The Stuff of History

A beguiling, entertaining and consummately curated miscellany of fascinating forgotten histories from Antiques Roadshow presenter, and popular historian, Steven Moore

'Moore is wickedly charming - the naughty uncle you want to be sat beside at the dinner table' - Daily Telegraph

Too often history focuses on the stories of kings, those (often men) who were given the credit, yet what fascinates most are the stories of those who have passed through the cracks of history, people like: Giuliana Coen, the greatest fashion designer you've never heard of, the women at Playtex and how their out-of-the-box thinking and incredible skill played a major role in getting the first man on the Moon, and the tale of the unknown war hero Tommy Brown, who helped the code breakers of Bletchley with his extraordinary act of bravery.

But it's not just the people, as the book also champions the curious back stories to everyday objects - the humble fork, the china cup, and the real history of tea to name but a few.

The Stuff of History presents a thoughtful and often funny, curated selection of fascinating forgotten histories that give insight into some of the Western world's most important cultural moments. Told from the perspective of the overlooked, the book will present the curious and adventurous reader with the stories behind icons that surround us and inform our everyday lives, be they people or objects.