About the book
*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.
Editions of West
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780753558928
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780753559734
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780753558935
- EBook
- ISBN 9780753558942
Read an Excerpt
*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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is West about?
*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.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in West?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Cultural and media studies > Cultural studies > History of ideas
Where can I read a sample of West?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780753558928
How long is West and how many pages does it have?
West has 448 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book West?
Naoíse Mac Sweeney
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
West is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780753558928) and paperback(ISBN 9780753559734) and paperback(ISBN 9780753558935) and ebook(ISBN 9780753558942)
Where can I buy West online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy West from below