The World: A Family History

From the archive: We look back at a highlight from HistFest 2023

HistFest 2023 saw a wonderful array of historians and speakers who explored histories of emotion, early modern travel, and Revolutionary Russia, to name just a few. A highlight was our event with bestselling author and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore and V&A director Gus Casely Hayford, who had a lively conversation about Sebag Montefiore’s latest book, The World: A Family History.

Described as a gripping account of human civilization told through the families that have shaped our collective past. From the Caesars and Khans to the Churchills, Castros and Kennedies, the book uncovers global history on surprisingly intimate scale, linking grand themes of war, migration, religion, plague and technology to the people at the centre of the human drama.

Here, we share the event with paid subscribers. Enjoy!