Author:Thucydides,M. Finley,Rex Warner
'With icy remorselessness, it puts paid to any notion that the horrors of modern history might be an aberration - for it tells of universal war, of terrorism, revolution and genocide' Tom Holland
The long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta plunged the ancient Greek world into decades of war. Thucydides was an Athenian and achieved the rank of general in the earlier stages of the war, and in this detailed, first-hand contemporary account he writes as both a soldier and a historian. He applies a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling a factual record of a ruinous conflict that would eventually destroy the Athenian empire.
Translated by Rex Warner with an introduction and notes by M. I. Finley
In his crowded career and his eventful life, Ngugi has enacted, for all to see, the paradigmatic trials and quandaries of a contemporary African writer caught in sometimes implacable political, social, racial, and linguistic currents
—— John Updike , The New YorkerDelicate, fresh and scrupulously honest...calm and mature
—— SpectatorMoving, honest and informative, this is a book about the influence of stories, storytelling and storytellers. It is a reminder that every generation, however beleaguered, can dream to change the world
—— IndependentThe work he offers us here is like nothing that's gone before: it is the chronicle of a child's single-minded pursuit of an education.... The picture of Kenya that he presents is admirably free of cant or sentimentality, and yet it is enough to make you weep
—— Washington PostNgugi has returned to his roots to produce something delicate, fresh and scrupulously honest
—— Michela Wrong , The SpectatorThe surprise about Dreams in a Time of War is that, for all the provocation of history, and for all its clear-eyed evocation of an agonised time, it is not an angry book ... Ngugi's storyteller's instinct for character and place, for recurring motifs and telling symbols, triumphs over the bleakness of background...this memoir is a tale of triumph
—— Mary Crockett , The ScotsmanEssential reading for the author's many admirers
—— Michael Holman , Literary ReviewNgugi's storytelling skills never falter as he brings this far-away world vividly to life
—— MetroAbsorbing personal reflections that illuminate not just later careers, but the state of their peoples too.
—— Boyd Tonkin , Independent, Christmas round upOne of Kenya's greatest storytellers
—— James Urquhart , Financial TimesA triumph of a book...charismatic and hugely enjoyable...You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't read this.
—— Nels Abbey, author of Think Like a White ManA brilliant, prescient exploration of a richly complex continent. An antidote for our times.
—— Irenosen Okojie, author of NudibranchImpeccably researched...brimming with humor and intellect. A necessary read.
—— JK Chukwu, author of The UnfortunatesA vital book that offers us new, complex narratives to view African countries and their relationships to Europe and the Global North. Faloyin's stylish, propulsive prose blends history, memoir and opinion, so that reading him has the impression of being at the knee of a great storyteller.
—— Jonathan Nunn, editor of VittlesDemonstrates how that old saying - "this time is different" - is both so true and so wrong!
—— Lord Stephen Green , former CEO and Chairman of HSBC and UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, 2011-2013Crashes are an integral part of the history of capitalism. The last century has seen plenty of them. All crashes begin with debt-fuelled euphoria and end in disappointment. Yet how bad that disappointment turns out to be also depends on where in the economy the crash falls and how determined and credible are the responses. In this lively and blessedly brief book, Linda Yueh does a lovely job of explaining the history and drawing the necessary lessons
—— Martin Wolf , Chief Economics Commentator, Financial TimesThis excellent overview identifies the ingredients that are specific to each crisis and common to all. She provides a lucid assessment of the efficacy of policy responses, high-lighting credibility as a necessary condition for successful resolution
—— Lord Nick McPherson, , former Permanent Secretary of the UK Treasury, 2005-2016, and Chairman of C. Hoare & Co."Why did nobody notice?" Was the question the Queen asked about the 2008 financial crisis. It was a good question. All financial crises and crashes have their own characteristics but they also often involve certain common features:- Irrational exuberance, Speculative frenzy, Greed and over confidence usually supported by high levels of gearing.
Linda Yueh's new book will be a timely reminder to governments and regulators of the warning signs of future crises
Timely, entertaining and full of useful insights
—— Gideon Rachman , Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, Financial TimesRenowned economist Dr Linda Yueh looks at past financial crashes - from the Wall Street Crash to the dot com boom and bust and the Covid pandemic - to explore what we can learn from them in this entertainingly written book.
—— i, Best New Books in MayEntertaining, well-written . . . [Yueh] has come up with a three-step framework to help spot when financial problems are brewing and identifies where the next may occur.
—— Ben Wright , TelegraphA gifted writer (een begenadigd schrijver)
—— De Telegraaf