Bloomsbury's Short Histories is an authoritative and elegantly written series which puts a fresh perspective on the way history is taught and understood in the 21st century. Designed to have strong appeal to university students and their teachers, as well as to general readers and history enthusiasts, Short Histories comprises a novel attempt to bring informed interpretation, as well as factual reportage, to historical debate. Addressing key subjects and topics in the fields of history, the history of ideas, religion, classical studies, politics, philosophy and Middle East studies, the series seeks intentionally to move beyond the bland, neutral 'introduction' that so often serves as the primary undergraduate teaching tool. While always providing students and generalists with the core facts that they need to get to grips with the essentials of any particular subject, Short Histories goes further. It offers new insights into how a topic has been understood in the past, and what different social and cultural factors might have been at work. It brings original perspectives to bear on manner of its current interpretation. It raises questions and - in its extensive bibliographies - points to further study, even as it suggests answers. Addressing a variety of subjects in a greater degree of depth than is often found in comparable series, yet at the same time in concise and compact handbook form, Short Histories aims to be 'introductions with an edge'.

In combining questioning and searching analysis with informed history writing, it brings history up-to-date for an increasingly complex and globalized digital age. 'Extremely exciting - beautifully designed intellectually.' Helen Castor, Fellow in History, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.