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Simon Sebag Montefiore

Recommended Books

Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore is a British historian, television presenter and author of popular history books and novels.
33 books on the list
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Henry VIII's Last Victim book cover
Henry VIII's Last Victim
The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Jessie Childs - 2007-12-10
Goodreads Rating
A pioneering poet whose verse had a profound impact on Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, Surrey was nevertheless branded by one contemporary as “the most foolish proud boy that is in England.” He was the heir of England’s premier nobleman, first cousin to two of Henry VIII’s wives---Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard---and best friend and brot...
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2023-03-01T09:57:31.000Z
This is a superb book      source
Rasputin book cover
Rasputin
Faith, Power, and the Twilight of the Romanovs
Douglas Smith - 2016-11-22
Goodreads Rating
Discover the true story of Rasputin, the man often portrayed as the personification of evil in popular culture. In this definitive biography, historian Douglas Smith separates fact from fiction to reveal the real life of one of history's most alluring figures. Drawing on forgotten documents from archives in seven countries, Smith presents Rasputin in all his complexity: man of God, voice of peace, loyal subject, adulterer, and drunkard. This fascinating portrait provides insight into the twilight of imperial Russia as it lurched toward catastrophe.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-30T18:49:50.000Z
@raznorechie Yes. By far, far the best book on Rasputin and one of the few properly researched is the definitive biography by Douglas Smith      source
Talleyrand book cover
Talleyrand
Alfred Duff Cooper 1st Viscount Norwich - 2001-03-30 (first published in 1932)
Goodreads Rating
The biography explores the extraordinary life of Charles-Maurice, Prince de Talleyrand - a world-class rogue who held high office in five successive regimes. Talleyrand's gifts to France arguably outvalued the vast personal fortune he amassed in her service. This classic biography by Duff Cooper contains all the vigor, elegance, and intellect of its remarkable subject.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-29T18:06:40.000Z
On this bleak day in darkest english countryside, i want to celebrate 8 books that made me love history (& even aspire to write it). Antonia Fraser’s Cromwell. @simon_schama Citizens. Duff Cooper’s Talleyrand 1/2      source
Cromwell book cover
Cromwell
Antonia Fraser - 2001-03-30 (first published in 1973)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the life and character of one of England's most impactful yet controversial historical figures through Antonia Fraser's fascinating biography. Learn about Oliver Cromwell, the man of contradictions and surprising charm - a ruthless general, yet country gentleman and doting father; a stern Puritan, yet passionate connoisseur of music. Fraser's insightful and exciting narrative sheds light on Cromwell's military and civil competence, along with his campaign in Ireland, which has cast a shadow on his reputation. Discover a totally unexpected Cromwell far removed from received stereotypes in this major biography that combines high scholarship and narrative finesse.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-29T18:06:40.000Z
On this bleak day in darkest english countryside, i want to celebrate 8 books that made me love history (& even aspire to write it). Antonia Fraser’s Cromwell. @simon_schama Citizens. Duff Cooper’s Talleyrand 1/2      source
Citizens book cover
Citizens
A Chronicle of the French Revolution
Simon Schama - 1990-03-17 (first published in 1989)
Goodreads Rating
Experience a captivating journey through Louis XVI's France with Citizens. Simon Schama presents a unique perspective of a country brimming with creativity and an obsession for innovation, rather than a dying regime. The book is a New York Times bestseller and features 200 stunning illustrations that add depth to this refreshing portrayal of history.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-29T18:06:40.000Z
On this bleak day in darkest english countryside, i want to celebrate 8 books that made me love history (& even aspire to write it). Antonia Fraser’s Cromwell. @simon_schama Citizens. Duff Cooper’s Talleyrand 1/2      source
Recommended by
Mike Carlton
The Morning Deluge  book cover
The Morning Deluge
Mao Tsetung and the Chinese revolution, 1893-1954
Suyin Han - 1972-01-01
Goodreads Rating
Asian Studies, Communism, World History...
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-28T12:50:28.000Z
If i am being honest about the books that made me love history, i have to add this (v sympathetic) biography of Mao that has not stood the test of time like the other classics….      source
The Proud Tower book cover
The Proud Tower
A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914
Barbara W. Tuchman - 1996-08-27 (first published in 1965)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the historic quarter century that preceded WWI in The Proud Tower by Barbara W. Tuchman. Uncover the decline of the Edwardian aristocracy, the rise of Anarchists in Europe and America, Germany's hero worship of Richard Strauss, the Dreyfus Affair, and more. Tuchman brings the era to life with vivid detail, showcasing the enthusiasm and tragedy of Socialism, ultimately leading up to the night the Great War began.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-28T12:04:03.000Z
I should have made that the eight books that made me love history…. How cld i forget Barbara Tuchman, The Proud Tower      source
Russia in the Age of Catherine the Great book cover
Russia in the Age of Catherine the Great
Isabel de Madariaga - 2002-03-01 (first published in 1981)
Goodreads Rating
This historical book delves into the reign of Catherine the Great, exploring her role in the forward march of Russia during the 18th century. From reorganizing administration to introducing new concepts of justice, Catherine fostered a new relationship between the ruler and the ruled. Though corruption and military glory abounded, her reign brought Russia closer to the rest of Western Europe than it had been for over a century. A must-read for anyone interested in Russian history.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-28T11:51:56.000Z
The seven books that as a young person made me love history… (and even aspire to write it.) I m sure u have some of yr own…. Isabel de Madariaga, Russia in age of Catherine the Great. Robert Conquest, Great Terror. Peter Hopkirk, Great Game. Robert Massie, Peter the Great.      source
Peter the Great book cover
Peter the Great
His Life and World
Robert K. Massie - 2001-04-19 (first published in 1980)
Goodreads Rating
Experience the captivating story of a young boy who became a legend - Peter the Great, the crowned tsar of Russia at only ten years old. Follow his journey through seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia, as he transformed from a barbarous, volatile feudal tsar to a progressive and enlightened reformer of government and science. Delve deep into the life of this historical figure with Robert K. Massie's captivating storytelling, chronicling pivotal events that shaped Peter's legacy. Discover his obsession with Western ways, his establishment of the Russian navy and unbeatable army, and his intimate relationships with Catherine and Menshikov. Impetuous and stubborn, generous and cruel, Peter the Great is a man of enormous complexity, brought fully to life in this book.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-28T11:51:56.000Z
The seven books that as a young person made me love history… (and even aspire to write it.) I m sure u have some of yr own…. Isabel de Madariaga, Russia in age of Catherine the Great. Robert Conquest, Great Terror. Peter Hopkirk, Great Game. Robert Massie, Peter the Great.      source
The Great Game book cover
The Great Game
The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia
Peter Hopkirk - 1994-01-01 (first published in 1990)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the gripping tale of a century-long secret war between Victorian Britain and Tsarist Russia through the eyes of brave young officers who played the dangerous game. Disguising themselves as holy men or horse traders, they mapped hidden passes, gathered intelligence, and won the loyalty of powerful khans. With the Great Game reaching a climax, some never returned - find out what happened to them in this thrilling tale of espionage and adventure.
Simon Sebag Montefiore
2022-12-28T11:51:56.000Z
The seven books that as a young person made me love history… (and even aspire to write it.) I m sure u have some of yr own…. Isabel de Madariaga, Russia in age of Catherine the Great. Robert Conquest, Great Terror. Peter Hopkirk, Great Game. Robert Massie, Peter the Great.      source
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland
The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes
Jozef Pilsudski by Joshua D. Zimmerman
The Duchess Countess by Catherine Ostler
Collapse by Vladislav M. Zubok
Billy Summers by Stephen King
Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel
The Last Empire of Iran by Michael R Jackson Bonner
King of the World by Philip Mansel
Lenin on the Train by Catherine Merridale
Brazil by Lilia M. Schwarcz
One Night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Storyteller of Jerusalem by Wasif Jawhariyyeh
Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi
Odessa by Charles King
The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha by Michael Coogan
A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz
The Penguin History of Modern Russia by Robert Service
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys
A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes
The Great Terror by Robert Conquest
The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus