Century Rome

Two thousand years ago the mighty Roman Empire spanned most of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. At its heart was the capital city of Rome, the city to which ‘all roads led’. Inside this city, the great ruins of the Colosseum are a lasting reminder of the majesty of this great empire. But the gigantic sports arena that is the Colosseum also reveals a dark side of ancient Rome. For the arena’s purpose was as a ground for gladiatorial combat. And in its wildly popular four-hundred-year history, the Colosseum would witness the deaths of thousands of humans and animals.

With commanding skill, Thomas R. Martin tells the remarkable and dramatic story of how a tiny, poor, and threatened settlement grew to become, during its height, the dominant power in the Mediterranean world for 500 years. Encompassing the period from Rome's founding in the eighth century BC through Justinian's rule in the sixth century AD, he offers a distinctive perspective on the Romans and their civilization by employing fundamental Roman values as a lens through which to view both their rise and spectacular fall. 

The Lost History of Liberalism challenges our most basic assumptions about a political creed that has become a rallying cry - and a term of derision - in today's increasingly divided public square. Taking listeners from ancient Rome to today, Helena Rosenblatt traces the evolution of the words "liberal" and "liberalism", revealing the heated debates that have taken place over their meaning. In this timely and provocative book, Rosenblatt debunks the popular myth of liberalism as a uniquely Anglo-American tradition centered on individual rights.

Witness the turbulent collapse of a superpower in this gripping narrative history of ancient political intrigue. Perfect for a captivating daily commute, this immersive journey drops you onto the fragile frontiers of a fractured civilization. You will stand beside ambitious emperors and cunning...

Explore the ancient architectural engineering secrets behind the only Roman monument to survive two millennia intact. Step directly into the smoky, crowded streets of antiquity, where political ambition and groundbreaking design collided to forge an empire's ultimate statement of power. Perfect...

Brought to you by Penguin. Scobie, a police officer serving in a war-time West African state, is distrusted, being scrupulously honest and immune to bribery. But then he falls in love, and in doing so he is forced to betray everything he believes in, with drastic and tragic consequences...

Uncover sweeping European history as a forgotten papal town violently transforms into a contested modern metropolis. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive narrative replaces dry facts with the vivid voices of revolutionaries and everyday citizens. You will witness five hundred years of...

Experience gripping ancient history as everyday communities fight for cultural survival under the mighty Roman Empire. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive narrative transports you directly into the bustling streets and rural villages of first-century Judea. Discover how real families...

Dive into epic Renaissance history where clashing egos and visionary architects battle to forge a holy masterpiece. Perfect for an immersive daily commute, this awe-inspiring architectural saga transports you directly to the sacred soil of Vatican Hill. Witness the ultimate test of human...

Shatter the myth of medieval barbarism with this immersive history of a dynamic Europe emerging from the ashes of Rome. Whether you are embarking on a long commute or winding down, lose yourself in an epic era of shifting frontiers and cultural rebirth. Watch as kings, warrior queens, and shrewd...

The tenth century dawned in violence and disorder. Charlemagne’s empire was in ruins, most of Spain had been claimed by Moorish invaders, and even the papacy in Rome was embroiled in petty, provincial conflicts. To many historians, it was a prime example of the ignorance and uncertainty of the Dark Ages. Yet according to historian Paul Collins, the story of the tenth century is the story of our culture’s birth, of the emergence of our civilization into the light of day.

Bloomsbury presents Last Testament by Pope Benedict XVI with Peter Seewald, read by Roger May and Gordon Griffin. Gripping ... An exquisite conversation between two people who know each other, like each other, and have mutual respect for one another' – Catholic Times Since resigning from the...

A detailed, timely, and original biography of Pope Francis by the staff of the Wall Street Journal, offering insight into the bargaining and drama that surrounded his rise. Pope Francis presents the full, in-depth story of the church's change in direction and the man charged with leading it. On...

Set in mid-century Rome and England, this forbidden slow-burn love story will take your breath away SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE SHORTLISED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR FICTION ‘If I had to pick a favourite from the year so far, it would be this’ - Pandora Sykes ‘Lush...

“MENZIES [IS] PROPOUNDING ONE OF THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS IN THE HISTORY OF HISTORY.” —New York Times Magazine New York Times bestselling historian Gavin Menzies presents newly uncovered evidence revealing, conclusively, that “the lost city of Atlantis” was not only real but also...

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins and The Cold Millions comes a stunning collection about those moments when everything changes—for the better, for the worse, for the outrageous—as a diverse cast of characters bounces from Italy to Idaho, questioning their...

A warm and affectionate portrait of a city and a people under lockdown during the Covid-19 crisis, from the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Rome: A History in Seven Sackings. On the first morning of Rome's Covid-19 lockdown Matthew Kneale felt an urge to connect with friends...

Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. But all, through their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires, uniquely illuminate our...

""Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war..."" - Antony A Shakespeare Society Production. The complete play in five acts. Features a unique cover illustration by Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), specially commissioned for the Shakespeare on Compact Disc series -- now on digital...

Winner of the 2019 Somerset Maugham Award 'A great galloping joy of a book - funny, lyrical, fast paced, heart-warming - a delicious celebration of love and life' Rebecca Stott, author of In the Days of Rain In 1857, after two years of writing The Life of Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell fled...