Description

Book Synopsis

*A BBC RADIO 4 Book of the Week*
''A fantastic achievement'' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads
''Bright, expansive, and iconoclastic, this deliciously witty book has the potential to upset the applecart of Western Civilisation itself... Magnificent'' Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb
_________________

A radical new account of how the idea of the West has shaped our history, told through the stories of fourteen fascinating lives.

We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread stretching from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern Western world. But what if this is wrong?

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 archaeologist and historian Naoíse Mac Sweeney charts how the idea of the West was invented, how it has been used to justify imperialism and racism, and why it is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today.

The result is a bold and empowering new story of the people and ideas who made us who we are today.

The West

    Product form

    A Paperback by Naoíse Mac Sweeney

    £12.34

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £12.99 – you save £0.65 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 21 Oct 2026.

    5 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The West by Naoíse Mac Sweeney

      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Ebury Publishing
      Published 3 July 2024
      ISBN-13 9780753558935
      978-0753558935
      ISBN-10 753558939
      Also in:
      History

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      *A BBC RADIO 4 Book of the Week*
      ''A fantastic achievement'' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads
      ''Bright, expansive, and iconoclastic, this deliciously witty book has the potential to upset the applecart of Western Civilisation itself... Magnificent'' Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb
      _________________

      A radical new account of how the idea of the West has shaped our history, told through the stories of fourteen fascinating lives.

      We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread stretching from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern Western world. But what if this is wrong?

      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 archaeologist and historian Naoíse Mac Sweeney charts how the idea of the West was invented, how it has been used to justify imperialism and racism, and why it is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today.

      The result is a bold and empowering new story of the people and ideas who made us who we are today.

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account