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Born out of war, the empire forged by Bismarck struggled to find peace with itself
Prix Goncourt laureate Éric Vuillard channels today’s unrest into a tale of 16th-century uprising
From post-pandemic recovery to the love life of robots, here are some of the best reads
Dominique Reill and Paul Betts enhance our understanding of the era with books on postwar life and the Fiume crisis
A chronicle of how the ruthless Selim the Grim expanded the Ottoman Empire — and disrupted medieval world trade
Marina Wheeler charts her mother’s journey from the final days of the Raj to the early days of Indian independence
Two books explore the battle to overcome opposition to abolition, the role of the establishment and the impact of changing consumer behaviour
Tony Barber selects his must-read titles
Gideon Rachman selects his must-read titles
Tell us your recommendation and pick up a few tips for your own reading list too
From supper or tea to the pronunciation of ‘scone’, Pen Vogler examines food habits as a marker of social status
Edmund Fawcett dissects the contradictions of conservative thought and political practice in four countries
An intrepid, polemical reporter who made his career in the Middle East
Two books explore historical financial frenzies and the lessons they hold for investors today
A gripping tale of the archaeologists who raced to uncover dazzling ancient monuments
A lively study of port cities and globalisation in the age of steam-driven technology
Robert Putnam’s history traces the ups and downs of US job security, distribution of wealth and community values
As Black Lives Matter confronts colonialism, historians are reassessing older, more benign accounts of imperial rule
A walking tour of London’s financial district explores an uncomfortable legacy
Two books take a fascinating look at the origins of today’s lucrative health industry
Wolfram Eilenberger’s book touches on the intertwining lives of philosophers Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Benjamin and Cassirer
Three books shed light on the historical forces driving Beijing’s mission for superpower status — and what it means for Asia and beyond
Fernando Cervantes’ book details the cruel and complicated story of the Spanish conquest of the Americas
A passionate believer in freedom and true intellectual, he transformed economic journalism in the UK and beyond
The historian’s elegant collection explores war, how it changes us — and why we need to talk about it
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