A Little History of the World

E. H. Gombrich’s sweeping history of the world, for the curious of all ages. The international bestseller. “Brilliant, irresistible: a wonderful surprise,” – Philip Pullman The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history. In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from Stone Age to the atomic bomb. He paints a colourful picture of wars and conquests; of grand works of art; of the advances and limitations of science; of remarkable people and remarkable events - from Confucius to Catherine the Great to Winston Churchill. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties. For adults seeking a single-volume overview of world history, for students in search of a quick refresher course, or for families to read and learn from together, Gombrich’s A Little History of the World both enchants and educates.