The West

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What to expect

*A Radio 4 Book of the Week*

Brought to you by Penguin.

We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread, leading through the centuries from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern West - a cultural genealogy that connects Plato to NATO. It is an idea often invoked in the speeches of politicians and the rhetoric of journalists, and which remains deeply embedded in popular culture. But what if it is wrong?

In an epic sweep through the ages, prize-winning archaeologist and historian Naoíse Mac Sweeney charts the history of this idea - an idea of enormous political significance, but which is nonetheless factually incorrect and obscures the wondrous, rich diversity of our past. She reveals how this particular version of Western history was invented, how it has been used to justify imperialism and racism, and why it is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today.

Told through the lives of fourteen fascinating historical figures - including a formidable Roman matriarch, an unconventional Islamic scholar, an enslaved African American poetess and a British prime minister with Homeric aspirations - The West is a groundbreaking retelling of Western history and a powerful corrective to one of the greatest myths of all: Western Civilisation.

©2023 Naoíse Mac Sweeney (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

  • One by one she takes on hoary old myths, explodes them with panache, and leaves us instead with a richer, fuller understanding of epochs, worldviews and fascinating individuals from the past… Lots of people will enjoy this clever and thought-provoking account

    Guardian

  • A forceful, well-written book, in which Mac Sweeney shows her command of a vast sweep of history

    Daily Telegraph

  • A bold, sweeping bird’s-eye view of thousands of years of history that provides a truly global perspective of the past. A fantastic achievement

    Peter Frankopan, bestselling author of THE SILK ROADS

  • Bright, expansive, and iconoclastic, this deliciously witty book has the potential to upset the applecart of “Western Civilisation” itself … A magnificent achievement

    Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb, award-winning historian and broadcaster

  • Awe-inspiring… Deeply researched, wonderfully well written and immensely thought-provoking, this is an important book which reshapes our understanding of the past

    Dr Janina Ramirez, betselling author of FEMINA

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