'This book deserves a place in your bookcase next to Harari's Sapiens. It's every bit as fascinating and is surely destined to be just as successful' Julian Norton An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis have had on human history. From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story. Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes, and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep, and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading. Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colourful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture. REVIEWS: 'Sally Coulthard's story of how sheep shaped the human story is full of rich pickings ... She weaves together a detailed story that is full of fascinating social history' Independent 'I absolutely LOVE this ... It's a perfect light-hearted informative history' Philippa Sandall 'This is such a great book: I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history or sheep - or simply a passion for reading captivating and high-quality prose. It's extremely well researched and written in a very engaging style. It trumped my Clive James memoir, which I put to one side. I read A Short History of the World According to Sheep within two days. (And that's impressive for me. It usually takes me weeks to finish a book.) You'd never imagine the role sheep have played across the centuries: from the egregious rampaging of Genghis Khan to the success of the Medici dynasty during the Renaissance to the Scottish Highland Clearances of the eighteenth century. The trade in their wool has financed wars; lanolin from their fleeces has fuelled the huge industry in beauty products, and ovine intestines even had a hand in controlling both birth rates and the spread of syphilis. And that's before we get onto jumpers. Or cheese...' Julian Norton, the Yorkshire Vet

A beautifully illustrated history of the Renaissance told through the lives of its most important and influential patrons. 'Exceptionally sumptuous... This vivid history brings to life the vices and virtues of the feuding ruling families of Italy.' Michael Prodger, The Times 'Full of treasures to be uncovered... A chance to visit a glittering, at times rather gory, world that is different and yet dreamily familiar to our own.' BBC History Revealed From the late Middle Ages, the independent Italian city-states were taken over by powerful families who installed themselves as dynastic rulers. Inspired by the humanists, the princes of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Italy immersed themselves in the culture of antiquity, commissioning palaces, villas and churches inspired by the architecture of ancient Rome, and offering patronage to artists and writers. Many of these princes were related by blood or marriage, creating a web of alliances that held society together but whose tensions sometimes threatened to tear it apart; thus were their lives dominated as much by the waging of war as the nurture of artistic talent. In a narrative that is as rigorous and closely researched as it is accessible and informative, Mary Hollingsworth sets the princes' aesthetic achievements in the context of the volatile, ever-shifting politics of a tumultuous period of history.

Pre-order the BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Two reluctant housemates. One question: Is this your place or mine...? When Serena is kicked out of her flat, an offer from her friend, Taylor, to house sit for her while she and her husband go travelling could not be better timing. But unfortunately for Serena she's not the only one to have received this offer... Enter Ziggy: arrogant, messy (and annoyingly handsome) musician, and friend of Taylor's husband. Living with him is far from ideal, especially when he claims the best room, has loud parties - and the least said about his kitchen manner the better... There's just one solution for Serena - drive him out of the house by being twice as difficult to live with than he is! But Ziggy knows Serena's game and as war ensues between them, being forced together under one roof may result in some unexpected consequences... Don't miss bestseller Portia MacIntosh's brand new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Pre-order the BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Two reluctant housemates. One question: Is this your place or mine...? When Serena is kicked out of her flat, an offer from her friend, Taylor, to house sit for her while she and her husband go travelling could not be better timing. But unfortunately for Serena she's not the only one to have received this offer... Enter Ziggy: arrogant, messy (and annoyingly handsome) musician, and friend of Taylor's husband. Living with him is far from ideal, especially when he claims the best room, has loud parties - and the least said about his kitchen manner the better... There's just one solution for Serena - drive him out of the house by being twice as difficult to live with than he is! But Ziggy knows Serena's game and as war ensues between them, being forced together under one roof may result in some unexpected consequences... Don't miss bestseller Portia MacIntosh's brand new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Pre-order the BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Two reluctant housemates. One question: Is this your place or mine...? When Serena is kicked out of her flat, an offer from her friend, Taylor, to house sit for her while she and her husband go travelling could not be better timing. But unfortunately for Serena she's not the only one to have received this offer... Enter Ziggy: arrogant, messy (and annoyingly handsome) musician, and friend of Taylor's husband. Living with him is far from ideal, especially when he claims the best room, has loud parties - and the least said about his kitchen manner the better... There's just one solution for Serena - drive him out of the house by being twice as difficult to live with than he is! But Ziggy knows Serena's game and as war ensues between them, being forced together under one roof may result in some unexpected consequences... Don't miss bestseller Portia MacIntosh's brand new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.