“Abold,sweepingbird’seyeviewofthousandsofyearsofhistorythatprovidesatrulyglobalperspectiveofthepast.Afantasticachievement.“--PeterFrankopan,internationallybestsellingauthorofTheSilkRoadsPrize-winninghistorianNao穩seMacSweeneydeliversacaptivatingexplorationofhow“WesternCivilization“--theconceptofasingleculturalinheritanceextendingfromancientGreecetomoderntimes--isapowerfulfigmentofourcollectiveimagination.Anurgentlyneededemergentvoiceinbighistory,sheoffersaboldnewaccountofWesternhistory,realandimagined,throughthelivesoffourteenremarkableindividuals.Inthisgroundbreaking,story-drivenretellingofWesternhistory,Nao穩seMacSweeneydebunksthemythsandoriginstoriesthatunderpinthehistorywethoughtweknew.ToldthroughfourteenfigureswhoeachplayedaroleinthecreationoftheWesternidea--fromHerodotus,amixed-racemigrant,toPhylisWheatley,anenslavedAfricanAmericanwhobecamealiterarysensation;andfromGladstone,withaprivatepassionforepicpoetry,tothemedievalArabscholarAl-Kindi--thesubjectsareamind-expandingblendofunsungheroesandfamiliarfacesviewedafresh.Thesecharactersspanthemillenniaandthecontinents,representingdifferentreligions,varyinglevelsofwealthandeducation,diversetraditionsandnationalities.EachlifetellsussomethingunexpectedabouttheageinwhichitwaslivedandoffersusapieceofthepuzzleofhowthemodernideaoftheWestdeveloped--andwhywe’vemisunderstooditfortoolong.Theconceptof“theWest“ispresentineverydailyinteractionyouhave,fromentertainmentandpoliticstoworldmarketsandworldhistory.Thisengaginglyintimatehistorywillreshapethewayyouseetheworldaroundyou.Atthismomentofcivilizationalredefinition,ifwearetochartafuturefortheWest,wemustproperlyunderstanditspast.
