Neil Mac Gregor`s ”A History of the World in 100 Objects” takes a bold, original approach to human history, exploring past civilizations through the objects that defined them. Encompassing a grand sweep of human history, ”A History of the World in 100 Objects” begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, & ends with objects which characterise the world we live in today. Seen through Mac Gregor`s eyes, history is a kaleidoscope
- shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, & shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. A stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people; Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency; & an early Victorian tea-set speaks to us about the impact of empire. An intellectual & visual feast, this is one of the most engrossing & unusual history books published in years. ” Brilliant, engagingly written, deeply researched”. (Mary Beard, ” Guardian”).”A triumph: hugely popular, & rightly lauded as one of the most effective & intellectually ambitious initiatives in the making of `public history` for many decades”. (” Sunday Telegraph”). ” Highly intelligent, delightfully written & utterly absorbing”. (Timothy Clifford, ” Spectator”). ” This is a story book, vivid & witty, shining with insights, connections, shocks & delights”. (Gillian Reynolds, ” Daily Telegraph”). Neil Mac Gregor has been Director of the British Museum since August 2002. His latest book, ” Shakespeare`s Restless World” is an enthralling exploration of Shakespeare`s world, & of the minds of his audiences, based on Neil Mac Gregor`s new 20-part BBC Radio 4 series. Mac Gregor was previously Director of the National Gallery in London from 1987 to 2002.