'The most popular historian in this country' Guardian
'Nobody has changed history more than Terry Deary' Big Issue What can we learn from ten wars that have changed world history? A ridiculously funny new book for grownups from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of A History of Britain in Ten Enemies. War: what is it good for? Absolutely something, surely, or we wouldn't keep doing it. Throughout the ages, each generation has faced the same questions: Am I willing to fight for my way of life? How can I come up with something the enemy hasn't thought of? And the important one that people often forget to ask: is there a way of solving this amicably? In A History of the World in Ten Wars, bestselling author Terry Deary shows us what can we learn from battles through the ages. In this hilarious, whistle-stop tour, you'll find out:

- Why the ancient Greeks finally decided to band together after fighting each other for centuries- The innovative guerrilla tactics of the Mongols (who were surprisingly interested in supply chains)- Why teabags were invented by accident- How Napoleon's army was defeated not by the freezing Russian winter - common misconception - but by a summer heatwave- And why the so-called World Wars were really just one very long war (with a break for half-time).

Written with Deary's trademark humour, A History of the World in Ten Wars is packed with fascinating stories that reveal how wars have shaped society through the ages. PRAISE FOR A HISTORY OF BRITAIN IN TEN ENEMIES: 'If you could take just one history book to a desert island, this would be it. It is laugh out loud funny' Conn Iggulden, bestselling author of the Emperor series 'Ram-packed with mind-blowing facts, hilarious characters, and little-known tales' Dan Schreiber, author of The Theory of Everything Else 'Packed with dinner-party-worthy anecdotes, the kind that will delight history buffs and newcomers alike' Alice Loxton, The Telegraph 'Playful, cheeky, and very clever, this is a book for anyone who ever wished there was a Horrible Histories for grown-ups' Kate Lister, author of A Curious History of Sex 'Told with characteristic wit and verve...not just an eye-opener, but a mind-opener' Tracy Borman, author of The Private Lives of the Tudors

Portrait

Terry Deary is the author of over 350 published books, selling over 38 million books in 45 languages. He rose to prominence as the author of the acclaimed Horrible Histories series, which made him the best-selling children's non-fiction writer since records began. The series was adapted for a BAFTA-winning CBBC television series. In 2024, he published a book for adults, A History of Britain in Ten Enemies, which became a #1 Sunday Times bestseller with over 120,000 copies sold. Terry was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Education by Sunderland University in 2000. He lives in County Durham with his wife Jenny and is an avid road runner in his spare time.