Tom Holland

Tom Holland is a British historian, author, and broadcaster whose acclaimed works of narrative history bring the ancient and medieval worlds to life with vivid storytelling and intellectual rigour. He is also one half of the phenomenally successful podcast The Rest Is History, alongside Dominic Sandbrook, which has become one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Born in 1968, Holland studied English and Latin at Queens' College, Cambridge. He began his writing career with fiction — his first two novels, The Vampyre and Supping with Panthers, were horror stories inspired by Lord Byron — before turning to the narrative history that would make his reputation. Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (2003) was his breakthrough, a gripping account of the fall of the Roman Republic that read like a thriller. Persian Fire (2005) told the story of the Greco-Persian Wars with similar narrative energy. In the Shadow of the Sword (2012) explored the origins of Islam in the context of late antiquity. Dynasty (2015) chronicled the first Roman emperors from Augustus to Nero. Dominion (2019) was arguably Holland's most ambitious work — a sweeping history of how Christianity has shaped Western civilisation's values, including many values that secular modernity takes for granted. The book challenged readers to recognise the Christian origins of concepts like human rights and compassion for the weak. Holland's work on the Penguin Monarchs series and his translation of Herodotus's Histories have further cemented his reputation as one of the most accessible and engaging historians writing today. The Rest Is History podcast, launched in 2020, has brought history to a massive new audience with wit, enthusiasm, and impressive breadth of knowledge. The audiobook editions of Holland's histories are superb, with narration that captures the drama and energy of his prose. His books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who loves history told with pace, intelligence, and a storyteller's flair.