Essential books illuminating key periods of history, from the Romans to the Tudors to World War 1. Delve into the history of England with Peter Ackroyd, explore Britain’s forgotten multicultural past with David Olusoga, or uncover the violent rise of early Christianity with Catherine Nixey.
More to explore
Margaret George’s favourite stories of the Roman Empire.

V.S. Naipaul

Joachim Fest

Goalhanger

Con Coughlin

Rick Astley

Angela Merkel

Elizabeth Drayson

Lisa Marie Presley
Riley Keough

Kate Mosse
Sophie Bass

Jamaica Kincaid

Simon Hart

Robert Hardman

Parmy Olson

Paul Cartledge

Chris Horton

Sami Kent

Ken Follett

V.S. Naipaul

Alice Loxton

Melinda French Gates

Dan Biggar

Or Rosenboim

Geraint Jones

Dorian Lynskey

Jen Hadfield

Sam Freedman

Colm Tóibín

Colm Tóibín

Colm Tóibín

Agnes Arnold-Forster

Sophie Williams

Judith Flanders

Sarah Harkness

Emmeline Clein

Max Hastings

Gary J. Bass

Catherine Nixey

Jonathan Blitzer

Kate Mosse

Lidia Maksymowicz