The first biography in English of China’s president’s father highlights how even reformers bow to state ideology
John Foot’s superbly researched and grimly absorbing history of the left-wing militants’ attempts to bring down the state in the 1970s
The best reads on the country’s local, regional and global history, as chosen by you
Gabriel Zuchtriegel’s spirited part-history, part-memoir evokes the everyday life of the ancient city, and poses some very modern questions
Frederick Studemann selects his best mid-year reads
Essential reads on Iran’s role in the Middle East and its regional and global rivalries
Duncan Weldon’s ‘Blood and Treasure’ argues that following the money is the best way to understand the roots of conflict
Peter Watson’s ambitious survey celebrates 500 years of innovation in science — but is patchier on the arts and the legacy of empire
David Commins’ nuanced analysis of the kingdom’s transformation highlights the ongoing tensions that the monarchy needs to manage
A meticulously researched story of the clandestine activities of the smugglers and escapers from Nazi-dominated Europe
An anecdotal and informative book about the tumultuous events of the 14th century that still resonate today
Greg Grandin’s superb, punchy account of the deep ties between the US and Latin America forms a powerful case for closer ties in the present
Tiffany Watt Smith’s fascinating book asks why friendships are less valued by society than conjugal or familial relationships
Selena Wisnom walks the shelves of King Ashurbanipal’s library, revealing what the books tell us about the ideas circulating in 7th-century BC Mesopotamia
Iain Pears’ biography of Francis Haskell and Larissa Salmina is a tale of east-west romance in the cold war
Ian Stewart takes an imaginative, scholarly look at Celticism and its shifting interpretations
Vladislav Zubok’s monumental account is not just history, but a reassessment of a stand-off that still shapes geopolitics today
Jane Draycott skilfully evokes the strangeness and intensity of one of ancient Rome’s most complex figures
This scurrilous, wonderfully detailed potted history of 12 Roman rulers still resonates in a sparky new translation
Rob Cowen’s discovery of a skull near the A1 motorway leads him to explore layers of Britain’s history — and battle his own historical demons along the way
In her revisiting of the grisly 1910 case, Hallie Rubenhold seeks to demote the murderer from his male-centric leading role
A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland’s underground print banned books
Jill Eicher’s timely book brings to life the battle between the US Treasury secretary and the British chancellor in the wake of the first world war
Jack Fairweather tells the story of Fritz Bauer’s fight to put war criminals on trial — often in the face of public and political opposition
Christopher de Bellaigue’s follow-up to ‘The Lion House’ explores how the Ottoman sultan balanced geopolitical scheming with a complex family life
