War has always been close to the centre of British culture, but never more so than in the period since 1850. "Warrior Nation" explores the way in which images of battle, both literary and visual, have been constructed in British fiction and popular culture since this time. The rise of war reporting has helped to shape a society fascinated by conflict, and the development of mass communications has aided in the creation of mass-produced martial heroes and the relation of epic adventures for po...

Over the last twenty years museums have proliferated, attracting new audiences and assuming new prominence in public life. The Return of Curiosity offers a fresh perspective on museums and what they may now be good for. Nicholas Thomas argues that what is special about museums are their collections, which are not just rich resources for reflection, but creative technologies that enable people to make new things in the present.Reflecting on art galleries, science and history institutions, and ...

An entertaining, alternative portrait of nudity down the ages.

The epic tale of the House of Orange-Nassau, from 1772 to 1890.

In Tulip, Celia Fisher traces the story of this important and highly popular plant, from its mountain beginnings to its cultivation in the gardens of Mughul, Persian and Ottoman potentates, and its migration from East to West along the silk trading routes.

A beautifully history of imaginary animals from Palaeolithic art to Harry Potter.

A valuable and timely account of attention, from neuroscience to surfing.

An accessible introduction to the Indus, an extraordinary and tantalizing ‘lost’ ancient civilization.

A history of the circus that is as enchanting as a night at the big-top itself.