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."