30 Great Books That Made History

Today, many readers could easily list thirty classic authors, or thirty classic works of art, literature, music, philosophy, or science. But would they be able to name thirty classic works of history, despite our contemporary appetite for books that re-tell the most stimulating and exciting episodes from centuries ago? In spite of history’s outsized influence in the world of ideas, the books that made—and-remade—the history we know so well are often forgotten. In this panoramic book, distinguished historian Jaume Aurell sets out to introduce readers to a new canon of historical writing. Taking a global approach, he places the work of Herodotus, Thucydides, Gibbon, Michelet and Braudel alongside masterpieces from a myriad of periods and civilizations, from Sima Quian, Anna Komnene, Al-Masudi and Fukuzawa Yukichi to Eduardo O’Gorman, C. L. R. James and Natalie Z. Davis. At the same time, Aurell argues that we should not see these books as a definitive canon—instead, any canon should be seen as a list-in-progress to be contested and debated anew with each generation. Written with verve and a palpable esteem for the works included, this book is critical reading for any student or scholar of history. It is only by being exposed to these diverse and deeply significant works that we can fully perceive the shape of discipline, and carve out a new appreciation for the art of history writing.