The Return of the Empire

EXPLORE BIG BRUE FESTIVAL

What can the rise and fall of empires tell us about the world now, and about what may come next?

William Dalrymple and Peter Frankopan are two of our most acclaimed and wide-ranging historians, known for placing the upheavals of the present within the much longer currents of global history. Together, they turn their attention to a world in flux: the return of great-power rivalry, the shifting influence of the United States, Russia, China and Europe, continuing conflict in the Middle East, and the changing international order.

Drawing on histories that stretch across continents and centuries, they will explore how imperial ambition and overreach, charismatic and authoritarian leaders, and the stories nations tell to justify their power have changed over time. What can earlier empires and periods of upheaval teach us about the forces reshaping the world today? And where do the historical parallels mislead us?

Made possible with the generous support of Westholme Publishing.