Historical Fiction: Lawhead gives a compelling glimpse into the history of Europe and the Byzantine Empire.

Simon Winchester gives a series of superb snapshots of mainland China, present and past. Don't miss the story of the boneless pig.

Fascinating true account of the founding of Australia.

An epic life by another of the best writers of Russian history.

Simon Winchester can take the dullest thing in the world - the writing of the Oxford English Dictionary - and make it fascinating.

Simon Winchester makes a fascinating mix of the geology of volcanoes with the early growth of media.

W. Bruce Lincoln is one of the premier writers on the history of Russia. Here he writes the mostly untold story of the tumultuous civil war that followed the Russian revolution in 1917.

Historical Fiction (barely): If I had to take one book beside the Bible to a desert island, this, along with the second volume, War and Remembrance, would be what I would take. Though fiction, this is the best history of World War II I have ever read.

You will never forget the start horror of the seige. Though the book is from before the fall of communism, the research is sound and the storytelling compelling.

Excellent example of a great story of a small chapter in the biggest naval battle every fought.

Another example of a look at a specific topic that yields some amazing insights. Yet another place where a very small 'if' could have changed the whole outcome of this war.

Still another example of the kind of story that can be told when the focus is narrowed from the whole Pacific war to one chilling incident.

Historical Fiction (barely): Originally called 'The Rocket Boys', changed after the making of the (fine) movie. The book is better. (America, 1950's and early '60's)