Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers

The History You Weren't Taught In School

AMAZON NO. 1 BESTSELLER

‘Dominic Selwood is the enfant terrible of history teachers and he appears to enjoy it a lot’
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‘This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read’
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‘I have been teaching history for 37 years. I'm going to have to revise some of my lessons now.’
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‘Lively, Clever and Scholarly’
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DETAILS

Back Cover

With a breath-taking sweep spanning Rome to the modern day, historian and author Dominic Selwood challenges the traditional version of some of the best-known events of the past. From ancient Christianity to the voyages of Columbus, and from the medieval Crusades to ISIS and the modern Middle East, this book debunks dozens of historical myths. You will learn that:

Magna Carta was an infamous failure in medieval times
Richard the Lionheart was a cruel and dreadful king
The Knights Templar were heretical, and have left a genuinely baffling mystery
The painter of the Turin Shroud was found in the 1300s
Christopher Columbus never saw North America
The first computer coder was a woman, a century before Alan Turing
The man who unleashed mustard gas in the World War One trenches won the Nobel Prize for chemistry
One incredible Spanish spy saved D-Day

This book will challenge everything you think you know about history.

Reviews for Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers

‘Selwood is a rare writer: he makes history fascinating’

‘History at its best! A great read. … I wish history had been taught like this in school!

‘Very Interesting and very funny, I ate it in one course. So readable. Can't recommend it highly enough. Can't wait for the next one please.’

‘In an intriguing collection of essays, Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers dares to break rank and expose lies, debunk myths and set the record straight about English history from Roman times to the present day.’

‘A very interesting and thought provoking book by the author of the brilliant novel Sword of Moses. I look forward to his next book.’

‘A brilliantly fun and informative read. Dominic Selwood has taken the juiciest bits of history from the past two thousand years and put them together in one marvellous volume. Selwood is a rare blend of insightful historian and thrilling writer. Cracking along at a breakneck pace reminiscent of Dan Brown, SPIES, SADISTS AND SORCERERS is as perfect for the beach as it is for serious historical background reading.’

‘Dominic Selwood knows his stuff and his enthusiasm is palpable’

‘A TRULY fun read for the history minded’

‘Dominic Selwood dives into the most fascinating (and controversial) historical topics and succeeds in bringing fresh insights and stringent clarity to some of the most baffling mysteries of the last 2,000 years, often overturning conventional wisdom. This book made me wince, laugh, groan and cheer. It’s a fantastic read for any lover of history.’

Foreign Language Editions

Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers Edition by Renmin University of China Press (Beijing)

Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers Edition by China Times Publishing (Taiwan)

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