A History of the World in Ten Wars

£22.00

War: what is it good for? Absolutely something, surely, or we wouldn’t keep doing it. Throughout the ages, each generation has faced the same questions: Am I willing to fight for my way of life? How can I come up with something the enemy hasn’t thought of? And the important one that people often forget to ask: is there a way of solving this amicably? In this work, Terry Deary shows us what can we learn from battles through the ages.

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Scheduled for publication on 8th October, 2026
The book will be available on or after this date. If you would like to preorder a copy, we will notify you when it is ready to collect.

SKU: 9780857509383 Category: Tags: , , , Publisher/imprint : Bantam Press
Page count : 304
Published on 8th October, 2026

Description

What can we learn from ten wars that have changed world history? A ridiculously funny new book for grownups from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of A History of Britain in Ten Enemies.

War: what is it good for? Absolutely something, surely, or we wouldn't keep doing it.

Throughout the ages, each generation has faced the same questions: Am I willing to fight for my way of life? How can I come up with something the enemy hasn’t thought of? And the important one that people often forget to ask: is there a way of solving this amicably?

In A History of the World in Ten Wars, bestselling author Terry Deary shows us what can we learn from battles through the ages. In this hilarious, whistle-stop tour, you’ll find out:

  • Why the ancient Greeks finally decided to band together after fighting each other for centuries
  • The innovative guerrilla tactics of the Mongols (who were surprisingly interested in supply chains)
  • Why teabags were invented by accident
  • How Napoleon's army was defeated not by the freezing Russian winter – common misconception – but by a summer heatwave
  • And why the so-called World Wars were really just one very long war (with a break for half-time).

Written with Deary's trademark humour, A History of the World in Ten Wars is packed with fascinating stories that reveal how wars have shaped society through the ages.

PRAISE FOR A HISTORY OF BRITAIN IN TEN ENEMIES:

'If you could take just one history book to a desert island, this would be it. It is laugh out loud funny' Conn Iggulden, bestselling author of the Emperor series

'Ram-packed with mind-blowing facts, hilarious characters, and little-known tales' Dan Schreiber, author of The Theory of Everything Else

‘Packed with dinner-party-worthy anecdotes, the kind that will delight history buffs and newcomers alike’ Alice Loxton, The Telegraph

'Playful, cheeky, and very clever, this is a book for anyone who ever wished there was a Horrible Histories for grown-ups' Kate Lister, author of A Curious History of Sex

‘Told with characteristic wit and verve…not just an eye-opener, but a mind-opener’ Tracy Borman, author of The Private Lives of the Tudors

Additional information

Weight 0.498 kg
Dimensions 24.2 × 16.3 × 3 cm
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