mardikian

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen by Leon Surmelian

    5

    I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen
    by Leon Surmelian

Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide, recommended by Thomas de Waal

More than 100 years after the Armenian genocide, author Tom de Waal chooses books that sidestep the politics and bring us back to the human story. He picks the best memoirs of the Armenian genocide.

    The best books on Jewish History, recommended by Gershon Hundert

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish History - Border Lines by Daniel Boyarin

    1

    Border Lines
    by Daniel Boyarin

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish History - Between Muslim and Jew by Steven Wasserstrom

    2

    Between Muslim and Jew
    by Steven Wasserstrom

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish History - The Compunctious Poet by Ross Brann

    3

    The Compunctious Poet
    by Ross Brann

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish History - Two Nations in Your Womb by Israel Jacob Yuval

    4

    Two Nations in Your Womb
    by Israel Jacob Yuval

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish History - Founder of Hasidism by Murray Jay Rosman

    5

    Founder of Hasidism
    by Murray Jay Rosman

The best books on Jewish History, recommended by Gershon Hundert

Gershon Hundert, Leanor Segal Professor of Jewish Studies at McGill University, talks about recent revisions to the conventional understanding of Jewish history and selects the most influential current writing on the subject.

    The best books on New England, recommended by Mark Peterson

  • Read
    The best books on New England - The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century by Perry Miller

    1

    The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century
    by Perry Miller

  • Read
    The best books on New England - Complete Writings by Phillis Wheatley

    2

    Complete Writings
    by Phillis Wheatley

  • Read
    The best books on New England - A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

    3

    A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
    by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

  • Read
    The best books on New England - The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

    4

    The House of the Seven Gables
    by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Read
    The best books on New England - Walden by Henry David Thoreau

    5

    Walden
    by Henry David Thoreau

The best books on New England, recommended by Mark Peterson

New England: it’s the northeastern-most region of the United States, encompasses six states, is slightly larger than England itself, and half of it is rural, remote Maine. Yale Professor Mark Peterson introduces us to the rich history of New England, going back to its Puritan roots and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque, recommended by Ruth Harris

  • Read
    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque - The Dreyfus Affair: J’accuse and other writings by Emile Zola

    1

    The Dreyfus Affair: J’accuse and other writings
    by Emile Zola

  • Read
    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque - Cyrano de Bergerac by Anthony Burgess (translator) & Edmund Rostand

    2

    Cyrano de Bergerac
    by Anthony Burgess (translator) & Edmund Rostand

  • Read
    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque - Stone’s Fall by Iain Pears

    3

    Stone’s Fall
    by Iain Pears

  • Read
    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque - The Unknown Matisse by Hilary Spurling

    4

    The Unknown Matisse
    by Hilary Spurling

  • Read
    The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque - The Guns of August by Barbara W Tuchman

    5

    The Guns of August
    by Barbara W Tuchman

The best books on The Dreyfus Affair and the Belle Epoque, recommended by Ruth Harris

The Belle Epoque combined a preoccupation with the noblesse of the old regime with the seeds for modernism, says Oxford history professor Ruth Harris, author of an award-winning book on the Dreyfus affair. She picks the best books on a golden period in France before the outbreak of World War I.

    The best books on Oliver Cromwell, recommended by John Morrill

  • Read
    The best books on Oliver Cromwell - Cromwell Our Chief of Men by Antonia Fraser

    1

    Cromwell Our Chief of Men
    by Antonia Fraser

  • Read
    The best books on Oliver Cromwell - Oliver Cromwell by Barry Coward

    2

    Oliver Cromwell
    by Barry Coward

  • Read
    The best books on Oliver Cromwell - God’s Executioner by Micheál Ó Siochrú

    3

    God’s Executioner
    by Micheál Ó Siochrú

  • Read
    The best books on Oliver Cromwell - Oliver Cromwell: New Perspectives by Patrick Little

    4

    Oliver Cromwell: New Perspectives
    by Patrick Little

  • Read
    The best books on Oliver Cromwell - Cromwell’s Head by Jonathan Fitzgibbons

    5

    Cromwell’s Head
    by Jonathan Fitzgibbons

The best books on Oliver Cromwell, recommended by John Morrill

The professor of history at Cambridge asks why Oliver Cromwell remains Britain’s most controversial ruler, and what the morbid story of Cromwell’s head after his death has to say about British history.

    The best books on The Dutch Masters, recommended by Adam Eaker

  • Read
    The best books on The Dutch Masters - Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy by Mark Doty

    1

    Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy
    by Mark Doty

  • Read
    The best books on The Dutch Masters - The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age by Simon Schama

    2

    The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age
    by Simon Schama

  • Read
    The best books on The Dutch Masters - Vermeer by Lawrence Gowing

    3

    Vermeer
    by Lawrence Gowing

  • Read
    The best books on The Dutch Masters - Rembrandt's Enterprise: The Studio and the Market by Svetlana Alpers

    4

    Rembrandt's Enterprise: The Studio and the Market
    by Svetlana Alpers

  • Read
    The best books on The Dutch Masters - Art of the Everyday: Dutch Painting and the Realist Novel by Ruth Bernard Yeazell

    5

    Art of the Everyday: Dutch Painting and the Realist Novel
    by Ruth Bernard Yeazell

The best books on The Dutch Masters, recommended by Adam Eaker

The past may be a foreign country, but the world portrayed in the art of the Dutch Masters is not so very far from our own, says Adam Eaker of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For a society that struggles with materialism and consumption, there are a lot of lessons to be learnt from the 17th century Golden Age.

    The best books on The Glorious Revolution, recommended by Steven Pincus

  • Read
    The best books on The Glorious Revolution - The History of England from the Accession of James II by Thomas Babington Macaulay

    1

    The History of England from the Accession of James II
    by Thomas Babington Macaulay

  • Read
    The best books on The Glorious Revolution - The English Revolution 1688-1689 by GM Trevelyan

    2

    The English Revolution 1688-1689
    by GM Trevelyan

  • Read
    The best books on The Glorious Revolution - The Revolution of 1688 in England by JR Jones

    3

    The Revolution of 1688 in England
    by JR Jones

  • Read
    The best books on The Glorious Revolution - The Anglo-Dutch Moment by Jonathan Israel

    4

    The Anglo-Dutch Moment
    by Jonathan Israel

  • Read
    The best books on The Glorious Revolution - Merchants and Revolution by Robert Brenner

    5

    Merchants and Revolution
    by Robert Brenner

The best books on The Glorious Revolution, recommended by Steven Pincus

When William of Orange came from Holland to take the English throne in 1688, was it a foreign invasion, or a revolution from within? Yale historian, Steven Pincus, talks us through the conflicting views on the Glorious Revolution and argues for a new perspective.

    The best books on Jacobitism, recommended by Murray Pittock

  • Read
    The best books on Jacobitism - English Society 1660-1832 by Jonathan Clark

    1

    English Society 1660-1832
    by Jonathan Clark

  • Read
    The best books on Jacobitism - The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1715-1754 by Romney Sedgwick ed.

    2

    The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1715-1754
    by Romney Sedgwick ed.

  • Read
    The best books on Jacobitism - Jacobitism and the English People, 1688-1788 by Paul Monod

    3

    Jacobitism and the English People, 1688-1788
    by Paul Monod

  • Read
    The best books on Jacobitism - 1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion by Daniel Szechi

    4

    1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion
    by Daniel Szechi

  • Read
    The best books on Jacobitism - France and the Jacobite Rising of 1745 by Frank McLynn

    5

    France and the Jacobite Rising of 1745
    by Frank McLynn

The best books on Jacobitism, recommended by Murray Pittock

The failure of the Stuarts to win back the English or Scottish throne changed the course of history, enabling the buildup of a highly centralized British state and, possibly, America’s war for independence. Murray Pittock chooses the best books on Jacobitism, the 18th century phenomenon that nearly overthrew the British government.

    The best books on Minority Survival in China, recommended by James Palmer

  • Read
    The best books on Minority Survival in China - The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia by James C Scott

    1

    The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia
    by James C Scott

  • Read
    The best books on Minority Survival in China - The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China by Mark C Elliott

    2

    The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China
    by Mark C Elliott

  • Read
    The best books on Minority Survival in China - Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong

    3

    Wolf Totem
    by Jiang Rong

  • Read
    The best books on Minority Survival in China - The Sacred Routes of Uyghur History by Rian Thum

    4

    The Sacred Routes of Uyghur History
    by Rian Thum

  • Read
    The best books on Minority Survival in China - Forgotten Kingdom: Lijiang and the Naxi People by Peter Goullart

    5

    Forgotten Kingdom: Lijiang and the Naxi People
    by Peter Goullart

The best books on Minority Survival in China, recommended by James Palmer

China’s minority peoples have shaped the country’s history and its identity. They led its most successful dynasty, the Qing. But nowadays, their role has been reduced to that of tourist spectacle. Beijing-based writer James Palmer picks the best books on China’s ethnic minorities.

    The best books on Europe, recommended by Philippe Legrain

  • Read
    The best books on Europe - Europe: A History by Norman Davies

    1

    Europe: A History
    by Norman Davies

  • Read
    The best books on Europe - In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century by Geert Mak

    2

    In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century
    by Geert Mak

  • Read
    The best books on Europe - Unhappy Union: How the euro crisis – and Europe – can be fixed by John Peet and Anton La Guardia

    3

    Unhappy Union: How the euro crisis – and Europe – can be fixed
    by John Peet and Anton La Guardia

  • Read
    The best books on Europe - The In/Out Question by Hugo Dixon

    4

    The In/Out Question
    by Hugo Dixon

  • Read
    The best books on Europe - Identity and Violence by Amartya Sen

    5

    Identity and Violence
    by Amartya Sen

The best books on Europe, recommended by Philippe Legrain

Europe should be run for all Europeans and not just the French and German banks, argues the author of European Spring, Philippe Legrain. He recommends the best books on Europe.

    The best books on Romani History and Culture, recommended by Yaron Matras

  • Read
    The best books on Romani History and Culture - New Soviet Gypsies by Brigid O'Keeffe

    1

    New Soviet Gypsies
    by Brigid O'Keeffe

  • Read
    The best books on Romani History and Culture - The Gypsy Menace by Michael Stewart (editor)

    2

    The Gypsy Menace
    by Michael Stewart (editor)

  • Read
    The best books on Romani History and Culture - The Gypsies of Early Modern Spain by Richard Pym

    3

    The Gypsies of Early Modern Spain
    by Richard Pym

  • Read
    The best books on Romani History and Culture - Romani Routes by Carol Silverman

    4

    Romani Routes
    by Carol Silverman

  • Read
    The best books on Romani History and Culture - Exploring Gypsiness by Ada Engebrigsten

    5

    Exploring Gypsiness
    by Ada Engebrigsten

The best books on Romani History and Culture, recommended by Yaron Matras

Their language indicates they originated in India, but the music they play is world music. Some will tell your fortune but they don't believe in supernatural powers. Yaron Matras recommends the best books and dispels some common myths about Gypsies.

    The Best London Books, recommended by Peter Ackroyd

  • Read
    The Best London Books - A Survey of London: Written in the Year 1598 by John Stow

    1

    A Survey of London: Written in the Year 1598
    by John Stow

  • Read
    The Best London Books - Bleak House by Charles Dickens

    2

    Bleak House
    by Charles Dickens

  • Read
    The Best London Books - Prehistoric London: Its Mounds and Circles by EO Gordon

    3

    Prehistoric London: Its Mounds and Circles
    by EO Gordon

  • Read
    The Best London Books - The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys

    4

    The Diary of Samuel Pepys
    by Samuel Pepys

  • Read
    The Best London Books - London: A Pilgrimage by Blanchard Jerrold and Gustave Doré

    5

    London: A Pilgrimage
    by Blanchard Jerrold and Gustave Doré

The Best London Books, recommended by Peter Ackroyd

The historian and biographer of London Peter Ackroyd picks five books that shine a light on parts of this vast, complex and confusing city where, he says, pathos and pantomime meet.

    The best books on American Presidents, recommended by H W Brands

  • Read
    The best books on American Presidents - Washington by Douglas Southall Freeman

    1

    Washington
    by Douglas Southall Freeman

  • Read
    The best books on American Presidents - Life of Andrew Jackson by James Parton

    2

    Life of Andrew Jackson
    by James Parton

  • Read
    The best books on American Presidents - Abraham Lincoln by John Hay & John Nicolay

    3

    Abraham Lincoln
    by John Hay & John Nicolay

  • Read
    The best books on American Presidents - The Crisis of the Old Order by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

    4

    The Crisis of the Old Order
    by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

  • Read
    The best books on American Presidents - The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume I by Robert A. Caro

    5

    The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume I
    by Robert A. Caro

The best books on American Presidents, recommended by H W Brands

The best presidential biographies contain insights into both the personal and the political, says the historian HW Brands. He chooses the best biographies of some of the greatest American presidents.

    The best books on Pakistan, Partition and Identity, recommended by Iftikhar Malik

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Making Sense of Pakistan by Farzana Shaikh

    1

    Making Sense of Pakistan
    by Farzana Shaikh

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Jinnah by Jaswant Singh

    2

    Jinnah
    by Jaswant Singh

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - What The Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin

    3

    What The Body Remembers
    by Shauna Singh Baldwin

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - The Tiger Claw by Shauna Singh Baldwin

    4

    The Tiger Claw
    by Shauna Singh Baldwin

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - We Are Not in Pakistan by Shauna Singh Baldwin

    5

    We Are Not in Pakistan
    by Shauna Singh Baldwin

The best books on Pakistan, Partition and Identity, recommended by Iftikhar Malik

The Pakistani author and professor describes the past and future of Pakistan, the influences of India, Britain, the US and Islam, via two seminal non-fiction works and three sweeping Pakistani works of fiction

    The best books on The US Constitution, recommended by Jack Rakove

  • Read
    The best books on The US Constitution - Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 by Gordon S. Wood

    1

    Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787
    by Gordon S. Wood

  • Read
    The best books on The US Constitution - Novus Ordo Seclorum by Forrest McDonald

    2

    Novus Ordo Seclorum
    by Forrest McDonald

  • Read
    The best books on The US Constitution - Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beeman

    3

    Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution
    by Richard Beeman

  • Read
    The best books on The US Constitution - A Revolution in Favor of Government by Max M Edling

    4

    A Revolution in Favor of Government
    by Max M Edling

  • Read
    The best books on The US Constitution - Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788 by Pauline Maier

    5

    Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788
    by Pauline Maier

The best books on The US Constitution, recommended by Jack Rakove

The Pulitzer prize-winning history professor tells us how the Constitution came to be written and ratified and explains why, after more than 200 years, Americans are still so deeply wedded to it.

    The best books on Atlantic History, recommended by Bernard Bailyn

  • Read
    The best books on Atlantic History - Atlantic History by Bernard Bailyn

    1

    Atlantic History
    by Bernard Bailyn

  • Read
    The best books on Atlantic History - Empires of the Atlantic World by JH Elliott

    2

    Empires of the Atlantic World
    by JH Elliott

  • Read
    The best books on Atlantic History - Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave Trade by David Eltis and David Richardson

    3

    Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
    by David Eltis and David Richardson

  • Read
    The best books on Atlantic History - The British Atlantic World, 1500-1800 by David Armitage and Michael J Braddick (editors)

    4

    The British Atlantic World, 1500-1800
    by David Armitage and Michael J Braddick (editors)

  • Read
    The best books on Atlantic History - Soundings in Atlantic History by Bernard Bailyn (editor)

    5

    Soundings in Atlantic History
    by Bernard Bailyn (editor)

The best books on Atlantic History, recommended by Bernard Bailyn

Harvard professor and Pulitzer prize-winning historian Bernard Bailyn recommends reading on three centuries of empire, conflict and slave trading between the Americas, Europe and Africa

    The best books on The Levant, recommended by Philip Mansel

  • Read
    The best books on The Levant - Travels in Greece and Turkey by Lord Charlemont

    1

    Travels in Greece and Turkey
    by Lord Charlemont

  • Read
    The best books on The Levant - Bright Levant by Laurence Grafftey-Smith

    2

    Bright Levant
    by Laurence Grafftey-Smith

  • Read
    The best books on The Levant - Complete Poems by CP Cavafy

    3

    Complete Poems
    by CP Cavafy

  • Read
    The best books on The Levant - Alexandria by Michael Haag

    4

    Alexandria
    by Michael Haag

  • Read
    The best books on The Levant - Ionian Vision by Michael Llewellyn Smith

    5

    Ionian Vision
    by Michael Llewellyn Smith

The best books on The Levant, recommended by Philip Mansel

Before the era of nation states, the great Levantine cities of Beirut, Alexandria and Smyrna experienced a golden age, as the author of Levant, Philip Mansel, explains

    The best books on Understanding Pakistan, recommended by Anatol Lieven

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding Pakistan - Toba Tek Singh by Saadat Hasan Manto

    1

    Toba Tek Singh
    by Saadat Hasan Manto

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding Pakistan - In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin

    2

    In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
    by Daniyal Mueenuddin

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding Pakistan - Pakistan by Ian Talbot

    3

    Pakistan
    by Ian Talbot

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding Pakistan - Pakistan in the Twentieth Century by Lawrence Ziring

    4

    Pakistan in the Twentieth Century
    by Lawrence Ziring

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding Pakistan - Frontier of Faith by Sana Haroon

    5

    Frontier of Faith
    by Sana Haroon

The best books on Understanding Pakistan, recommended by Anatol Lieven

For all its problems, Pakistan is not a failed state, says the academic and writer. He recommends what to read if we’re to grasp the nuances of this complex and potentially explosive nation

    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers, recommended by Colin Calloway

  • Read
    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers - 1491 by Charles C Mann

    1

    1491
    by Charles C Mann

  • Read
    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers - The Columbian Exchange by Alfred W Crosby Jr

    2

    The Columbian Exchange
    by Alfred W Crosby Jr

  • Read
    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers - Custer Died for Your Sins by Vine Deloria Jr

    3

    Custer Died for Your Sins
    by Vine Deloria Jr

  • Read
    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers - The Invasion of America by Francis Jennings

    4

    The Invasion of America
    by Francis Jennings

  • Read
    The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers - The Middle Ground by Richard White

    5

    The Middle Ground
    by Richard White

The best books on Native Americans and Colonisers, recommended by Colin Calloway

There’s a lot more to the story of colonists and Native Americans than the tale of the first Thanksgiving taught in school, says history professor Colin Calloway.

    The best books on Pakistan, recommended by Bruce Riedel

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Reconciliation by Benazir Bhutto

    1

    Reconciliation
    by Benazir Bhutto

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Crossed Swords by Shuja Nawaz

    2

    Crossed Swords
    by Shuja Nawaz

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Pakistan Between Mosque and Military by Husain Haqqani

    3

    Pakistan Between Mosque and Military
    by Husain Haqqani

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Military Inc by Ayesha Siddiqa

    4

    Military Inc
    by Ayesha Siddiqa

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - In the Line of Fire by Pervez Musharraf

    5

    In the Line of Fire
    by Pervez Musharraf

The best books on Pakistan, recommended by Bruce Riedel

Presidential adviser on Middle East and South Asian issues, former CIA officer and bestselling author chooses five books which explore the critical situation in Pakistan

    The best books on India, recommended by Mark Tully

  • Read
    The best books on India - Kim by Rudyard Kipling

    1

    Kim
    by Rudyard Kipling

  • Read
    The best books on India - The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen

    2

    The Argumentative Indian
    by Amartya Sen

  • Read
    The best books on India - Bhowani Junction by John Masters

    3

    Bhowani Junction
    by John Masters

  • Read
    The best books on India - Raag Darbari by Shrilal Shukla (translated by Gillian Wright)

    4

    Raag Darbari
    by Shrilal Shukla (translated by Gillian Wright)

  • Read
    The best books on India - The English Teacher by RK Narayan

    5

    The English Teacher
    by RK Narayan

The best books on India, recommended by Mark Tully

The veteran journalist, who has lived in India for most of his life, talks about the country’s new-found self-confidence and recommends books to better understand its history and complexities

    The best books on The Regency Period, recommended by Stella Tillyard

  • Read
    The best books on The Regency Period - War and Peace (Book) by Leo Tolstoy

    1

    War and Peace (Book)
    by Leo Tolstoy

  • Read
    The best books on The Regency Period - Frankenstein (Book) by Mary Shelley

    2

    Frankenstein (Book)
    by Mary Shelley

  • Read
    The best books on The Regency Period - Emma by Jane Austen

    3

    Emma
    by Jane Austen

  • Read
    The best books on The Regency Period - Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

    4

    Vanity Fair
    by William Makepeace Thackeray

  • Read
    The best books on The Regency Period - The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer

    5

    The Spanish Bride
    by Georgette Heyer

The best books on The Regency Period, recommended by Stella Tillyard

The best-selling author says the 19th century Regency era was, apart from the duels and empire-line dresses, much like our own – a time of war and economic uncertainty

    The best books on The Arab World, recommended by Tarek Osman

  • Read
    The best books on The Arab World - A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani

    1

    A History of the Arab Peoples
    by Albert Hourani

  • Read
    The best books on The Arab World - The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz

    2

    The Cairo Trilogy
    by Naguib Mahfouz

  • Read
    The best books on The Arab World - The Future of Culture in Egypt by Taha Hussein

    3

    The Future of Culture in Egypt
    by Taha Hussein

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    The best books on The Arab World - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

    4

    Season of Migration to the North
    by Tayeb Salih

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    The best books on The Arab World - Islam and Its Discontents by Abdelwahab Meddeb

    5

    Islam and Its Discontents
    by Abdelwahab Meddeb

The best books on The Arab World, recommended by Tarek Osman

The Egyptian author and journalist discusses Egypt’s past and present and the main issues facing the post-revolutionary Arab world

    The best books on Palestine, recommended by Raja Shehadeh

  • Read
    The best books on Palestine - After the Last Sky by Edward Said

    1

    After the Last Sky
    by Edward Said

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    The best books on Palestine - Mural by Mahmoud Darwish

    2

    Mural
    by Mahmoud Darwish

  • Read
    The best books on Palestine - My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness by Adina Hoffman

    3

    My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness
    by Adina Hoffman

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    The best books on Palestine - Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco

    4

    Footnotes in Gaza
    by Joe Sacco

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    The best books on Palestine - From Coexistence to Conquest by Victor Kattan

    5

    From Coexistence to Conquest
    by Victor Kattan

The best books on Palestine, recommended by Raja Shehadeh

Raja Shehadeh’s choices highlight the suffering endured by the Palestinian people over the last 100 years. But they also celebrate the country’s natural beauty, vibrant culture and multi-textured humanity.

    The best books on Latin American History, recommended by James Dunkerley

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    The best books on Latin American History - Puritan Conquistadors by Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra

    1

    Puritan Conquistadors
    by Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra

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    The best books on Latin American History - Andrès Bello by Ivan Jáksic

    2

    Andrès Bello
    by Ivan Jáksic

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American History - The Dictator’s Seduction by Lauren Derby

    3

    The Dictator’s Seduction
    by Lauren Derby

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American History - The First America by D A Brading

    4

    The First America
    by D A Brading

  • Read
    The best books on Latin American History - The Blood of Guatemala by Greg Grandin

    5

    The Blood of Guatemala
    by Greg Grandin

The best books on Latin American History, recommended by James Dunkerley

Professor James Dunkerley at Queen Mary’s, University of London, says that ‘Latin America’ is a term that only dates from the 1830s. He chooses five books that illuminate the cultural and political history of the continent.

    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia, recommended by Robert Chandler

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Russian Countess by Edith Sollohub

    1

    The Russian Countess
    by Edith Sollohub

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    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Road by Vasily Grossman

    2

    The Road
    by Vasily Grossman

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    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Russian Word’s Worth by Michele A Berdy

    3

    The Russian Word’s Worth
    by Michele A Berdy

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Foundation Pit by Andrey Platonov & Robert Chandler (translator)

    4

    The Foundation Pit
    by Andrey Platonov & Robert Chandler (translator)

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - Black Earth City by Charlotte Hobson

    5

    Black Earth City
    by Charlotte Hobson

The Best Tales of Soviet Russia, recommended by Robert Chandler

Robert Chandler, one of the best known translators of Russian literature, recommends some of his favourite tales of Soviet Russia. There’s the one about a dog in space and the one about the Soviet café which stocked nothing but champagne and Mars bars…

    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America, recommended by Patrick Porter

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    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America - US Foreign Policy by Walter Lippmann

    1

    US Foreign Policy
    by Walter Lippmann

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    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America - The Irony of American History by Reinhold Niebuhr

    2

    The Irony of American History
    by Reinhold Niebuhr

  • Read
    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America - A Preponderance of Power by Melvyn P Leffler

    3

    A Preponderance of Power
    by Melvyn P Leffler

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    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America - Surprise, Security, and the American Experience by John Lewis Gaddis

    4

    Surprise, Security, and the American Experience
    by John Lewis Gaddis

  • Read
    The best books on The Rise and Fall of America - The Peace of Illusions by Christopher Layne

    5

    The Peace of Illusions
    by Christopher Layne

The best books on The Rise and Fall of America, recommended by Patrick Porter

From the Cold War to the post-9/11 world, Professor Patrick Porter looks at America’s destiny and international function. Grappling with geopolitical questions, he looks at whether America’s flirtations with empire can be reconciled with republican ideals.

    The best books on France in the 1960s, recommended by Richard Wolin

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    The best books on France in the 1960s - The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre

    1

    The Words
    by Jean-Paul Sartre

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    The best books on France in the 1960s - The Lives of Michel Foucault by David Macey

    2

    The Lives of Michel Foucault
    by David Macey

  • Read
    The best books on France in the 1960s - Godard by Colin MacCabe

    3

    Godard
    by Colin MacCabe

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    The best books on France in the 1960s - The Black Book of Communism by Stéphane Courtois

    4

    The Black Book of Communism
    by Stéphane Courtois

  • Read
    The best books on France in the 1960s - Living in Arcadia by Julian Jackson

    5

    Living in Arcadia
    by Julian Jackson

The best books on France in the 1960s, recommended by Richard Wolin

The author and historian Richard Wolin explains that French people in the late 1960s were desperate for a utopian political alternative.

    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus, recommended by Thomas de Waal

  • Read
    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus - Bourdieu’s Secret Admirer in the Caucasus by Georgi M Derluguian

    1

    Bourdieu’s Secret Admirer in the Caucasus
    by Georgi M Derluguian

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    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus - Azerbaijan Diary by Thomas Goltz

    2

    Azerbaijan Diary
    by Thomas Goltz

  • Read
    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus - My Brother’s Road by Markar Melkonian

    3

    My Brother’s Road
    by Markar Melkonian

  • Read
    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus - Ali and Nino by Kurban Said

    4

    Ali and Nino
    by Kurban Said

  • Read
    The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus - The Butter Battle Book by Dr Seuss

    5

    The Butter Battle Book
    by Dr Seuss

The best books on Conflict in the Caucasus, recommended by Thomas de Waal

Acknowledged expert on the unresolved conflicts of the South Caucasus selects five books that encapsulate the fragility of the region and the impact of the desperate scramble for the spoils of the Soviet Union

    The best books on Afghanistan, recommended by Thomas Barfield

  • Read
    The best books on Afghanistan - The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun

    1

    The Muqaddimah
    by Ibn Khaldun

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    The best books on Afghanistan - Buzkashi by G Whitney Azoy

    2

    Buzkashi
    by G Whitney Azoy

  • Read
    The best books on Afghanistan - A Political And Diplomatic History of Afghanistan, 1863-1901 by M Hassan Kakar

    3

    A Political And Diplomatic History of Afghanistan, 1863-1901
    by M Hassan Kakar

  • Read
    The best books on Afghanistan - Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid

    4

    Descent Into Chaos
    by Ahmed Rashid

  • Read
    The best books on Afghanistan - The Man Who Would Be King by Ben Macintyre

    5

    The Man Who Would Be King
    by Ben Macintyre

The best books on Afghanistan, recommended by Thomas Barfield

Anthropologist and Afghanistan expert Thomas Barfield gives a panoramic view of Afghanistan, from founding dynasties  to the failed central Asian states of today. He picks the best books on Afghanistan.

    The best books on 20th Century Russia, recommended by Francis Spufford

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    The best books on 20th Century Russia - Khrushchev by William Taubman

    1

    Khrushchev
    by William Taubman

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    The best books on 20th Century Russia - Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman and translated by Robert Chandler

    2

    Life and Fate
    by Vasily Grossman and translated by Robert Chandler

  • Read
    The best books on 20th Century Russia - Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

    3

    Roadside Picnic
    by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

  • Read
    The best books on 20th Century Russia - The Jewish Century by Yuri Slezkine

    4

    The Jewish Century
    by Yuri Slezkine

  • Read
    The best books on 20th Century Russia - Molotov’s Magic Lantern by Rachel Polonsky

    5

    Molotov’s Magic Lantern
    by Rachel Polonsky

The best books on 20th Century Russia, recommended by Francis Spufford

Reading about Russia’s 20th century is like finding another vision of how the world might have been. Francis Spufford, author of Red Plenty, recommends books that tell the story of Russia in the last century — from Soviet science fiction set in capitalist wastelands to Khrushchev as raconteur.

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