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Mark Galeotti’s sweeping, engaging exploration of crime across human history — from ancient thieves to modern hackers. A leading security expert traces how criminals and the societies that produce them have always shaped each other, in a work that is both serious scholarship and compulsive reading.

Uniforms of World War II by Andrew Mollo (Lorenz Books) — the uniforms of every major national force in the Second World War, from the Wehrmacht and the Red Army through the British, American, and Commonwealth forces to the Japanese Imperial Army and the Italian Regia Esercito, with full-colour illustrations and historical context for each national uniform tradition. A comprehensive reference for military history enthusiasts. Published by Lorenz Books.

Inside Pompeii: A First-Ever Complete Tour by Peter Connolly (Thames & Hudson) — the first complete visual tour of the entire city frozen at the moment of its destruction in 79 CE, produced in collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park. Every district, every major building, every street — the most comprehensive visual record of Pompeii ever published, and the definitive account of how the city was built, how it functioned, and how its people lived. Published by Thames & Hudson.

Machines: A Visual History by DK — the complete story of human mechanical ingenuity from the earliest simple machines of antiquity through the complex systems that define contemporary life. Over three hundred machines profiled with technical drawings, photographs, and the engineering principles that make each one work — from classic mechanical devices through electrical and electronic machines to robotics and programmable systems. Published by DK.

History: From the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day by DK — six hundred pages spanning five thousand years and every continent, making the complete human past comprehensible through DK’s distinctive visual approach. Maps, timelines, profiles, and thousands of photographs connect events and civilisations that conventional narrative histories leave isolated. The essential one-volume world history. Published by DK.

Ancient Rome by DK — a comprehensive visual guide to the civilisation that shaped the Western world, from Rome’s origins as a small city on the Tiber to its mastery of the Mediterranean and its enduring legacy in law, language, and political thought. Exceptional photography and the latest archaeological scholarship make Roman life vivid and immediate. Published by DK.

Capitalism and Its Critics: A History by DK — the complete story of capitalist economics and the intellectual tradition that has challenged it, from Adam Smith through Marx, Keynes, and the contemporary debate. DK’s visual approach makes complex economic ideas accessible without simplifying them. Both defenders and critics receive fair, rigorous treatment. Published by DK.

A Political History of the World by Jonathan Holslag (Penguin) — a rigorous single-volume account of how human societies have organised political power from ancient Mesopotamia to the present, tracing the recurring patterns of organisation, expansion, competition, and collapse that constitute the deep structure of human history. Clear, authoritative, and genuinely illuminating. Published by Penguin.

The Inheritance of Rome by Chris Wickham (Penguin) — the definitive account of early medieval Europe, 400–1000 AD. Challenging the ‘Dark Ages’ narrative, Wickham traces six centuries of transformation across post-Roman Europe with scholarly authority and narrative accessibility. Part of the Penguin History of Europe series.

Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum (Penguin) — the Pulitzer Prize-winning definitive account of the Soviet forced labour camp system. Eighteen million prisoners, millions of deaths — traced from Lenin to Khrushchev with the authority of a historian and the compulsive readability of a journalist. Essential reading.

Edward W. Said’s influential exploration of literary theory and criticism examines the foundations of literary creation and authority. This essential work from Granta Books masterfully analyzes the complex relationships between literature, history, and critical theory. Said’s profound insights into fiction and its historical contexts make this a vital resource for scholars and serious readers seeking deeper understanding of literary scholarship and the cultural forces shaping narrative expression.

Edgar Allan Poe ventures beyond gothic tales in Eureka, his fascinating exploration of cosmology and universal principles. This philosophical work reveals the master storyteller’s scientific curiosity and poetic vision, blending astronomical concepts with literary brilliance. Essential for understanding Poe’s intellectual range and 19th-century American literature.